The Final Revision

[AVahne]

Hey, so Sony just announced a commemorative special edition PS4 Pro that's a translucent dark blue with some copper accents with the logo. It looks super classy imo and I think a similar style of limited edition shell would look amazing on the Pyra. A really dark red translucent case (dark enough so that it doesn't really look translucent at first glance, like with the PS4) with maybe a copper logo plate would be a gorgeous limited edition.
And if you were to make that a launch special edition, even someone like me would choose to forego waiting for a USB C version just for it.

EDIT: Actually I personally think a copper logo plate by default would look better than the current metal choice. Having a silver colored metal plate has always looked too garish and out of place to me.

 

[ClockworkCoder]

EDIT: Actually I personally think a copper logo plate by default would look better than the current metal choice

Anodised metal can be any colour. Even a rainbow of colours on a single sheet.

 

[AVahne]

Anodised metal can be any colour. Even a rainbow of colours on a single sheet.

Huh, didn't know that. Doesn't mean ED would offer a selection of colors for the logo plate....... Would he? *hopeful*

 

[NetBLOKS]

Since he is now going for stainless steel instead of anodised aluminium, the colour options for the plate are no longer available I guess.
I am happy with his choice since I really like stainless steel, but as with almost everything, it's about personal taste.

 

[rygD]

EDIT: Actually I personally think a copper logo plate by default would look better than the current metal choice. Having a silver colored metal plate has always looked too garish and out of place to me.

I am fine with bare aluminum. Brushed steel might be ok. I plan on making myself a custom copper plate at some point.

 

[ClockworkCoder]

Since he is now going for stainless steel instead of anodised aluminium, the colour options for the plate are no longer available I guess.
I am happy with his choice since I really like stainless teel, but as with almost everything, it's about personal taste.

Ah, thanks. I missed that one. Stainless steel is fine with me too anyway

 

[levi]

Yeah, I don't think he was ever planning to tint the oxide layer on anodised aluminium, just have it there for protection. With stainless steel that's less necessary. A brass logo plate would be nice though!

 

[Grench]

And if you were to make that a launch special edition, even someone like me would choose to forego waiting for a USB C version just for it.

The Pyra itself will sell in the thousands. To have a "special edition" of anything, it first needs to sell in vast quantities to justify a special edition of a few thousand units. So, this is very unlikely to happen and would not be logical to wait for.

If you are waiting for a design change of the Pyra to USB C - which would require board changes, additional on-board components to negotiate the flip over capabilities of the plug - AND case plastics changes - without resulting in any actual advantages beyond having a plug that can be used upside down - that is going to be a very long wait.

Just having a USB C plug does not grant USB 3.2 C port capabilities. Those high speeds and super fast charging and external monitor capabilities don't simply come along for the ride. They would require a different SoC, different CPU board, different peripheral board, new plastics and wholesale changes to the charging circuitry (different battery?). Pretty close to starting the whole project over at that point.

Do you really think that the whole project should be upended because one person who has not ordered a unit is not happy about what kind of port type is on one out of twelve user ports on the device?

So, 12??

1. microUSB 3.0 OTG (host, device and charging)
2. microUSB (charging, serial debug)
3. USB 2.0
4. USB 2.0
5. eSATA (requires adapter and supplants a USB 2.0)
6. audio headset
7. microHDMI
8. left SD
9. right SD
10. battery
11. SIM
12. microSD

Did I miss anything? With the SoC daughter board does that count as one or even two more ports?

 

[Haraldur]

So, 12??

1. microUSB 3.0 OTG (host, device and charging)
2. microUSB (charging, serial debug)
3. USB 2.0
4. USB 2.0
5. eSATA (requires adapter and supplants a USB 2.0)
6. audio headset
7. microHDMI
8. left SD
9. right SD
10. battery
11. SIM
12. microSD

In a perfect world I would have a full-sized HDMI port on the Pyra, as I have never knowingly seen a microHDMI cable before -- are they common or at least easily purchasable?

 

[directive0]

SCART OR NOTHING.

 

[levi]

In a perfect world I would have a full-sized HDMI port on the Pyra, as I have never knowingly seen a microHDMI cable before -- are they common or at least easily purchasable?

I already have two type D to full sized adaptors which I ordered the last time this looked nearly ready. I hope it uses a type D plug now.

 

[Grench]

In a perfect world I would have a full-sized HDMI port on the Pyra, as I have never knowingly seen a microHDMI cable before -- are they common or at least easily purchasable?

Amazon has several dozen different examples of adapters and cables to get you from microHDMI to HDMI male or female.

 

[Eight Bit]

Regular sized HDMI. It was a wish of mine too, it would be great to quickly test screens etc. Unfortunately I use a lot of HDMI at work, HDMI connectors and cables have learned to be horribly fragile. cable weight tension is a big problem. If cables hang in the connector it wears them out relatively quick or makes the connection insecure. Often cables break and sockets get damaged. I changed my mind... On vacations I'll bring my own cable(tree).

Hmmm... I picture a plastic pyra clip-on with cable strain relief now.

 

[levi]

Yeah, I'm not planning to use either or my adaptors without a length of the cable being supported on the desk or bench I'm using. And if one fails I've always got another, assuming it's not the Pyra's connector that gets pulled off the board. Maybe I need to come up with a bit of wood or something to support the adaptor when it's in its place.

 

[AVahne]

The Pyra itself will sell in the thousands. To have a "special edition" of anything, it first needs to sell in vast quantities to justify a special edition of a few thousand units. So, this is very unlikely to happen and would not be logical to wait for.

If you are waiting for a design change of the Pyra to USB C - which would require board changes, additional on-board components to negotiate the flip over capabilities of the plug - AND case plastics changes - without resulting in any actual advantages beyond having a plug that can be used upside down - that is going to be a very long wait.

Just having a USB C plug does not grant USB 3.2 C port capabilities. Those high speeds and super fast charging and external monitor capabilities don't simply come along for the ride. They would require a different SoC, different CPU board, different peripheral board, new plastics and wholesale changes to the charging circuitry (different battery?). Pretty close to starting the whole project over at that point.

Do you really think that the whole project should be upended because one person who has not ordered a unit is not happy about what kind of port type is on one out of twelve user ports on the device?

So, 12??

1. microUSB 3.0 OTG (host, device and charging)
2. microUSB (charging, serial debug)
3. USB 2.0
4. USB 2.0
5. eSATA (requires adapter and supplants a USB 2.0)
6. audio headset
7. microHDMI
8. left SD
9. right SD
10. battery
11. SIM
12. microSD

Did I miss anything? With the SoC daughter board does that count as one or even two more ports?

What's with the passive aggressive answer? Do you really think I'm trying to derail this whole project just for one port?
HE ALREADY SAID THAT HE'S THINKING OF MAKING A USB-C VERSION.
And with that I decided to wait. I know it'll be a long time. It will be a long time for a gen 2 CPU board as well. But even so, if a future board can support USB 3 on a USB C port, then I may as well wait so that then I'll be prepared for a gen 3 board or gen 4, etc.
Also, in the stream he said it wouldn't be massively difficult to change one of the micro USB ports to USB C, so I'll trust his word on that.
And about the whole special edition thing, I only suggested that because I figured a clear case with pigmentation would be difficult to do with the materials he's hoping to use. I only brought up the idea of making a small batch, if it's possible for him to do so, so that he can offer an eye opening option for potential buyers.
P. S. Do you seriously believe I'm the only person who wants a USB C port? Do you really think that just one potential customer was enough to sway a hardworker like EvilDragon into considering the idea, even though he was against it years before?

 

[Djoga'Ro]

I thought, USB C ports are about structural integrity. ?

 

[AVahne]

I am fine with bare aluminum. Brushed steel might be ok. I plan on making myself a custom copper plate at some point.

I can make do with the current one, I just think copper would be more fitting.

 

[Swordfish II]

HE ALREADY SAID THAT HE'S THINKING OF MAKING A USB-C VERSION.

Um...doubtful. ED will be involved in a CPU board, but the ports are on the main board.

And with that I decided to wait. I know it'll be a long time. It will be a long time for a gen 2 CPU board as well.

So long as you realise that there is a very good chance that it will never happen.

P. S. Do you seriously believe I'm the only person who wants a USB C port?

Pretty much yes. The device will already have usb 3.0....so usb c doesn't add anything.

 

[WizardStan]

even though he was against it years before?

I don't think he was ever against it, so much as it didn't even exist when the Pyra was in initial design phase, and through most of R&D. USB-C has only recently started taking the lead as the standard. To change the board now, after all the work that's gone into it, would add so much overhead that it wouldn't make any sense whatsoever. MicroUSB isn't going away anytime soon; heck, miniUSB is still around! So there's nothing to worry about. One day, 10, 15 years down the road there'll be a USB-D or whatever that ED can start looking into for the Pyra-2. If you want to wait that long go right ahead.

 

[AVahne]

I don't think he was ever against it, so much as it didn't even exist when the Pyra was in initial design phase, and through most of R&D. USB-C has only recently started taking the lead as the standard. To change the board now, after all the work that's gone into it, would add so much overhead that it wouldn't make any sense whatsoever. MicroUSB isn't going away anytime soon; heck, miniUSB is still around! So there's nothing to worry about. One day, 10, 15 years down the road there'll be a USB-D or whatever that ED can start looking into for the Pyra-2. If you want to wait that long go right ahead.

He has said before that a USB port would be too big to fit in the Pyra. He likely was referring to the case and back then when the Pyra was still not very close to completion (but enough that a lot of work was already done) the thought of redoing the case and main board at that time would be ludicrous.
Again, He Has Said That He's Considering A Mainboard Revision With USB C. He also said that it wouldn't be a massive undertaking.
Mini USB is still around, but barely anything uses it anymore. Barely anything uses FULL SIZED USB B. It's a legacy port, and Micro USB will reach that fate soon enough. Of course it'll still be around, it'll just be seen less and less as devices get replaced by newer ones that use USB C. I support the idea of him keeping one of the TWO micro USB ports, while turning one of them into a USB-C port would give people more options.

Um...doubtful. ED will be involved in a CPU board, but the ports are on the main board.



So long as you realise that there is a very good chance that it will never happen.



Pretty much yes. The device will already have usb 3.0....so usb c doesn't add anything.

If he thinks that he won't ever do it, he wouldn't mention it or he would that he wouldn't ever do it. Probably.

OK honestly here, normally I'm sure you guys are pretty chill, at least on these boards. But it feels like you're violently allergic to even the mention of USB C or a future existence of a USB C Pyra. I am aware USB C has plenty of issues, but that shouldn't stop the Pyra from getting one if it's possible.
I'm not saying he should be starting over. USB C being added would be a mainboard revision down the line. He has said that he could do it.
If he were to say later on that USB C is off the cards and that he won't have the time or drive to do it, then I'll simply buy a Pyra once Link gets them up on his store (and after I've put aside enough money). But he said he could do it, and if he can then I'll be willing to wait. I've waited this long for the Pyra already. What's wrong with wanting a Pyra that has USB C if the creator himself has expressed interest in doing so?

Sigh, and with that I bid thee all a calm and refreshing good night. Or morning, if that's what you're experiencing right now.