FPGAArcade case

[mikej]

There is this picture :
http://www.fpgaarcade.com/common/replay_overview.jpg

The serial port is mainly used for debug, but it could be extended to the rear panel with a cable.

I don't really see the point in dvd/cd/harddisks to be honest. The SD card is quite fast/large, and we may put a second much higher speed slot on the daughter card directly connected to the FPGA.
/MikeJ

[Everblue]

Thanks for the picture =)

I would have no use for the serial port myself And I agree 100% with the DVD/CD/HDD point of view.

[Darrin]

I don't really see the point in dvd/cd/harddisks to be honest. The SD card is quite fast/large, and we may put a second much higher speed slot on the daughter card directly connected to the FPGA.
/MikeJ

It's a personal thing for me.  I hope the FPGA Arcade will replace my expanded A4000, so the ability to read or write data CDs/DVDs or have bucket loads of storage space (hard drive) would be nice.  The C-One had the nice feature of being able to use a real 2.5" hard drive.

Of course, all of these thinsg could simply be plugged into the FPGA Arcade as external USB devices, but this is my dream case we're talking about here.  

[TheDaddy]

It's a personal thing for me.  I hope the FPGA Arcade will replace my expanded A4000, so the ability to read or write data CDs/DVDs or have bucket loads of storage space (hard drive) would be nice.  The C-One had the nice feature of being able to use a real 2.5" hard drive.

Of course, all of these thinsg could simply be plugged into the FPGA Arcade as external USB devices, but this is my dream case we're talking about here.  

I'll see what I can do.

My problem is that from what I can see here there are only three people interested which makes the whole project doubtful. I am not sure how many have ordered/bought the board already, do we know the number? From Mike's original thread there seems to be a lot of interest but it looks like nobody apart from Darrin and Nostromo have replied asking for features/making suggestions which makes me think that people would rather prefer choosing the case themselves. I wouldn't like to be in the position of spending time and money for something that then nobody wants.

[amigadave]

@TheDaddy,

I have an FPGA Arcade Replay board now and I am interested in a case for it.  Once MikeJ has worked out any remaining features he wants to have in the firmware and is ready for the next production run (which I believe he stated would have all components installed by the company doing the PCB production), sales of the Replay should then proceed without further delay and should number in the several hundreds, if not several thousands.  So, I believe that there will be a demand for a quality case design from many of those future buyers.

Make it so it can use MikeJ's I/O plate, as Mike has offered to sell them and also to take trade-in's when the daughter board is released for a new I/O plate with additional holes for the daughter board's ports in addition to the standard Replay board's ports.

I think there will be a demand for two designs.  One small as possible design and perhaps a second design that is like the A500, A600, A1200 wedge cases that include a keyboard.

I see the FPGA Arcade Replay board and it's daughter board (when released) as a good alternative to an A1200 w/accelerator & accessories, but not as a replacement for big box Amiga's with Zorro slots.  Not unless MikeJ decides to make an expansion board that can connect to the Replay board that will give us a larger daughter board that has Zorro & PCI slots, so we can build a system out of it to rival our current big box Amiga systems.

As someone else here has already stated, the possibilities for future expansion and features are not limited and this project will most likely have a long and glorious future ahead of it.  It has only just begun!

[Kesa]

As long as it's not made of plastic crap i'm happy. I'd like to see a cnc aluminum case in the lines of a macmini style case but with more than 2 usb ports. A case made of wood would also be a good idea because we know it would float well.

[Everblue]

To be honest I don't see the point for making a case for a Replay upgraded with Zorro slots and all that. The board is Mini ITX case standard so theoretically it would fit into ITX cases if you want all that =)

One more thing, at the moment (I think) the interest for cases is low because there are VERY FEW people out there owning a Replay. Maybe once it comes readily available I am sure interest for cases will go up a couple of gears!

[amigadave]

To be honest I don't see the point for making a case for a Replay upgraded with Zorro slots and all that. The board is Mini ITX case standard so theoretically it would fit into ITX cases if you want all that =)

One more thing, at the moment (I think) the interest for cases is low because there are VERY FEW people out there owning a Replay. Maybe once it comes readily available I am sure interest for cases will go up a couple of gears!

I agree that designing a box case that will also house slots for Zorro, or PCI cards is a waste of time, as there are so many other readily available cases that could be used for something like that. In fact, I suggest that MikeJ make expansion connectors that allow the Replay to be used as a motherboard replacement for all models of existing Amiga cases, so that when those Amiga's die, they can be brought back to life by using a Replay board and the appropriate expansion board that fits a certain Amiga model.  

That is also why I suggested only compact cases designs that are barely bigger than the Replay board itself, or perhaps a wedge case like the A500, A600, or A1200 that includes a keyboard.  Those are the only two case designs that I think would sell in larger quantities.  Nothing except drawing a design should be done until MikeJ has production of hundreds of boards going.  Once a few hundred boards are sold and about to be put into the public's hands, then someone could make some money making cases for them.

[Everblue]

I'd say just make a case which fits the board with the expansion =).

The size with of such case with or without the expansion would most probably be the same anyway.

[TheDaddy]

I'd say just make a case which fits the board with the expansion =).

The size with of such case with or without the expansion would most probably be the same anyway.

Also what about the name?

I do like Replay or Re-Play what do you think?

[Everblue]

I think Replay is better, but to be fair, MikeJ should have the last word on this, no?

Edit: It says "Replay" on the board.

http://www.fpgaarcade.com/common/replay_overview.jpg

[mikej]

You can see on the development site the Replay and fpga arcade logo.
http://www.fpgaarcade.com/dev/drupal/

Please don't try and log in, the site design is still in development.

There are about 60 RevB boards in existence. I have a waiting list of over 200 hundred so far. I don't feel I can comment on the commercial viability of a case and suggest you ask people who are interested to mail you once you have a draft proposal.
Best,
MIkeJ

[TheDaddy]

I think Replay is better, but to be fair, MikeJ should have the last word on this, no?

Edit: It says "Replay" on the board.

http://www.fpgaarcade.com/common/replay_overview.jpg

Replay it is then

Is the mini USB on the right usable? Or it it just for flashing? I mean can you connect devices to it?

What about pins for ON/OFF switch, LEDs?

[Everblue]

Verrry nice site MikeJ! Let us know when it is up and running

[mikej]

There are full mechanical drawings on my website, including the io connector positions.

The USB on the left is for flashing the ARM only, usually you would use soft-update.

The LEDs are visible through the back panel.
The 5V 2 pin header can either be used to feed in 5V or drive an external LED (with a resistor).

I have suggested using the io patch panel to drive copies of dsk and pwr LEDs, so we can come up with a standard for that.

I can fit a header there as an option, normally it is unpopulated.

The power switch on the back would be left in the "on" position if it's in case, and either the 5V supply switched, or the ATX power control PCB can be used to switch on/off an internal power supply using the case power button.

/MikeJ

[TheDaddy]

>>The USB on the left is for flashing the ARM only, usually you would use soft-update.

OK so if this is covered it won't matter much...

>>The LEDs are visible through the back panel.

I'd prefer to have them at the front of a case so your idea of "using the io patch panel to drive copies of dsk and pwr LEDs" is the better option in my opinion.

>The power switch on the back would be left in the "on" position if it's in case, and either the 5V supply switched, or the ATX power control PCB can be used to switch on/off an internal power supply using the case power button.

That would make life easier