Help support crowdfund for Amiga-style USB keyboards & mice.

[simulant]

Hi I am hoping to get some help and support for my Crowdfunding campaign.



Basically I have all the tooling and manufacturing in place to have Amiga-style and other retro inspired modern USB PC keyboards and mice made.

The aim is to produce some very affordable (but still good quality) keyboards and mice that can be used mainly for emulation and with modern systems - but they will also still work via adapters with classic Amiga computers and CD32.

I have already had a prototype made and Mike from Amiga Inc. has initially seemed positive about the project. I also have Acorn brand holders on board (as I also wish to make Acorn, Amstrad and Sinclair style versions too). The reason I need a few platforms is mainly just to factory minimum order quantities.

Anyway I am ready to launch my IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign and even have the pre-launch page and a video to show the product ready!!

BUT I am stuck now in a licensing limbo

I've not had final approval from Amiga Inc. despite Mike's positive comments and I am left not knowing if I am actually allowed to start the campaign (I am happy to pay a royalty or use Amiga licensing terms if needed).
Acorn have generously already given me the go ahead, but Sky UK (who own the Amstrad and Sinclair brands) have me also stuck in limbo. They will not say what I can or can't launch with... Their lawyers tend to play it safe with generic legal email replies and that aren't very specific in regard to what is "passing-off" or not allowed.

I wanted to reach out to the community and hopefully get some support from you guys.

I feel this would be a great product - just to give another option for Amiga fans at a good price (retro computing is already an expensive hobby!) and these mice and keyboards would work on new systems for NextGen Amigas, yet also save wear on tear on collectable retro Amigas via using adapters. They'd even be a good option if an original keyboard or mouse is not available, or if it is already too expensive. You may have a broken or faulty one on your A1000-A4000 for example...

I realise A1200.net and other projects are already filling the need for replacement keycaps or cases, mechanical keys etc etc and I love all of this and I've even pledged myself - so with that in mind I wanted to go a different route and not tread on anyone's toes.

I also wish to donate to well-known vintage computing charities too, so it will be for a good cause.

If anyone knows anyone at Amiga Inc. or Sky UK, or has friends or colleagues that may know anyone that could give me some help or an inroad to get the project started in regard to licensing it would be a great help. Please PM me. I really appreciate any support.

I've put a lot of money and time already into setting up the manufacturing and tooling/mold, as well as colour matching, design, having the prototype made, making the video and even meeting with an IP lawyer etc.

I just now need some help and support with the final push.

If anyone wants to see the project and video here is the pre-launch page:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/simu ... ards-mice/

Please sign up on that page to the newsletter and hopefully when I finally do get fully approved I can let you know that the campaign has begun!

I am trying to be very respectful and not start the project without the correct permission.

Thanks very much indeed and I realise this may not be for everyone, but I am just trying to do something which I think is cool and offer another input option for those who can't afford more expensive options, as well as help the community and charities too

NOTE ON KEYBOARD & MOUSE DESIGN:
I wanted to note on the keyboard and mouse as I know purists may not like the style of the keycaps or non-tank mouse etc. There are good reasons I've gone this way though.
For one the same mold has to be used for all the computer platforms I want to use (again due to MOQ). So to save production costs and hopefully also give a bit more wrist-strain relief and modern comfort I have gone with "half-height keycaps" rather than full profile ones. These are not completely flat or chiclet laptop style, they still have some shape and profile to them in order to not look completely out of place with classic hardware BUT they do allow for easier manufacturing and a little lower final retail price. The same reasons with not choosing and Amiga-looking or "tank" mouse style really as above, these are a modern and high DPI mouse with micro-switch buttons and really nice and light to use. Again they are neutral in style across the other platforms too such as Acorn/Amstrad etc. The result means that I hope to have both mouse and keyboard available for under £60/$75 and bearing in mind that includes licensing and donating to charity. I can only estimate this at this stage of course but I will give the best feasible price!

[simulant]

Also I am on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/Simulant_Retro

[simulant]

Hi just to let you know this campaign has now gone live on Kickstarter.

NOW TO FEATURE FULL SIZED KEYS! STANDARD FULL-PROFILE KEYCAPS WILL NOW BE USED FOR ALL DESIGNS DUE TO COMMUNITY FEEDBACK

Thanks for any support, please spread the word!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/si ... y-simulant

[Overmann]

Is it possible to get some more info on the membrane key switches you are going to use. They really vary in quality and though you mention the ones you've chosen are of good quality I'm curious as to which you are going with. Keyboards really live and die by the quality of their caps and switches.
When I first saw your posts a while ago I was hoping you would go with low profile caps and ML-switches. That combo is a GREAT compromise between cost and quality and (in my opinion) is fantastic to type on. Full size caps has me worried due to the quality of most membrane switches.

And did you really manage to sort out the lisencing? Trying to get permission to use the Amiga lisence must be a nightmare!

Cool project, by the way!

[simulant]

Is it possible to get some more info on the membrane key switches you are going to use. They really vary in quality and though you mention the ones you've chosen are of good quality I'm curious as to which you are going with. Keyboards really live and die by the quality of their caps and switches.
When I first saw your posts a while ago I was hoping you would go with low profile caps and ML-switches. That combo is a GREAT compromise between cost and quality and (in my opinion) is fantastic to type on. Full size caps has me worried due to the quality of most membrane switches.

And did you really manage to sort out the lisencing? Trying to get permission to use the Amiga lisence must be a nightmare!

Cool project, by the way!

Hi thanks for the post!

We're using a 3million button-press tested membrane switch and we've actually increased the quality now from what we had with the low profile keycaps (hence the price increase and bigger funding goal now).

Our manufacturer works with big brands so they are putting together the membrane and switching just like they do for other good mid-range quality keyboards similar to leading brands such as Dell or Microsoft use in their keyboard internals. So you will receive that big brand quality with this (despite it not being mechanical). The keyboard should last as well as any major one out there really.

I too liked the low profile keycaps, and many others did too but this is really an upgrade in overall quality as the casing will now be stronger too - most feedback I received preferred the full height keycap so we wanted to please the majority of backers with what they want and also use it as an opportunity to do some other improvements in quality.

Yes licensing is a bit of a nightmare, but we've tried to safeguard as best we can and compromise with the license holders. I'll keep you posted with Kickstarter updates if you follow the project and we should have more news about that along the way as well as renders of the newer design and keycap height too

Please share wherever you can if you like the project - the main tricky part of this one is just getting the volume to meet £38,000 per design MOQ and moulding costs with our factory, so we just need all the backing we can and appreciate anyone that can spread the word or back it. Thanks again for the support!!

[Overmann]

Is it possible to get some more info on the membrane key switches you are going to use. They really vary in quality and though you mention the ones you've chosen are of good quality I'm curious as to which you are going with. Keyboards really live and die by the quality of their caps and switches.
When I first saw your posts a while ago I was hoping you would go with low profile caps and ML-switches. That combo is a GREAT compromise between cost and quality and (in my opinion) is fantastic to type on. Full size caps has me worried due to the quality of most membrane switches.

And did you really manage to sort out the lisencing? Trying to get permission to use the Amiga lisence must be a nightmare!

Cool project, by the way!

Hi thanks for the post!

We're using a 3million button-press tested membrane switch and we've actually increased the quality now from what we had with the low profile keycaps (hence the price increase and bigger funding goal now).

Our manufacturer works with big brands so they are putting together the membrane and switching just like they do for other good mid-range quality keyboards similar to leading brands such as Dell or Microsoft use in their keyboard internals. So you will receive that big brand quality with this (despite it not being mechanical). The keyboard should last as well as any major one out there really.

I too liked the low profile keycaps, and many others did too but this is really an upgrade in overall quality as the casing will now be stronger too - most feedback I received preferred the full height keycap so we wanted to please the majority of backers with what they want and also use it as an opportunity to do some other improvements in quality.

Yes licensing is a bit of a nightmare, but we've tried to safeguard as best we can and compromise with the license holders. I'll keep you posted with Kickstarter updates if you follow the project and we should have more news about that along the way as well as renders of the newer design and keycap height too

Please share wherever you can if you like the project - the main tricky part of this one is just getting the volume to meet £38,000 per design MOQ and moulding costs with our factory, so we just need all the backing we can and appreciate anyone that can spread the word or back it. Thanks again for the support!!

Thank you for the thourough answer. I'll keep an eye on this one! I'm not completely sold on the concept, but the prices are very good! I would love a truly high quality keyboard, but I guess I can go pay WASD the big bucks for one of those. I like you're designs and I'm really hoping to see a more detailed demonstration of the build and quality.

Then again, for the price you're asking it's almost a no-brainer! I hope this gets there, man. It's a really cool project to bring some of these classig designs back to life.

[simulant]

Thank you for the thourough answer. I'll keep an eye on this one! I'm not completely sold on the concept, but the prices are very good! I would love a truly high quality keyboard, but I guess I can go pay WASD the big bucks for one of those. I like you're designs and I'm really hoping to see a more detailed demonstration of the build and quality.

Then again, for the price you're asking it's almost a no-brainer! I hope this gets there, man. It's a really cool project to bring some of these classig designs back to life.

Thank you again, I'm glad you like it and see what I am trying to do. I've had some negative comments in terms of people wanting exact replicas etc - but the aim here is just to give an affordable solution because as you say you can pay for mechanical keyboards and highend replicas. Or even pay a lot on eBay for originals. We've got some fantastic things like the Checkmate 1500 out there and A1200.net but I'm just trying to offer something also that is inspired by our beloved machines, still has a good quality and won't break the bank

[Overmann]

One more thing that I'm wondering. Will the keyboards use PS/2 over USB standard, so that it's possible to connect the keyboards to classic amigas using adapters like Lyra or do we need to use a USB to Amiga adapter to make them work?

[simulant]

One more thing that I'm wondering. Will the keyboards use PS/2 over USB standard, so that it's possible to connect the keyboards to classic amigas using adapters like Lyra or do we need to use a USB to Amiga adapter to make them work?

Yes they will be fully PS/2 compatible over USB, so computers such as say the Acorn RiscPC will let you just plug them in the back with one of those cheap convertor green or purple adapters that used to come with older PC keyboards back in the day. Same on Amiga they'll work as PS/2 but you'll still need a Jerry or something existing like the one we do:

https://www.simulant.uk/shop/Amiga-Atar ... se-Adaptor

to convert the signals over

[rpiguy9907]

I don’t see an option for ANSI layout, only ISO, so I will not be joining. But it is a great project, good luck!

I’ve had the same idea for years, glad to see someone less lazy than me making it happen!