NatAmi... The New Future Of Amiga...

[commodorejohn]

I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but if it does make it and it isn't too horribly expensive, I wil be all over this.

As for coding, I still plan to make the A500 my baseline, but it'll be nice to have the option for more when running other peoples' software.

[commodorejohn]

I also hope they don't opt for PC cases. I'd like to see some nice custom Amiga cases, for those that want them. Personally, i'd like a wedge, dunno why, always loved them. I guess they just shout 'home computer' to me.

Problem with wedges is balancing a monitor on top of them - even the A500 just wasn't deep enough to stably support a monitor. I snagged someone's homebuilt monitor stand that I use with my MSX, but I'd rather pass on having another wedge case. That said, I do hope they go for something other than your standard tower or desktop case; I'd like to see something in a low-profile design like the Dreamcast, but I guess we'll see how it all works out.

[commodorejohn]

True, but you could have a few options. I mean, most PC users have the monitor free standing, with the tower under the desk, and LCD's don't need much room. But I see your point, are you hoping for more of a desktop design? My Amiga moves about a lot (room to room, house to house, rarely country to country) , wedges are ideal for that.

Yeah, but I really can't stand LCDs - the color range is a lot better than it used to be, but still nowhere near a good CRT. It's like listening to music on $20 speakers. I do agree about mobility, though. Some kind of small, low-profile case that can be easily carried around would be ideal. Wedge cases aren't bad for that, but having an integrated keyboard adds quite a bit to the footprint unless it's a laptop.

Still, as long as it stays in a standard form factor, I'm sure I can find a case that suits my needs

[commodorejohn]

Oh lord.  "CRTs are better!  Put it in a wedge case!"

Jesus, why not just seal it in a 20lb block of epoxy and make it only hook up to zenith console sets while you're at it?

Dude, I wasn't trying to prescribe anything - just offering my opinion. Besides, unless they decide to build it with an integrated monitor for no conceivable reason, who would care what any individual hooked it up to?

Now I want to hook it up to an old Zenith just to spite you ;P

Sadly, hardware needs developers...this could be the problem, your right. Ten years ago, we might have been all right,now?...I don't know so much.

Hardware can draw developers to it, though. If the AROS68k port keeps progressing as it has been, that'll give the NatAmi a leg up on the software thing and hopefully generate some interest in developing for it, and I think/hope Franko is right about it becoming a new standard target, though that will depend largely on how affordable it turns out to be.

[commodorejohn]

The Natami MX is Mini-ITX standard, except it's even smaller. It will fit in any Mini-ITX PC case and a bunch of other cases, most likely a Dreamcast too. It's 17cm x 14cm, so being shorter than a standard Mini-ITX motherboard it has even more chances of fitting inside a modified Amiga case too.

Hmm, and I just found this project...this looks doable, I might have to try it when I get a NatAmi

[commodorejohn]

Who knows if the NatAmi becomes popular enough perhaps it might see some interest from some big investors and then things could really take of in Amigaland once again, only time will tell but things are looking pretty damn good for the first time in years...

I wouldn't get your hopes set on that just yet; I'd be happy enough if it sees a modest-size production run with the N68050. Still, you never know

[commodorejohn]

It would be better in a CD32 case (from a dead CD32 of course - don't wreck a working one).

Ehh, I'll let you do that - the CD32 looks too much like the other "the future will look like a 1980s answering machine" early CD consoles to my eyes...