Individual Computers: New products, RoHS comliance, Vacation until july 26th

[Paul]

New Products
The Catweasel design will be ten years old this year. At the moment, only a version for the PCI slot of modern computers and the ISA version are available. During the past few months, a lot of requests for a Catweasel controller for classic Amiga computers came in. This demand is now met with the Catweasel MK2 "anniversary edition": We have revised the design from 1997, and made another production run. The Catweasel MK2 works on the clockport fo the Amiga 1200, the IDE-port of the Amiga 4000, and on the clockports of our Zorro-cards. It even works on the clockport of the Amiga 600 memory expansion that starts shipping next week, so the controller covers the complete line of classic Amigas.

Source: Amiga.org

[Zetr0]

hmmm a piece of amiga hardware I dont own, but more specifically a NEW piece of hardward.

[keropi]

most importantly:

Production of Amiga 600 accelerator completed
It took more than two years, but waiting was worthwhile: Our accelerator for the Amiga 600 is completed. The technical details:

68030-33 processor clocked at 40MHz
128MByte RAM option, selectable speed
512K flash-memory
PCMCIA-friendly
low-heat design
PRICE: 129€



Since heat is the main problem in the small case of the Amiga 600, we have skipped on an FPU, and designed large parts of the logic in 3.3V technology. The 68030 processor is in a socket not just on this picture - every card has a socket, so the user can increase the performance with a faster processor and crystal oscillator. Such a modification might need active cooling parts!
As opposed to other Amiga 600 accelerators, we have found a good solution for mounting the card in the computer: Two screws hold the board safely in place. A distance sleeve keeps the card from bending.




WHDLOAD groovyness!!!!

[Zetr0]

Indeed, if only I had kept my A600, would of missed the AGA gfx though

a little ode to 600;

it is when i get to musing
about games i love to play,
all those colours thier using
yet only a few used AGA

[Methanoid]

If this project of Jens' was COMPLETED as stated then why has it now been put on hold?

[AMIGAZ]

Originally Posted by Methanoid

If this project of Jens' was COMPLETED as stated then why has it now been put on hold?

It's put on hold, I had pre-ordered two of them

I went out and bought an Apollo A630 instead

[Zetr0]

I hope jens can get a production run up and running, that would be cool. I may even be prompted to add this ti the a600+ project

[Jope]

When I asked Jens at Breakpoint, he said the hw needs to be tested some more and firmware needs to be written.

It will come later, we just need to be patient. Jens has some contract projects that make som much needed money for him, so those go on a higher priority.

Naturally everything we buy helps also this project to get finished eventually. :-D

[alexh]

I asked Jens on the 11th of may and he said that all projects other than Clone-A were on hold.

Originally Posted by Jens Schoenfeld

That's [Clone-A] the only thing I'm currently working on Amiga-wise. All the other stuff is totally getting on my nerves

"Other stuff" I think meant the Efika and Amiga's "new" board.

[amigakit.com]

Jens is still working on Amiga projects now- he has just finished the MK2 IDEFIX Express adapters for us an he is working on X-Surf 3cc now so we can stock early August.

At Christmas he will send us the 4xclockport expansion for the new IDEFIX Express boards

[alexh]

These are not new products are they?

Isn't he just having a new batch made?

[Charlie]

You know, I've never owned a *real* Amiga...
Its always been the OS for me rather than the hardware.
( Why I keep banging on about Amithlon & AROS )

This Amiga 600 accelerator could well be what I've been waiting for when it comes to building a 'retro-hobbyist' system. Though I have hopes for future Clone-A's.

[alexh]

Originally Posted by Charlie

Though I have hopes for future Clone-A's.

I dont. Unfortunately this book means that the OCS/ECS hardware structure, registers etc. is copyrighted for at least 70 years starting 1991



If Clone-A becomes a real product, whoever owns the copyright to this book will be able to legally ask for their cut.

[BinoX]

Why does everyone but me have the third edition of that book? lol

I have the 2nd version though.. lol (And the ROM Kernel Ref manual 3rd edition of course.. recently donated by my boss )

[Jope]

Heh, the third edition is where it's at. :-)

I have the whole white set, just the libs & devices book of the blue set and devices, libraries and hw of the black set..

Perhaps one day I'll find the missing piece of the black set for a cheap enough price.

[Zetr0]

@Alexh

I know its a complete mute point and doesn`t distract any weight from the argument, although not overly sure what it is... but i am not overly that bright lol.

but i thought a book by author is 70 years + death, but a technical journal from an exisiting product was only 50 years (same as software) ?

personally either way I dont see this as a problem, afterall their cut cannot be THAT much to make it unprofitable. if it is, just post out semi built DIY kits ... where theres a will there is a legal loop-hole... amiga.inc has shown us that.

what ever holding jens up / back i hope it passes soon and well for him, I do so want an A600 accelerator, I would also like to see a varient of this wich provides 4-8MB of fast ram

[alexh]

Originally Posted by Zetr0

I would also like to see a variant of this which provides 4-8MB of fast ram

Of what?

[BinoX]

Originally Posted by Jope

Heh, the third edition is where it's at. :-)

Well, just bought the 2nd edition off ebay for £12.. bargain I thought
Especially 'cause I only really want it for the Zorro II autoconfig and a reference design that's in there somewhere

If I ever see the 3rd edition out there somewhere for cheap I'll grab it

[Zetr0]

Originally Posted by alexh

Of what?

the a600 accelerator, I would like to see a version that just clips over the chip and provides say 4-6mb of (faster than 250ns SRAM) memory,

[alexh]

It's got a SIMM slot so I am sure it will take whatever you throw at it.