Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    Hi,
    
    Oddly enough, the same thing is being attempted by the guy I live with.
    I got a cast off Decserver 200 plastic housing for the main unit - an
    almost perfect fit. The expansion slot causes a problem in that it is,
    as far as I can tell, non standard 86way IDC, but if you are careful it
    should be possible to cut down 98way connectors. Problem is that the
    Decserver box, once filled with the A500 motherboard and A590 wo't be
    big enough for the zorro. Simplest answer is to get another decserver
    box (well, they are free if you ask nicely.) Keep the extension cable
    short (the length of an A2000) and you shouldn't suffer.
    
    Let us know how you get on.
    
    Dave.
    

    
    I have the Foillowing...
    
    A PC type Fliptop case containing the A500 motherboard 
    A MonAMI 3-slot board on its side which has an 8-UP (2 MEGS) and a
    HardFrame
    
    The case has 2 viewable 1/2 hight slots (which contain my 3.5 and tape
    units)
    
    My only problem is the full hight drive and Adaptec ACB4070 card where
    do I put them BUT now I have an idea ...
    I've finally found a use for the decserver case....
    
    	Steve G

     What are you guy's using for keyboards? (cases).
    
    						Ed
    

    Hi,
    
    Still on the Decserver box idea, as luck would have it it is the
    perfect size to put a 19" rack frame inside. In the UK I've seen these
    for 25-35 pounds. The good thing about them is that you can use them as
    a 'skeleton' on which to build a framework tailored to the equipment
    you have. The bad thing is that the cost a lot for what is effectively
    some lengths of metal.. You could try mecano - it's cheaper, but
    probably would survive a drop of 50 feet :-) I'm going for the frame as
    I'm mounting hard drives, but if you're mounting an A500 motherboard,
    you would probably be better off with those little plastic feet which
    any electronic component dealer sells.
    
    Dave.
     

    
    Well as soon as the Local stockest gets the parts in I'll put the
    keyboard into the 2000 keyboard case...
    
Here are the Commordore part nofor the keyboard case...

	Top 	380-73301 
	Bottom  380-10501 

Steve G

     I decided to use  a decserver case also, it came with about a 2 inch 
    extension section in the middle, (gives me alot of room).
     Another question with using this box is RF shielding.  I was curious
    if someplace carried a flexible metal shielding, (with stickem on one
    side).
     I'll be checking out the Plastic Stand-offs this  week.
    
    								ED
     
    

    My A500 is mounted in a scrap pc100 (Rainbow) case .
    Mounted upside-down ( the amiga mother board that is ), and an RD where
    it belongs.
	The pc100-b has a quiet 12v fan which is quieter than the RD !!
    
    		If I need more space I will junk the standard PSU and
    get a physically smaller one.
    
    			-Pete-
    

    Re: .0

    
>	I'd like to remove the internals of my A500 along with my subsystem
> and place them in an expansion box...

>      This will be made easier, if I can relocate the keyboard to be detachable.
> So far, I know of only one product that will do this, (although I can't 
>remember the name.)
>      As far as I know, they send you a keyboard case, and a metal cover to 
>cover the holes left in the main unit by the now extracted keyboard.
>     Does anyone know the specifics of this product, or of simmilar ones?

    Ed,

    Just happened to come across this while thumbing thru some old editions
   of Info last night (Info, Jan/Feb 90, pg 70). From Lightning Bolt 
   Computers: the Freedom 500 which allows you to detach the 500 keyboard 
   and put it in their case, and cover the holes in the 500.

    1737 Waltham Dr.
    Ann Arbor MI 48103
    313-769-5670

    -Dom

    As an alternative idea, check out the second column on pg 126 in the
    November 90 AmigaWorld. From California Access comes "the Bodega Bay,
    a self-powered fan-cooled A500 expansion chassis which doubles as a
    monitor stand. Can hold up to 4 standard 100-pin A2000 style cards,
    a 3 1/2 in. hard disk, and a floppy drive."

    I called for info earlier this week. This unit plugs into the 500's
    expansion bus, and sort of surrounds the 500, acting as a monitor
    stand (I guess it encases the 500). Has its own 200w power supply (can 
    toss the 500 brick), and the fan blows air thru the unit as well as into
    the 500. Oh yeah, list price was $395, available mid-November. Haven't 
    received the literature yet, but will post any new details when I do.

    -Dom

    (California Access, 408-378-0340)

    Re: -.1

    Sorry, I misquoted the price on the Bodega Bay expansion box. It's $349.95.

    I tried ordering a keyboard case through System Eyes, and was told they
    don't break em' up. (I don't need the guts, just the case)
      Anybody have any other sources?
    
    								Thanks;
    									Ed