Guru
Joined: 13/08/2020
Location: CanadaPosts: 604
| Posted: 11:30pm 02 May 2025 |
It's one of those questions that nobody really knows the answer to until you build it. I wouldn't have thought there was a market for the Commander X16 or Spectrum Next - yet there is.
Who is the end user for such a device? I would argue that it is somebody who does not have the time or knowledge to take one of the existing designs and turn it into a working computer. I know that sounds trivial to most of us, but there are steps involved (blowing firmware, putting software onto an SD card, 3D printing a case, sourcing the right monitor and keyboard etc.) that would be a barrier for many people.
I think it might be very interesting for the Maximite community to dabble in "ready to run" solutions.
There's a whole bunch of projects that people might appreciate.
A PicoCalc, a CMM2 desktop, a distributed DIN rail mounted PicoMite PLC, a CMM2 arcade cabinet etc.
That last one (the arcade cabinet) is something I have dabbled with. I think it would be fun to build either a JAMMA board or a fully integrated mini cabinet that contains joystick and screen.
I like the idea of removing profit from the equation. However, I think there obviously has to be some sort of recouperation of costs for physical devices - which in turn needs some sort of buffer zone financially. I think the existing sales model covers that nicely - with distributers making a reasonable profit - balancing the costs per unit with consumer demand. The Open Source nature of the projects allowing others to manufacture the same units cheaper if possible.
When it comes to projects that require minimum production runs or tooling, maybe one option would be to set up a development fund. Have a few sponsors chip in a couple of hundred bucks each (I'd happily chip in) to cover the initial development costs of the first product. Then have a honour system where for each sale of the unit, the sellers chip in $10 back to the fund to refill it and fund the next product?