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Latok: Quote: Every MSX lover should pre order the device and not wait until it comes on the market. manuel: Quote: Totally different market and goal ehrm... what to believe here?

Am I the only one who has trouble buying a programmable device where both the licensing and the upgrade for MSX2 is unclear?
The device is kewl, but it is not cheap. I need more detailed information before I want to spend the cash. I don't want to end up with an MSX1 only device; nor do I want to pay alot of money again for every upgrade.

I'm quite sure I'm not the only one who thinks like this.

This is much more important than fun marketing games like "name the new one chip msx".

Bazix, ASCII, if you want to sell more units, get these issues sorted out!

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Am I the only one who has trouble buying a programmable device where both the licensing and the upgrade for MSX2 is unclear?

no; as much as I like the idea, I'm still pondering wether to preorder or not.

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Am I the only one who has trouble buying a programmable device where both the licensing and the upgrade for MSX2 is unclear? The device is kewl, but it is not cheap. I need more detailed information before I want to spend the cash. I don't want to end up with an MSX1 only device; nor do I want to pay alot of money again for every upgrade. I'm quite sure I'm not the only one who thinks like this. Bazix, ASCII, if you want to sell more units, get these issues sorted out!

I completely agree with you. I asked about this some time ago too, but we are still waiting for the answer. All this time to bring us an answer to a simple question like this make me think about 2 possibilities:

When don't get an answer because:

1) They believe we won't like the answer, and that will impact OCM sales.

In that case, the answer is that the code won't be released with a license like GPL or BSD. The upgrade to MSX2 will probably be paid.

2) The answer will depend on the number of pre-orders.

This option gives us at least some hope, but the problem remains: How many units must be sold so that the code will be released with a free license and the upgrade will be possible without a fee ?

Of course, I hope I am wrong about this.

Actually, FPGA has a great advantage when it comes to 'time to market'. Quite a lot of changes can be made relatively shortly before production is started. Once the casing and final specs are clear, more information will become available at Bazix.

As for the One Chip MSX being limited: I don't think a maximum of 10,000 One Chip MSX computers in a first batch can be considered as a limitation, it should be more than enough to get all die hard MSX users one, and to attract a few new MSX users in the process. Besides, I'm sure ASCII would not say no to a second batch, provided they can sell at least 5,000 OCMs once again.,

I just put a pre order on for one chip , it really looks like a devlopement kit for FPGA which is customised with MSX connectors.

I wonder if the board is connectable to the PC and if a SDK would be delivered , so that one can reprogram the fpga . I wonder also if the VHDL source are part of the deliverable.

I believe there are more information on the japanese site , I dont unserstand japanese but at the end
of the page there is a kind of list of the deliverables where one can read words like *vhdl* , *cdrom*, and
*AC* (for the power input ) ...
The fpga is a cyclone one which is presented by altera as the cheapest fpga , ever ...
On http://www.easyfpga.com/ a developement board with the same FPGA, but without all the msx specific connectors , is sold for 199 USD , so 189 euros for the one chip msx is a fair price.

I'm pretty sure that ASCII will produce a second batch of One Chip MSXes. Once 5000 units are produced and sold, what about the people that did not buy it at first?

I have just been notified by Bazix that the VHDL code is part of the delivery,
so anyone can re work it .

More info can be found in the One Chip MSX FAQ...

The upgrade to MSX2 WILL be paid. It's on the FAQ on Bazix...

I really dont think ASCII will "break even" with the 5000 OCMs. If they wish to produce other batches (or invest on a new OCM), they need to make money somehow. If that will be selling the cables or the MSX2 expansions or with the OCMs I really dont know.

And I strongly recommend Bazix to remove those images on their site that implies that the OCM is a MSX2 (showing MSX2 games and boot logo), someone may be able to suit you guys...

Another error on Bazix site ????

"July 21, 2005
More information on the One Chip MSX revealed."


Ehmm .... shouldn't it July 30 ?

Thanks for spotting that error, mars2k. Disappointing to see that's your only response to a chance this big at producing MSX computers at a relatively large scale again. I understand you don't like my eternal optimism, but a bit of positivity from your side would not hurt either, you know. But hey, you were negative about blueMSX at first as well, eh?

As for the paid MSX2 upgrade: There might come some good news on that one, but I can give absolutely no guarantee on that one at this stage. Just look at it this way: you have the specs that have been announced in the faq out-of-the-box and perhaps a few extras some of which customers will find to be very nice. However, things might just as well remain as they are right now. As soon as anything changes, you'll be the first to know of course. Even if the MSX2 upgrade will not be free, I think it's not very right to judge this decision without even knowing what the price and contents of the upgrade package will be.

Speaking a bit more general about the One Chip MSX: with the full VHDL code of the OCM in the package, the out-of-the-box configuration doesn't have to be perfect, every single owner of the One Chip MSX can make it perfect.

pardon me, but shouldn't that be something like: 'every single owner of the One Chip MSX with VHDL skills can make it perfect'?

(tm)

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Thanks for spotting that error, mars2k. Disappointing to see that's your only response to a chance this big at producing MSX computers at a relatively large scale again. I understand you don't like my eternal optimism, but a bit of positivity from your side would not hurt either, you know. But hey, you were negative about blueMSX at first as well, eh?

Well, that's a strange comparison but actually, when you are actively involved in a project, you don't have no more the same perspective, it's an evidence ! So it explains also your optimism about the OCM, but as you have already said, we'll see what happens on 20 August ... I won't repeat here my opinion, the discussion has already been made in another threads and all I can see is the fact that the MSX community is really divided about the OCM. See just your poll ...