Hello Gary, I'm glad you like the design. I wanted to find a way to capture the "slab" form factor of the M100 but alter it in ways that are better suited to modularity. *I anticipate having stock again in probably about 6-8 weeks.* I may open up sales again *sooner *than that, once I have total certainty on timelines when all my components will arrive in Canada.
Those units will be shipped after all "Founder's Edition" and "Kickstarter" related orders have been completed and shipped. I am very fortunate to have managed to find enough funds to get enough pieces to resume sales. These kinds of things really only work in bulk, and I don't have the kind of access to capital that can help me get one batch ahead of my orders, so when I run out of stock a second time, it may be some time before I can offer it again. Hard to convince anyone to lend you a quarter million dollars ;) I have made the case itself using domestic components (raw aluminum) through local extruders and sheet metal fabricators, and I am producing a few components using locally sourced PLA thermoplastics. The project/product is truly international! There are of course modules, boards, and components that have come from Asia and Europe as well. While this first machine doesn't have a "custom" made computer (I am providing Raspberry Pi computers which support dual HDMI output), the power management board does feature a user programmable microcontroller which can serve auxiliary uses like a sort of co-processor. It is powerful enough to output composite or VGA video, but not an HDMI signal which would have made it compatible with the LCD module I am including. Ultimately, I wanted people to have the freedom to bring the single board computer they want, making "my own" is something in the cards down the road, but I won't be in any way limiting people to using my SBC, I always want people to be able to use what they have. -Jesse On Tue, May 25, 2021 at 3:06 AM gary <g...@web8201.com> wrote: > Hello Jesse, > > I am very intrigued by the Ready 100 design. I like youe whole concept of > a modern equivalent to the TRS80 Model 100. > > When do you anticipate having stock available again on your website? > > Thanks, and kind regards, > > > Gary Weber > www.web8201.com > > > > -------- Original message -------- > From: Jesse Lafleur <jesslafl...@gmail.com> > Date: 4/11/21 4:32 PM (GMT-07:00) > To: m...@bitchin100.com > Cc: Model 100 Discussion <m100@lists.bitchin100.com> > Subject: Re: [M100] Hello Model 100 friends! > > Hello Peter. > > This is a fair assessment. I really consider "my" Model 100 to be a Single > Board Computer Expansion system. It is indeed designed to allow you to > "bring your own" SBC and it uses USB connections to integrate everything > together. People should see it as a platform, which I feel has a lot more > capability and flexibility vs forcing people to use a board of my own > design. > > You're right, my machine is a touch bigger as the enclosure was designed > to accommodate a large assortment of internal components (almost like a > tool kit) and with the amount of modularity I've put into the system, it > results in something a little chunky, but no bigger of a 2D footprint than > any 15" screen laptop. Side by side my unit does not look all that much > bigger than the M100! If I had made my unit the same size, it would not be > possible to load the devices I anticipate my users will want to put inside, > there would just be no room the M100 was truly a marvel! > > I am not interested in locking people into specific SBCs so I have kept > things very modular. Why lock people into a chipset? Why lock them into a > board when you all might have something else in mind? (RISC V? Raspi? > Rockpi? 4x4 x86 boards? etc...) You can fit USB dongles, storage, large > batteries inside, and the rear allows for 12 ports + 4 antenna ports. The > TRS80 M100 was closed, fixed, locked down and monolithic with minimal > upgrade capability - typical for the times! > > I love the TRS80 MODEL 100 but I couldn't justify modifying my units just > to have a more modern chip or screen under the hood. I am primarily a > collector, so that kind of destructive change isn't my cup of tea. I wanted > to build my dream computer, and a more modern take on the M100 resulted in > this project. > > As you hinted at, I am anticipating many users installing FPGA style > systems that could take advantage of the modern hardware modules I include > with my design. I would love to see a TRS80 MODEL 100 core for perhaps the > MiSTer FPGA system. (The MODEL I already has a core...) > > ------------------------ > > I did have to address your comment "I'm going to stick to the real thing" > - my quick answer is "why not both?" > > My longer answer: > Ultimately as cool as the TRS80 MODEL 100 is, it is a machine that remains > best suited for computing needs of the 1980s. I love this form factor, and > I wanted a computer in this style that could handle my contemporary > computing needs. No upgrade ROM for the TRS80 M100 could ever accommodate > that. The M100 still has a lot of use in my life, but it cannot replace my > laptop - my model 100 can and has. > > I load Linux, Windows... it's a fully modern machine. I doubt any of you > are using your TRS80 for all your computing needs no matter how often you > use it, unless you literally limit yourselves to command line computing > only, and the limitations of the M100s screen and compatibility with modern > terminals is frustrating at best. The M100 was never designed to be used > beyond as a "micro executive work station" and although journalists (and > obviously all of you!) found a use for it - the use cases are relatively > limited - and this comes from someone who uses an Apple II to check his > email every day. > > I wanted something designed for computing specialists or people who need a > lot of input/output. So while I have indeed "glommed the name" and form > factor of the M100, my own design takes a new direction and brings the > slab-laptop into the 21st century - with a lot of love and respect and > admiration for what came before. The LCD serves best as a secondary touch > bar (think apple laptop) for a large screen at home or at the office (or a > portable screen!) though it is quite usable as a primary screen while on > the go. > > So all I can say is "Why not both?" ;) > > -------------- > > I also have a Zenith laptop that is a clone of the Tandy 600. Are you guys > keen on that system as well? > > Thank you for informing me about the REX. This is totally new to me, and I > will definitely pick one up! > > Virtual T has been a constant companion on my own system and looks great > while using the LCD that comes with my MODEL 100. Its a great way to > quickly test some BASIC code before transferring it over serial port. I > love connecting the two via rs232 connection, makes me feel all warm and > fuzzy. > > I have a very big surprise for this user group when the time is right, I > can't divulge any details now but it will definitely stir some interest... > > > On Sun, Apr 11, 2021 at 6:44 PM Peter Noeth <petern0...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> Someone on the list discovered this a few months ago. It is not a >> computer per se, just a packaged keyboard and display with modules to be >> connected to a SBC (Single Board Computer) of ones own design. Bigger than >> a Model 100/102/200, and unless the SBC one puts in there is Model 100 >> compatible, won't run any of the Model 100 software. Just glomming onto the >> Model 100 name. >> >> Might be a candidate for putting a SBC in that runs Virtual T, then >> modifying VirtualT to take advantage of the unit's contemporary modules. >> >> I'll stick to the real thing with Steve's REX. >> >> Regards, >> >> Peter >> >>> >>> Message: 1 >>> Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2021 17:34:00 -0400 >>> From: Jesse Lafleur <jesslafl...@gmail.com> >>> To: m...@bitchin100.com >>> Subject: [M100] Hello Model 100 friends! >>> Message-ID: >>> < >>> camhyxt1wqeeixd9+6xjjnadvrjg6wpujh+05dr1wsyhxead...@mail.gmail.com> >>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8" >>> >>> I found my first TRS80 Model 100 about 5 years ago and never stopped >>> playing with it. I now own many accessories, two units and perhaps loved >>> the unit so much, I made my own... >>> >>> https://ready100.com >>> >>> I'm not here to sell anything (I'm actually sold out right now!) but I am >>> here to meet this wonderful usergroup to talk to you about RadioShack and >>> READY! my spiritual successor to the TRS80 M100. >>> >>> I am happy to have finally found you all and I look forward to chatting! >>> >>> Sincerely, >>> *-Jesse Lafleur* >>> *READY!* >>> >>>
