@ChrisH

>>some people here seem to have no idea that non-mass-produced things are unavoidably expensive compared to stuff mass-produced in China (see naive complaints about Sam440/etc price)

You are perfectly right.
Even Lian Li, who specialise in aluminium cases for the pc market charge an arm and a leg and they sell thousands of them.

I have worked really hard to make the case compatible with the SAM440ep (with horizontal and vertical ATX connectors), with the SAM440 Flex, with the SAM460, and they are different from each other, compatible with as many mini-itx boards so pc nuts could make what they want with it...

Also trying to fit one, possibly two expansion cards inside, a DVD drive, USB ports and a couple of HD/SSD hasn't been easy, all within the size of an A500, more or less.

I just hope people realise this and if they want something new, with cool materials but with a retro feeling then it's here:

The X500 PLUS is no fantasy.....it is reality

Mmmh I like that I might use it for a video

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www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

@TheDaddy

So how far off is this reality now?

I'd like to be able to put my 440ep into it and then if you develope a laptop version I could get a 460 into that.

Be nice if AmigaKit could take it on as a case for a complete Sam440ep/Sam-flex/Sam460 system.

_________________
1 AmigaOne G4XE (OS4 Pre-Release Update4)
Minimig
Sam440ep + OS4.1FE
Sam460cr + OS4.1FE

@1Mouse

>>So how far off is this reality now?

Just waiting for the last prototype to come back, it needs to be cut and anodised.

>>Be nice if AmigaKit could take it on as a case for a complete Sam440ep/Sam-flex/Sam460 system.

I'll talk to Amigakit as soon as I can. I just want it to be finished and ready to go.

_________________
www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

@TheDaddy

Nice to hear that you are willing to talk to AmigaKit.

I think selling through AmigaKit would reach a wider consumer base.

The more people know of the work you're doing the better.

_________________
1 AmigaOne G4XE (OS4 Pre-Release Update4)
Minimig
Sam440ep + OS4.1FE
Sam460cr + OS4.1FE

@everyone

How important is the DVD-RW drive to you?

Do you use it? How often?

The reason I am asking is that I might think of dropping it from the design.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks.

_________________
www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

@TheDaddy

Leave at least slim DVD-RW. Even it could be replaced by USB attached one (more expensive) it is stil much used for media storage, movies etc.

While cards can be combined into two low profile ones, leaving the case without DVD would face much criticism.

Thanks for doing the great job

P.S.
A bit off topic, but why its dificult to buy Minimig with ARM expansion (higher CPU clockrate, faster ADF, HDD emulation). I don`t see it anywhere (Acube, Amikit, Minimigs author)

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Future Acube and MOS supporter, fi di good, nothing fi di unprofessionals. Learn it harder way!

@vox

OK thanks for the comment.

The only way to get a Minimig ARM, which is AWESOME by the way, is to contact Jakub on Minimig.net, a few days ago he still had some.

Go to www.minimig.net, register and ask Jakub.

I am sure Amigakit, ACube and NGI Informatique had some too though...

_________________
www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

@TheDaddy

looks great.

I prefer black rather than white.

I sometimes play DVD video from computer to my HD via VGA/audio out.
ensure 2 USB pen drives in both usb scan be easily removed.

Why no hires images ? especially inside ?

The most annoying thing about cases is so many connectors to worry about.

For example seperate led,hd,switch connectors are a pain, if only it all connected to one connector to make life easy.

If all Amiga hardware makers, worked with case designers and agreed on a standard Amiga connector - case mod made simple.

All motherboard wires to one connector - bang done !

A- B - C

Amiga would have an advantage, even a small one.

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Download 499.26 Mbps, 659.94 Mbps Upload :)

@asymetrix

>>looks great.

Thanks, although I am going to change it a bit more to avoid making it look like a "Russian tank"...

>>I prefer black rather than white.

There should be two versions, I hope, the black and the white. The black one will be...all black, the white will be all white apart from the DVD-Bluray drive, I am looking to get a white keyboard for the white version. But usually mixed black and white looks good.

>>ensure 2 USB pen drives in both usb scan be easily removed.

The two USB ports on the left you mean? I have tested them with some of the very first USB thumb drives (the 128 and 256MB chucnky ones) and they seem to be happy together.

>>Why no hires images ? especially inside ?

Good question. Because at the moment, being a crude prototype, without being polished and painted, it looks crap

The photos are there to give a general idea.

I am testing the SAM460 at the moment...it is so quiet

Yesterday I had a x86 board inside with 8GB RAM and a 512MB ATI card and I was playing Duke Nukem Forever on it..."oh yeah, looking good!"

>>The most annoying thing about cases is so many connectors to worry about.

You are perfectly right, they are a pain! I was thinking of removing the LEDs completely, what do you think? The only one I would miss though is the HD LED as I like to know when the HD has finished...

Even more annoying is the freaking keyboard.

I don't see the point of having a clickety click as close to the original keyboard that costs a fortune:

1) Because it makes no economic sense
2) I can't afford it
3) A full size standard keyboard wil do the job

Talking of which, I am investigating the possibility of sticking a standard keyboard in (like a Logitech 250 Deluxe for example) which the user can replace when it's knackered but this will mean modifying the design...once more

_________________
www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

@TheDaddy

Can I ask the reason for wanting to leave out the DVD drive?

Personally I use one for backing up to DVD and for watching movies and also listening to and ripping audio CDs, really would miss it.

_________________
1 AmigaOne G4XE (OS4 Pre-Release Update4)
Minimig
Sam440ep + OS4.1FE
Sam460cr + OS4.1FE

@1Mouse

>Can I ask the reason for wanting to leave out the DVD drive?

It would use less power, not much though and reduce the width of the case. But not to worry I think we'll leave it in

_________________
www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

@TheDaddy

Planning on making it more like the A600 case?

_________________
1 AmigaOne G4XE (OS4 Pre-Release Update4)
Minimig
Sam440ep + OS4.1FE
Sam460cr + OS4.1FE

@1Mouse

>>Planning on making it more like the A600 case?

More like a smaller version of the A500 (trying to reduce it from the actual A500 dimensions), the reason being the A500 shape allows you to expand it.

I am running a very powerful, low profile Radeon 512MB PCI Express card, magnitudes faster than any inbuilt nVidia or ATI chipsets.

Maybe, if ACube lend a hand, an A600 model could be on the plate, but much later on.

_________________
www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

@TheDaddy

For christ's sake don't be tempted to hack off the keypad!

_________________
AmigaOne X1000, A4000(T), A3000, A2000, A1200(T), A1200, A500, CD32, Minimig+ARM, FPGA Arcade, Chameleon64, C-One, C128, C128D, C64C, C64, VIC-20, CBM 8032, CBM4032, Efika, Ultimate64

@TheDaddy

very good !

What I mean about the connectors is to try and get a custom connector created.

The pins on a standard motherboard that have all the individual HD/button leds should be replaced with a simple block connector.

If Amiga motherboard makers start using a block connector instead, Amigas will have a very simple way to get built quickly.

With other cases a converter may be required, but Amiga should have a simple unique mechanism.

We dont need exact keyboard as long as its cheap and does not look out of place.

get the most cheapest, but reliable keyboard you can get.

I never had a full keyboard fail on me yet, just my laptop keyboards keys stick a bit.


look at what apple is trying to build :
http://gizmodo.com/340054/apple-files-patent-for-oled-dynamic-keyboard-awaits-angry-letter-from-lebedev

Last edited by asymetrix on 08-Jul-2011 at 04:19 AM.

_________________
Download 499.26 Mbps, 659.94 Mbps Upload :)

@Darrin

>>For christ's sake don't be tempted to hack off the keypad!

Hacking off the keypad hey....mmmh...interesting...

_________________
www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

@asymetrix

>>[i]look at what apple is trying to build :
http://gizmodo.com/340054/apple-files-patent-for-oled-dynamic-keyboard-awaits-angry-letter-from-lebedev[/i}


Yes those oled keyboards are nice, but how can Apple patent it? They have been around for at least four years...

_________________
www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

@Vox

Regarding Minimig + ARM, check Relec's Minimig Page.

The page has not been translated but you can have the pack Minimig+ARM controller for about 380€ (or 543$).

Just drop them a mail (or PM me if you want) for more infos.

_________________
PowerMac G5 2,7Ghz - 2GB - Radeon 9650 - MorphOS 3.14
AmigaONE X1000, 2GB, Sapphire Radeon HD 7700
FPGA Replay + DB 68060 at 85Mhz

@K-L

>>Regarding Minimig + ARM, check Relec's Minimig Page.
The page has not been translated but you can have the pack Minimig+ARM controller for about 380€ (or 543$).
Just drop them a mail (or PM me if you want) for more infos.

Well spotted.

_________________
www.loriano.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

@TheDaddy

Quote:

TheDaddy wrote: @everyone How important is the DVD-RW drive to you? Do you use it? How often? The reason I am asking is that I might think of dropping it from the design. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

Is it possible to boot a SAM440/460 or X1000 from a USB device? If not, users of those machines will have to do some weird hacks to boot from their install discs if there is no optical drive.