My idea for a case

[the_mighty_quinn]

I don't know how many of you have heard about the C64 being relaunched, but here is a link just in case:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12997245

Aside from the looks, it is anything but a C64 - it has the god awful Intel Atom CPU and bog standard PC parts inside, needless to say, the company behind this have done a great job cashing in on the legacy of the C64. It has gained mainstream media attention just for its style of case basically.


Now this made me wonder, who actually owns the rights and injection molds for the Atari ST/Falcon (or even the TT) case?

If you could launch the FireBee motherboard ready assembled into a brand new ST/TT case, maybe with a different colour scheme (and keyboard that is actually nice to type on), you'd have a computer that bridges the gap between that look and feel of an Atari, but with the technological progression inside that stays true to the architecture this platform was built on. Not only that, but you would do a really good job in capturing the attention of people and media around the world - and more deservingly than what we have witnessed with the C64 relaunch.

I know it would be running a bigger liability, but make no mistake, this would give the project far more attention, and thus a greater chance of gaining a larger user base which will ultimately make it a success.

[nativ]

Rights... I guess Atari current Infogrames?

Or ever authorised the 'free developement' of the Jaguar!

[the_mighty_quinn]

Atari allowed for that 2600 joystick games console to be made by Jakks Pacific.

The flashback is marketed by Atari and that is relaunched used the 2600 woody case design, and they appear more focused on resurrecting the 8 bit consoles.


I bet they don't have any plans for the 16/32 bit home computers, meaning they'd be more open to suggestions as this wouldn't interfere with their business plans.

[nativ]

why not go the whole hog! And do a 'Mighty' Falcon ala C-Lab

Osprey?

If they are properly interested in the 8 bit then we'd see a 1mb Xe with covox twin pokey and possibly vbxe! lol

It wouldn't take much to make the Falcon a nice lite home machine, love to see a properly thought 32 bit board 68060 twin Dsp and holographic screen!

[BoNuS]

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=20699

With the link to the official site Which sometimes works and sometimes not ?!??!
Looks like it is still under construction

[joska]

If you could launch the FireBee motherboard ready assembled into a brand new ST/TT case, maybe with a different colour scheme (and keyboard that is actually nice to type on),

I have considered putting my Firebee inside a ST case, but the ST is just too big. If you look at the "new C64" it's not much bigger than a modern keyboard. A ST or Amiga is huge compared to that.

[the_mighty_quinn]

If you could launch the FireBee motherboard ready assembled into a brand new ST/TT case, maybe with a different colour scheme (and keyboard that is actually nice to type on),

I have considered putting my Firebee inside a ST case, but the ST is just too big. If you look at the "new C64" it's not much bigger than a modern keyboard. A ST or Amiga is huge compared to that.

Hmm, the atari XE is smaller but keeps to the same style?

http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/atarixe/h/xe65.jpg

[Mathias]

Several users suggested such a keyboard case. But you have to be aware that the keyboard cases were critisized very often the late 90ies. So it is a idea for only some users. Maybe there is a chance. But as it needs much custom design it will not be possible below 200,- Euros. Let´s see in summer if someone is really caring about it.

[Frank B]

Atari allowed for that 2600 joystick games console to be made by Jakks Pacific.

The flashback is marketed by Atari and that is relaunched used the 2600 woody case design, and they appear more focused on resurrecting the 8 bit consoles.


I bet they don't have any plans for the 16/32 bit home computers, meaning they'd be more open to suggestions as this wouldn't interfere with their business plans.

My name is on the credits on the 10 in one
I was one of the two guys who reverse engineered all the games. Nice to see people know of it!

Frank

[joska]

Several users suggested such a keyboard case. But you have to be aware that the keyboard cases were critisized very often the late 90ies. So it is a idea for only some users.

The biggest problem with the keyboard computers from the old days is the size, and the fact that the keyboard is too high off the desk. Today's keyboard computers are barely bigger than a keyboard. I like the idea of a keyboard computer.

[nativ]

MK X or Xegs style (with pastel buttons?- or some funky colour changing leds? coloured 'F' keys? lite the whole keyboard! have you seen the Casio light keys?

Or ST mk1 before power/floppy and RF went in and the Joyports got moved!

[wongck]

I have considered putting my Firebee inside a ST case, but the ST is just too big. If you look at the "new C64" it's not much bigger than a modern keyboard. A ST or Amiga is huge compared to that.

And with the dvd drive & power supply brick inside it as well ?

[nativ]

how about using one of those 'keyboard projectors' led touchy things?

[joska]

And with the dvd drive & power supply brick inside it as well ?

Why DVD? Are people still using optical media? None of my laptops has DVD, and I don't miss it either.

I prefer an external PSU. That means a smaller connector and more flexible lead, and the computer can be made smaller. It also means less need for cooling.

[BoNuS]

I would go for the Mega STE / TT case. Nice shape, place for the monitor, could fit a slot in drive (cd/dvd), seperate keyboard.
And ofcourse the brick look makes me happy, still the biggest mis on the Falcon which they should have also fitted in the case.

Maybe even a Mega ST 1/2/4 case would be nice too as long as the keyboard is seperate.
Guess these cases gonna get up in value even if the actual ST in it is defect

A nice to have would be and ST1 rebuild kit to optical. So you still have the look
but better functional and higher DPI.

[wongck]

And with the dvd drive & power supply brick inside it as well ?

Why DVD? Are people still using optical media? None of my laptops has DVD, and I don't miss it either.

DVD is good for data archiving. That's not backup, that taking a snapshot of the data and keeping it.
Just need to keep it out of the sun and it will keep for years.
But still the dye will not last forever.
I was thinking of data archiving using big HDD as they are so cheap now, but HDD cannot take the abuse of an DVD.
Drop a DVD, and you're still OK. Drop a HDD, depends on your luck.

I am amaze at the amount of digital data that I produce each week especially now cameras do HD mode

[wongck]

A nice to have would be and ST1 rebuild kit to optical. So you still have the look
but better functional and higher DPI.

Yes. 100% agree. Need to stuff a optical mouse into one of my dead ST1.

[the_mighty_quinn]

I would go for the Mega STE / TT case. Nice shape, place for the monitor, could fit a slot in drive (cd/dvd), seperate keyboard.
And ofcourse the brick look makes me happy, still the biggest mis on the Falcon which they should have also fitted in the case.

Maybe even a Mega ST 1/2/4 case would be nice too as long as the keyboard is seperate.
Guess these cases gonna get up in value even if the actual ST in it is defect

A nice to have would be and ST1 rebuild kit to optical. So you still have the look
but better functional and higher DPI.

Genius! the Mega ST case would be easier to build, it would deal with the keyboard problem, it looks amazing and it keeps to the whole Atari feel of the past.

Going down this road would really open up the market to more potential people to adopt the platform.

[pinkstone]

Nobody likes the Microbox case?

http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/16 ... /index.htm

I reaaaaally love that design....

[Shredder11]

I have found optical media to be generally very reliable and discs I did ten years ago or more, still work fine. However I have recently been very alarmed at my dual layer DVD discs, which are already buggered after just a few weeks of being kept in their plastic cake tins away from bright light or heat etc. I find that I am now at the point where I may turn my back on dual layer DVD for good, and switch to using external hard drives instead; when the price of SSD drives come down I will use those. The other week I got a Western Digital My Book Essentials 2TB drive and so far I like it a lot; my best friend has bought quite a few external drives and models, and he has found Western Digital My Book to be the best. My Atari collection of downloaded files and info...basically everything I own for the Atari stands at more than 60GB, and I no longer trust optical media for this purpose!

[joska]

A nice to have would be and ST1 rebuild kit to optical. So you still have the look
but better functional and higher DPI.

I have one Actually it's a gutted ST1 with the internals from an optical PS/2 mouse. I use it for my Milan. I will make another one with built-in PS/2->Atari conversion for use with the Firebee.

[Foxxy74]

Hmm, I think you must aim for what market the FireBee is created ...

Thats even a more interesting question then what the design should look like

Most Atarians like the ST or Mega ST design , or the Micro Box ... Hmmm, I like the ST design, but the Mega or Microbox ?

Nah, used to be good enough, but not anymore, I prefer a clear, empty desk, with only a keyboard and a screen .. (Sooo happy you can ,t see my desk right now ----> even I can't see my desk right now !! )

But for musicians -----> rack case (MkX kinda ) (<--- betting thats the cheapest to build nicely anyways )

Desk-top folks probably prefer Towers (underneath their desks ?)

Atarians ----> probably some Retro looking case .. ?

I think the keyboard must be the signature for the old trusty Atarians out here , some diagonally striping, blue and grey ?

But hey, what do i know

[BoNuS]

Nobody likes the Microbox case?

http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/16 ... /index.htm

I reaaaaally love that design....

I never seen this case before Looks nice though, but is it practical ?
Looks indeed like a workstation, but the cd-rom (that is the bubbel-look-alike-thingie I guess)
is then placed unhandy.

[Dal]

Didn't Sony buy the design from Atari and based the playstation on it? Or was that a rumour?

To me, there are elements of the original playstation, ps2 and even ps3 that I see
In the microbox... Surely this can't be a coincidence?

[wongck]

DVD is good for data archiving. That's not backup, that taking a snapshot of the data and keeping it.

Oops, forgot to say that after archiving it, the original data on the HDD is deleted.
This is the important difference between backup & archiving.
Thus freeing up space for more.... well, digital media