Classic Amiga Hardware Projects for 2014

[motrucker]

Merry Christmas Amigakit. I wish you guys the best.
How 'bout almost anything (ethernet, USB, RAM, SATA) that is zorro 2 compatible. I know some of this exists, but I have feeling you could do better, and make it easier to buy. A lot of us still use A2000 machines.

[rdolores]

I'd like to see a Zorro II/III multifunction card with the following:
- RTG graphics with VGA output
- 10/100 Ethernet Port
- USB ports (2)
- IDE/SATA internal ports for newer storage devices
- Integrated SD Card slot
- Built-in Floppy emulator (to be used in conjunction with SD card)
- Clockports (2) one of which will be used for an actual battery-backed clock since most big-box Amigas have already had their old batteries removed.
Optional:
- 16-bit AC97 sound with line-in as well as line out to work with audio samplers.

This will update my A2000's quite nicely.

[rdolores]

One more thing, since the A500 model is the largest base of Amiga's out there:

- A side-car enclosure with a Zorro II slot to fit the multi-function card, I've proposed in my above post.

Between the A2000/A500 users for the Zorro II card, and A3000/A4000 users for the Zorro III boards, you'll have covered most Amiga models.  The A1200/A600 already have a lot of updated hardware for it.

[gary2000]

Wish list...

For A2000:
A2630 memory expansions (like DKB) or affordable accelerators 040/060 (+PPC?) & Buddha w/SATA or SD mem)

A4000:
new 040/060 AGA motherboard replacements (FPGA)  with VGA to replace ones that have too many problems to fix.

Important: All done the 'Commodore way'... the cheapest parts, cut costs, lowest prices possible.   Too much to ask for?

[Crom00]

I like the idea of Amigakit taking over NATAMI. That was a fun project, the most Amiga-ish yet. I also did the non modified, type only logo for that so I am fond of NATAMI.

[Daniele]

This year we are looking to do the same.  What Classic Amiga hardware or software do you want to be developed?  If it is realistic and commercial, we will consider it.

Personally I believe there is a segment of people still wanting to

1) own a tower case for A1200 so it would be great to see more EZ Z4 Tower Conversion Kits.

2) more and more people still need idefix express or similar IDE devices to hook up a CD Rom to their Amiga 1200.

3) Hardware and Software for a USB device for A1200..

I have some other ideas but I think these three comes first.

Good Luck AmigaKit we are Always going to support you!

[amiga1260]

I would like to see some new Tower cases for Amiga 1200 and Amiga 4000.

And a black case for the ACA 500 card.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Hey, here's another idea that would cost almost nothing and provide free advertising:  stickers!  Print up a batch of AmigaKit stickers and throw one in with each order, or each order over a certain price point, something like that.  I know I'd love to rock one on the back window of my truck (or possibly on my Amiga, LOL).  :mickeymouse:

Oh, and thanks for this post, it reminded me of about $150 worth of bits I needed to get from you guys.  Order placed!  

[Darth_X]

There are new ethernet cards available and over at amibay there is a guy selling new and updated thylacine usb cards.
What I think we really need, is a new zorroII/III RTG graphics card.

Well bring him over here! I don't have an account there because I do not agree with their terms of service.

[Themamboman]

Commercialized version of the plipbox?  Ethernet for every Amiga!

As others have stated, USB controller card, with either Zorro II or clockport connection (like the new sound card), so that many classics could use it.

[guest7146]

I have no idea whether this would be feasible in terms of costs/returns - I suspect probably not - but I would love to see a good (020 or 030) Amiga 500 accelerator that also provided a single-port IDE bus for a CF boot drive.  If it also provided a means of network connection then even better.

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Well bring him over here! I don't have an account there because I do not agree with their terms of service.

And some people don't like amiga.org. Go figure! :angry: That's why I suggested AmigaKit look into commercial distribution of these type of products, rather than through forums. Other good hardware that might benefit from commercial distribution might be everything made by Kipper2K, the Ratte monitor switch, the Protein von Botfixer accelerator, the new "Vampire 600" accelerators, etc.
 
Guess it's a question of margins? Could the larger distribution channel AmigaKit would provide offset whatever cut the actual builders of this hardware would take? And how would warranties be handled? Board goes back to AmigaKit, and if they can't fix it back to the designer? It's a lot of logistics that would have to be worked out.
 
FYI about the Thylacine, he makes two models: a single port and a four port model. They're not bad priced, I have the single port, but they don't work very well on Zorro II equipped Amigas. Supposedly rock on A3000/A4000's, however.
 
Here's a couple pics from his threads:

[Darth_X]

I would like to see some new Tower cases for Amiga 1200 and Amiga 4000.

And a black case for the ACA 500 card.

And a black case to put the A500 in as well?

[Lozspd4]

Hi Amigakit How about a ram expansion 256mb with cf card+flash rom possability for the A3640. Just like the x-calibur. There`s enough 040,s that are crying out for this.

Thanks for you help and fantastic service throughout the 2013.
Laurence

[desiv]

Interesting question..
I have an Amiga 1200 with PCMCIA ethernet, ACA1230/28, MAS player, and a GBS-8200 for use on my LCD.
I also have a SurfSquirrel with SCSI CDRom, which is neat, but I don't use too often...

So, what else might I "buy" for that system?
Only thing I can think of would be a USB adapter maybe, and even that would only be if it weren't too expensive..

I might be tempted to get a real FF/SD if it had some RTG features, but again, I'm expecting that to be too expensive for me...
Do I want RTG, sure..  Do I want it enough to pay over $100?  I didn't pull the trigger on the AGAMk2, so probably not...

As for my Amiga 1000, I'm seriously considering what might be in the ACA1000 when released..
Again, it's higher (guessing on the cost as it hasn't been released) that I normally would go, but it does  cover many features...
But beyond that???  Probably not..

I did hear someone mention an adapter for Sega PADs that would allow them to mimic a CD32 pad.  That would be tempting...

I am not into Big Box Amigas, so zorro stuff isn't really for me...

desiv
(maybe a nice packaged case/cable combo for the GBS-82xx for those people who want the less expensive (compared to a serious SD/FF) setup but don't want the soldering/cable mess. Mine is in a plastic CD case currently.  Works, but not pretty.    )

[Darth_X]

Perhaps some zorro card that interfaces a RaspberryPi to get ethernet, usb, audio and video decoder :-) a high end fpga accelerator would be nice too but I guess that as long as fpga m68k emulation is slower than 060 and doesn't provide FPU it won't make much sense.

I was thinking same thing, using an updated siamese type system.