I am a J-War-Hero o_O

... and you are RNFF :wink

Well... going back ON TOPIC and forgetting most of the nonsense posted...

First of all, this is not against MRC or Bazix or MSXA or whatever - I just want to understand exactly what is being pre-ordered on ASCII's page...

So to actually change the VHDL on the FPGA, you will need the cable that does not come with it?

I dont care if I can *simulate* the VHDL on my computer - I want the real thing, that's what we will be paying for; If all I wanted to do is simulate the behaviour, I could do alone without any real device at all...

I know ZERO of building stuff, so I dont know or cant create my own cable... then I would have to BUY the cable that Gigamix says it will cost HALF the price of the OCM?? Is that really the cable's price, or some online translation error? (the translation implies something about a custom made cable, that's why it would be so expensive, they even ask why a standard cable wasnt used, but I couldnt understand if this cable was to upload vhdl code or just to connect two OCMs together)

And as for buying the OCM just to use it as an MSX1, well you could buy an msx1 on ebay for much less...

Please someone tells me I'm wrong!

@BiFi: I wasn't trying to annoy you (that would be a waste of my and your time, wouldn't it?), I was referring to what you replied before you editted it. I was just trying to be nice and give some good advice to prevent you from embarrasing yourself. I wasn't the only one who read the original line... I understand you don't appreciate that, sorry, my bad....

@SlotMan, thanks for taking the discussion on topic again Forgive my explanation :/

D-tail and Snout are already counting on the distribution via Bazix I suppose. MSX is responsable for the Japanese market and that is up to them to inform their customers.
The suggestion made is a good one but you have to deal with:

-It isnot a cable you buy just around the corner
-You need fairs or clubmeetings and someone who is prepared to offer this kind of service and has knowledge how to program.
- I have seen sofar also no page where a normal customer can buy it.

Referring to the price it is even worse Altera counts 149 USD WITHOUT postage/package and or payplacosts

I really don't see that as a problem. A few people will buy the cable, hell maybe even together, come together and (re)flash the whole things. Or do it at the next fair. That would be good for the fairs don't you think. Just like in the old days

BTW: I bought a cable to connect my phone to my computer. That one costed me about 75 euros.

But really Rob, this is a business opportunity! Buy one and ask -let's say- 15 euro for flashing the thing. There should be at least 10 people willing to avoid the cable costs this way. Next time they want to have their machine flashed it's profit.

Ýou probably not read.
It is an opportunity IF it 's gonna happen in europe and their is a distribution plan as well as a service plan. If someone distributes something you have to give guanrantee service etc. You loose you warranty in most cases when you do it yourself.
Second it has to happen first in Japan before Bazix is making up its mind to do it or not .
Three the real complaint as made on the gigamix-page that isnot mentioned clearly if you buy it !

Ehrm. Right. I was just talking about the cable.

Hmm, I try it another way.
The cable is needed for an update and thus coupled to the All in one chip as supplied.

Although I think it will be a success, otherwise I had not shown the previous version.
The need of the cable is coupled to the sales and in the first place in Japan. Later on if Bazix starts the pre-ordering here and it is enough I will certainly take that in consideration to buy such a cable since I buy one(provided my remarks have been taken care of-see another topic).
And it would be wise also I suppose since I think that the software upgrade is copyrighted.

you needs the cable always if you are too far as to go to a meeting.... and if you can't make one... and as there isn't any scheme how to do one... i not knows if will be possible to make it in home

This "one person buy the cable and several use it on a fair" does not work for me. IF I would buy the OCM, the main purpose is to experiment with the FPGA, changing the vhdl to see what happens in the real thing. So with every change I make to the code, I'll have to wait to a fair to test it? Common, this is insane!

If the OCM does not come with it's cable or any way to change the vhdl "out of the box", than it will be just an overpriced msx1 computer.

And worst is that the ASCII page does not even mention anything, giving the illusion to those who pre-ordered already that they will be able to change the FPGA as much as they want whenever they want, which isnt true!

Slotman
Well you can buy/or let buy a cable for you if you want one for yourself. That is what I should do.
However as I stated it first had to happenin Japan so that's not our concern. It only indicates what you get for your moeny and that you have to buy as japanese customer separate plus all the trouble to find it.
The rest of the world solution-assumed you buy it not from Ikeda- is supposed to buy it from Bazix IF (AGAIN !) they find the distribution attractive.

The fair-updates can be a solution but it only works as I stated in my very first message also IF there are any and IF you find someone who can handle it.
So there are to many IF 's to be answered first.
But nevertheless I think this will work as long as you have willing people, fairs and better that they are present at those fairs.
It is ofcourse not the only solution but one of the cheapest.
You have the choice to buy thus an expensive one or finding someone who is prepared to buy a diy cable and make it for you

that's a lot of IF's again...

[conclusion]One Chip MSX is going to be produced and most of us we are going to buy it.[/conclusion]