The factory assembly video made it clear to me, that cables are directly connected to the interior, without any external, detachment possible.
Once again, Sinclair way of reducing costs, by removing another pair or two of connectors.
The problem is that you end up with something that looks like a whip, and when it comes to store the thing until next time to play, you will probably get a mess of rolled cables, wrapped around the device.
How can this be called portable with that huge "whip" hanging around?
Yes, the cable is long "enough", but I bet there will be cases (40" or 54" TVs) where you would want to be further away from TV, but you can't (easily) change to a longer (or shorter) cable.
Simple standard connectors, would have been best.
Standard cables would be easier to replace and find everywhere.
You could even leave them in your TV, and just carry the device to another TV, which would have standard cables attached or nearby. That I could call portable.
And talking about cables, if the idea was to go hand held console like size, why no devise a way to get ride of cables all together ?
In an extreme case you could transmit video to your TV with some extra hardware (if we had connectors on the thing), and get a mobile or tablet size battery to get ride of all cables.
But you can always hack the thing,
EDIT:
Note how technician waits with arms crossed for over 2 minutes for one unit to be programmed.
What about providing at least two test stations to use technician time efficiently.
She could even program two vegas if she had another "programming dongle" and a single TV. She only needs video output to see the end result of programming and correct output.
Programming is apparently being done by the dongle connected to the SD card interface.
EDIT:
Note how technician waits with arms crossed for over 2 minutes for one unit to be programmed.
What about providing at least two test stations to use technician time efficiently.
She could even program two vegas if she had another "programming dongle" and a single TV. She only needs video output to see the end result of programming and correct output.
Programming is apparently being done by the dongle connected to the SD card interface.
Thought the very same thing. Good job that the factory wasn't doing tape duplication with one person with one machine that can only handle one tape at a time.
It may have been set up just for the video so that a simplified version of the production could be seen in one place without the guest being dragged around the entire factory and getting dirt & dust everywhere.
Note how technician waits with arms crossed for over 2 minutes for one unit to be programmed.
What about providing at least two test stations to use technician time efficiently.
She could even program two vegas if she had another "programming dongle" and a single TV. She only needs video output to see the end result of programming and correct output.
Programming is apparently being done by the dongle connected to the SD card interface.
I wouldn't have thought it was business as usual while demonstrating one of the initial production run to camera.
You also failed to suggest that she tapes brooms to her feet and sweeps up while she works.
I bought a copy on Wednesday (although it was only despatched yesterday), so hopefully I'll have it by midweek.
I'm not that interested in the Vega itself, but enjoy reading about how these things come to be. I'll post some first impressions when it arrives.
Same here. I'm interested in the thought process behind the vega but not interested enough to physically buy one.
I'm happy enough sticking to an emulator on my laptop.
My copy arrived this morning, and I am pleased with it. The only slight disappointment is the main interview with Sir Clive Sinclair is just a reproduction of the interview he gave to Practical Computing in July 1982. That said, it is clearly presented as such, and I wouldn't put it past certain other parties not to disclose something like that.
The book itself is a little smaller than A5, with a glossy colour cover and black and white contents. 95% of it is text, but in a clear and easy to read font. There are a few mono pictures in the second half of the book, exclusively focusing on the design of the Vega.
I have only skim read a few bits and pieces, but there seems to be plenty of interesting information and I am looking forward to having a proper read. Overall this is highly recommended at just £6, if you enjoy reading "behind the scenes" type stuff.
I like the design of these, but like others I have a raspberry pi 2 with HDMI out in the living room, running fuse/zesarux at 50hz with a wireless keyboard and controller. And it runs other emulators to boot. And I put the whole thing together for £70. It even syncs my favourite games folders from a server over wifi.
The Vega is expensive because it was designed and made in the UK, so on that basis I hope it does well to keep people in work. I may even buy one just to have a play with it, but without the features of my Pi solution I can't see it being plugged in very long.
The Vega is expensive because it was designed and made in the UK, so on that basis I hope it does well to keep people in work.
The Raspberry Pi is also designed and made in the UK, at Sony's manufacturing facility in Pencoed, Wales.
The Pi sells millions and so can be manufactured cheaply, the Vega sells only to a small niche market.
The point is, that RPI2 with RetroPie package gives much more to retro fans.
This too expensive exotic product without full keyboard, will be a failure as well as the C64 GS console.
The Vega is expensive because it was designed and made in the UK, so on that basis I hope it does well to keep people in work.
The Raspberry Pi is also designed and made in the UK, at Sony's manufacturing facility in Pencoed, Wales.
The Pi sells millions and so can be manufactured cheaply, the Vega sells only to a small niche market.
True, but they were the only plant in the UK who could do it. Pi's were originally made in china because they couldn't find anyone in the UK to make it at a competitive price. Some of them still are. And it still holds that I could have a Vega knock off prototyped and put onto market for a fraction of the price the vega is selling for, by outsourcing it to China, at the numbers the Vega is selling. Just check Aliexpress out.
UK electronics to me means high-end luxury items these days - audiophile kit etc. I don't think the Vega can be classed as that, although I will reserve judgement till mine shows up.
Well, while comparing ZX Vega to R_Pi, it strikes me again, that lack of ps/2 keyboard port (or USB one, whatever) was a mistake so huge, that even bizarre.
I've read that some of the new games do not work on Vega. Can anyone who owns one tell us if .szx files made with specemu work right? I could add szx to my archive.
I have a (flawless) 48k and SMART SD solution and can see the advantages of the real 48k.
- can you please explain what the smart sd solution is? Thanks
The retroleum smart card system http://www.retroleum.co.uk/smart-card-for-zx-spectrum/
Simple and effective game loader that loads snapshots and tap files. It also has very handy rom replacement (16 slots) for alternative BASIC or diagnostics.
Such a disappointment not to have a full keyboard. Sadly it's a huge dissapointment. But still it got the world talking about the spectrum, just at the wrong time for WoS.
Such a disappointment not to have a full keyboard. Sadly it's a huge dissapointment. But still it got the world talking about the spectrum, just at the wrong time for WoS.
I can see why people criticise the lack of a keyboard but I think that's missing the bigger picture a little. Let's face it, the Vega isn't designed for a tiny number of purists - a keyboard would probably kill its chances of commercial success stone dead. Appreciate it for what it is, not for what your personal idea of modern Spectrum hardware should be. The Vega is born unto a world where, sadly, consoles are king. As great as my hatred of joypads is, I think the Vega is absolutely the right approach at this time. I hope it catches on and will certainly be supporting it with software.
I can see why people criticise the lack of a keyboard but I think that's missing the bigger picture a little. Let's face it, the Vega isn't designed for a tiny number of purists - a keyboard would probably kill its chances of commercial success stone dead. Appreciate it for what it is, not for what your personal idea of modern Spectrum hardware should be. The Vega is born unto a world where, sadly, consoles are king. As great as my hatred of joypads is, I think the Vega is absolutely the right approach at this time. I hope it catches on and will certainly be supporting it with software
True but they could have killed two birds (potential markets) with 1 stone if they had included an option to plug in a full keyboard. It would have cost a little more but made it infinitely more attractive to those who'd like to play and muck about with BASIC etc.
Comments
Once again, Sinclair way of reducing costs, by removing another pair or two of connectors.
The problem is that you end up with something that looks like a whip, and when it comes to store the thing until next time to play, you will probably get a mess of rolled cables, wrapped around the device.
How can this be called portable with that huge "whip" hanging around?
Yes, the cable is long "enough", but I bet there will be cases (40" or 54" TVs) where you would want to be further away from TV, but you can't (easily) change to a longer (or shorter) cable.
Simple standard connectors, would have been best.
Standard cables would be easier to replace and find everywhere.
You could even leave them in your TV, and just carry the device to another TV, which would have standard cables attached or nearby. That I could call portable.
And talking about cables, if the idea was to go hand held console like size, why no devise a way to get ride of cables all together ?
In an extreme case you could transmit video to your TV with some extra hardware (if we had connectors on the thing), and get a mobile or tablet size battery to get ride of all cables.
But you can always hack the thing,
EDIT:
Note how technician waits with arms crossed for over 2 minutes for one unit to be programmed.
What about providing at least two test stations to use technician time efficiently.
She could even program two vegas if she had another "programming dongle" and a single TV. She only needs video output to see the end result of programming and correct output.
Programming is apparently being done by the dongle connected to the SD card interface.
It may have been set up just for the video so that a simplified version of the production could be seen in one place without the guest being dragged around the entire factory and getting dirt & dust everywhere.
Download the latest version of Bomb Munchies Ver2210 4th July 2020
I wouldn't have thought it was business as usual while demonstrating one of the initial production run to camera.
You also failed to suggest that she tapes brooms to her feet and sweeps up while she works.
https://soundcloud.com/mister_beep/mister-beep-vega-in-the-lyra-constellation-the-battle-insanity-ii-zx-vega
http://mister_beep.republika.pl/
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ZX-Spectrum-VEGA-First-Ever-Production-Run-brand-new-/191672582945?hash=item2ca0938321
I'm not that interested in the Vega itself, but enjoy reading about how these things come to be. I'll post some first impressions when it arrives.
Same here. I'm interested in the thought process behind the vega but not interested enough to physically buy one.
I'm happy enough sticking to an emulator on my laptop.
The book itself is a little smaller than A5, with a glossy colour cover and black and white contents. 95% of it is text, but in a clear and easy to read font. There are a few mono pictures in the second half of the book, exclusively focusing on the design of the Vega.
I have only skim read a few bits and pieces, but there seems to be plenty of interesting information and I am looking forward to having a proper read. Overall this is highly recommended at just £6, if you enjoy reading "behind the scenes" type stuff.
Shame there's no Kindle version.
Sorry guys, the only games I could get to load on the day were Sir Lancelot and Run, Baby Run.
Egghead Website
Arcade Game Designer
My itch.io page
The Vega is expensive because it was designed and made in the UK, so on that basis I hope it does well to keep people in work. I may even buy one just to have a play with it, but without the features of my Pi solution I can't see it being plugged in very long.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Creating-Sinclar-ZX-Spectrum-Vega-ebook/dp/B01557S34M
The Raspberry Pi is also designed and made in the UK, at Sony's manufacturing facility in Pencoed, Wales.
The Pi sells millions and so can be manufactured cheaply, the Vega sells only to a small niche market.
This too expensive exotic product without full keyboard, will be a failure as well as the C64 GS console.
http://zx-pk.ru/
True, but they were the only plant in the UK who could do it. Pi's were originally made in china because they couldn't find anyone in the UK to make it at a competitive price. Some of them still are. And it still holds that I could have a Vega knock off prototyped and put onto market for a fraction of the price the vega is selling for, by outsourcing it to China, at the numbers the Vega is selling. Just check Aliexpress out.
UK electronics to me means high-end luxury items these days - audiophile kit etc. I don't think the Vega can be classed as that, although I will reserve judgement till mine shows up.
JSpeccy-win32-portable
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-10/01/recreated-spectrum-zx-vega-review
JSpeccy-win32-portable
- can you please explain what the smart sd solution is? Thanks
D.
The retroleum smart card system http://www.retroleum.co.uk/smart-card-for-zx-spectrum/
Simple and effective game loader that loads snapshots and tap files. It also has very handy rom replacement (16 slots) for alternative BASIC or diagnostics.
I can see why people criticise the lack of a keyboard but I think that's missing the bigger picture a little. Let's face it, the Vega isn't designed for a tiny number of purists - a keyboard would probably kill its chances of commercial success stone dead. Appreciate it for what it is, not for what your personal idea of modern Spectrum hardware should be. The Vega is born unto a world where, sadly, consoles are king. As great as my hatred of joypads is, I think the Vega is absolutely the right approach at this time. I hope it catches on and will certainly be supporting it with software.
Who knows, perhaps there might be some more favourable coverage next month... ;)
Egghead Website
Arcade Game Designer
My itch.io page