Some questions about the Minimig.

[alexh]

arkpandora wrote:
1. Can you confirm that the scan-doubled signal is digital

The scan doubling is 100% in the digital domain.

arkpandora wrote:
2. Can you confirm that you need a 50 Hz monitor ?

With the current official version of MiniMig core you DO need a 50Hz capable monitor. There is an illegal release (he didn't release the source) by a guy called Yaqube who hacked in a quick change for unofficial 50->60Hz conversion, it's not great but it allows you to use an LCD monitor. Yaqube is preparing a better versions (hopefully with source this time).

arkpandora wrote:
3. Can I expect some games/demos to work perfectly although some others don't work at all, in other words can you confirm that what prevents some games/demos from working doesn't harm others in any way ?

No

arkpandora wrote:
4. Is it worth waiting for a possible update of the Minimig before buying one ?

If you wait too long, you find yourself unable to buy the populated MiniMig boards.

[alexh]

Crom00 wrote:
1) Identical to the Amiga signal, even better as it uses Amber the VGA chip in the FPGA.

It doesn't really use Amber. Minimig has it's own equivalent (also called Amber) but is unlikely to work exactly like the real Amber chip did.

Crom00 wrote:
I downloaded the 60hz core and it works. Be advised that 60hz core gives you a NTSC minimig

In reality I dont think Yaqube's 60Hz mod really makes an NTSC minimig. It cannot because to do so you would have to  change the main MiniMig crystal (which is by default a PAL crystal). It's just a hack.

Crom00 wrote:
so you're subject to all the in compatiblities of a 60hz machine. 50hz is more compatible with the STOLEN SOFTWARE offerings out there.

It is probably much worse. Yaqube's hacks, combined with MiniMig's original bugs combined with some of the traditional NTSC Amiga incompatibility :-(

Crom00 wrote:
I've been told with todays technology an AGA MiniMig is possibly for almost the same cost...

Not true. There are no 3.3v 020 chips for example.

[alexh]

The MiniMig costs almost nothing to make in volumes. All the R&D is done, you just find sources of the chips and a place in china to make em and churn em out. I don't think you realise what kind of markup there is on ready made MiniMig's. I think Acube probably made their money back (which is always a good thing).

While you could make an FPGA devkit with enough capacity for AGA + 020 (although no-one knows how much that would be for sure) for about the same price as todays retail MiniMig, you'd have to mark it up considerably to make viable profit.

I used to be disgusted with the markup on the MiniMig's, but once you actually look into all the costs which go with officially retailing an electronics product within Europe then you gain a lot of respect. It's not like they could just make them, flog em and split the profits down the pub. There is quite a bit of expensive red tape once you go legit.

[alexh]

TheDaddy wrote:
Do you mean that to produce a Minimig is $100?

It depends how many they made and where. Probably a little less.

The design of the MiniMig 1.1 and the chips it uses unfortunately makes the design overly expensive.

With a small re-work the BOM would come down even more.