+1 (What Werner said) + keyboard backlight.
If feasible, add an infrared LED on the back
so we can use Nanonote as a powerful and
(very) smart remote control. Note that high end
universal remotes cost more than a Ben,
These high value(!) changes to Ben will require
changes to some parts of the plastic case. This
is non-trivial but doable.
-- access to USB A host connector
-- accommodate thicker battery
-- accommodate wider LCD panel
-- (maybe) opening for IR LED
-- Changes to keyboard layout
Solid planning for Ya Nanonote should start now. This should
allow Ya to ship by mid-2012. This does not imply end of life
for Ben. Since schedules can shift, Wolfgang will make sure
Ben stays in stock for some period after Ya Nanonote rolls
off the production line.
When Ya is shippable for revenue, a natural and smart
strategy would be to reduce Ben price substantially, while
setting price for Ya just a bit higher than current
Ben price. When it is clear that new sales are mainly Ya
at (my guess) $125, then you move remaining Bens at a blow out
price that is irresistible. Naturally, keep some Ben stock for
returns or replacements. After first 9 or 12 months, BINGO! reduce
Ya price to $89 USD, maybe less.
Sharism can NOT intelligently make business decision to green light
(fund) the YA development program before:
--Ya requirements are defined
--rough estimate of cost of development
-- hardware
-- system software
--top level development schedule
--mini-business case to show financial feasibility
Ya Nanonote has a different use case and requirements that
future Milkymist iterations.
Nanonote:
-- physically small (tiny)
-- pocketable
-- low power consumption
-- battery operated
-- uses commercially available SOC
-- selling price under $100 USD
Milkymist is very(!) cool but will not hit those features soon.
In closing, Ya development faces several hurdles:
-- create tooling for modified plastic pieces
-- develop diagnostic and test software for manufacturing
-- ?? can we start with schematics Carlos & helpers created
about 18 months ago for a tweaked Ben? ten boards were
manufactured. are any of those working or being used?
-- ?? Likewise re: (modified) PCB layout
The scope of what is needed to develop Ya Nanonote may exceed
resources that Sharism has available. That's a totally fair and
understandable outcome.
Ben can continue for some time, it is what it is. But (and this is
a huge "but") I think a Ya similar to what Werner has suggested
would sell MUCH better than Ben. Gross margins should be'
better than Ben, which means:
(Many) more Ya Nanonote units shipped * higher gross margin =
More financial flexibility for Sharism to do great things.
e.g. converting Milkymist FPGA to ASIC.
It's all good.
Ron K. Jeffries
@ronkjeffries
@rkj on identi.ca
On Mon, Jan 24, 2011 at 20:15, Werner Almesberger <[email protected]> wrote:
> Jane Andreas wrote:
>> I have a question about the next Nanonote installment.
>
> I think it's a bit early for such specific details :) There's been
> quite a bit of discussion about desirable feaures a few months ago,
> but then the focus shifted to other things for a while.
>
> Some of my personal "must have" items:
>
> - 64 MB SDRAM, 128 MB if we can
>
> - higher memory speed, e.g., by increasing the bus width and/or
> going from SDR to DDR (DDR is the industry standard now, so this
> also means that affordable larger chips are available)
>
> - wireless communication, most likely based on ben-wpan
>
> - USB host with a regular USB A receptacle. High-speed, if
> possible, but even just full-speed would help.
>
> - one more 8:10 card slot (one external for removable media and
> peripherals, one internal for mass storage)
>
> - WQVGA display - approximately the same height (to maintain the
> overall form factor), but wider
>
> - a pointing device solution. This could be a touch screen, some
> kind of track pad, a track point, or something else.
>
> - simplified and improved keyboard. Something like this:
> http://downloads.qi-hardware.com/people/werner/tmp/layout.pdf
> (Should be modular, so that people can design their own.)
>
> - better weight distribution, so that the (unaided) Ben doesn't
> fall over
>
> I'm not sure about the CPU. Wolfgang has been talking about a more
> powerful "next generation" CPU from Ingenic, but it's not clear to
> me if this one is really worth the trouble. Maybe a closer relative
> of the Ben's CPU would also do. Note that we're not using the full
> potential of even the Ben's current CPU.
>
> I would hope for a very similar price point and also comparable
> power consumption.
>
> For the battery, perhaps a slightly thicker battery compartment
> would be good, considering that there lots of 3rd party batteries
> that would fit if there was just a little bit of extra room.
>
> Sorry for hijacking your thread with my wish lists (and setting a
> bad precedent). Poor impulse control ;-)
>
> - Werner
>
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