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Re: Plan for 2019

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 1:25 pm
by exxos
Sorry to those guys who want me to fit upgrades or repair their machines etc.. I do feel bad in saying "no" to working on those machines :( but again , I just don't have the time to repair or upgrade peoples machines.

I have been trying to do that for the past 2 years and all its just ment stock in my store suffers and development stops on other upgrades I am working on. So while doing something for one person, others suffer instead. One guy has been waiting 2 years for me to fit his V2 booster to his STFM.. I referred him to the company I am using to build my stuff lately as in 2 years, just no time to do even that job.

I have pretty much no space to store these machines or space to work on them. I have a small table just large enough to fit a motherboard on, that's taken up with the STE boosters on testing. Then I am "on the floor" testing the PSU's out...https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 300#p13218 Which is in the doorway as nowhere else to setup this stuff. So its not just time lacking, its space..

I have built some shelves lately to store my test machines, but thats in a mess as well. https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... 8359#p8359

My workshop has been in a mess for probably 15 years.. https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=32&t=126 thats stacked up pretty high with lots of deliverys this past week.. and i need to tidy all that up (hences why I am selling some stuff lately) to make more room so I can actually find stuff! We need to have new windows next year, so I need to clear the room up so the builders can get to the window to actually change it! So trying to tidy things up sooner rather than later. This does mean a lot of chaos (aka lack of free time) in summer next year.

So it's not just things which I am publically doing on the forum taking my time, its all the "background" stuff going on which takes up a lot of time also.. I do actually have a day job as well! This creates huge issues as I am in and out all times of day. So being at home for deliveries is a problem, also a bigger problem to arrange pickups as my work load can change hourly. I pretty much try to keep a day free to do one thing, then have to stop to do something else where I would be away from home most of the day. So I end up missing delivers and collections which create more problems.

I am going to be playing "catch up" on work for probably the next several months. That's trying to get stock back up in my store, and hopefully once that's done I can get back to "full time" development work :)

Re: Plan for 2019

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 2:10 pm
by IngoQ
One thing I can tell from personal experience: The more fun something is, the more likely I am willing to do it. And it is clearly more fun to work with good tools, have all parts accessible and be in a nice and comfortable environment.

In return this means, I can understand and would even highly recommend using the construction time to rethink your workspace and spend some time and money to get it the way you like it and are comfortable. This might mean that we here will not receive nice toys in that time, but I think we'll surive. And while you're at it, you should take some time off to find new energy and get your wrists some time to heal...

So please by all means: Do not feel guilty when you do something for your self.

Re: Plan for 2019

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 2:27 pm
by exxos
IngoQ wrote: Sun Nov 11, 2018 2:10 pm I can understand and would even highly recommend using the construction time to rethink your workspace and spend some time and money to get it the way you like it and are comfortable.
Agree totally.. I am like Dave Jones, in a total tip which is not productive. I spend hours looking for stuff all the time.. Mostly give up and order stuff again.. which is more cost, and more clutter.. My girlfriends flat was the overspill for all this stuff, but same problem, its hard to keep track of anything.

Mostly machines or spares taking up bulk of the space. So slowly starting to clear stuff out.

Re: Plan for 2019

Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2018 3:45 pm
by PhilC
Totally agree, make your working area a less cluttered space and your productivity and happiness will rise, rather than keep looking at that pile of unfixed machines, mountains of unsorted components etc.

I had to learn the hard way when I couldn't find what I wanted and didn't have the space. Things got broken or lost .

Oh and yes, tidy, then chill and then laugh at us lot with our crazy, sometimes clueless machine fixing (and in my case breaking) episodes.

Re: Plan for 2019 ( abandoning repairs and upgrades)

Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:34 pm
by Methanoid
exxos wrote: Sat Sep 08, 2018 6:00 pm After some thought, I am reluctantly going to have to "drop" Falcon and STE development including general repairs and diagnostics.

The first problem I basically have, is when I design the STFM booster for example, I then end up spending time doing a STE version. As the STE & STFM have their own quirks, I end up debugging the booster twice, then several more pcb revisions.. then a year or 2 is then gone. I will produce the plug in STE booster, and still sell the stuff already in my store, but There won't be anymore STE addons now. Others I know are working on boosters, so I imagine there will be some STE boosters by someone else in the future.
Does anyone know and have some links to the "others I know are working on boosters" ?? Fully understand Chris position but curious if anyone is doing anything for STE now?

Re: Plan for 2019 ( abandoning repairs and upgrades)

Posted: Tue Jun 04, 2019 4:07 pm
by exxos
Methanoid wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 1:34 pm Does anyone know and have some links to the "others I know are working on boosters" ?? Fully understand Chris position but curious if anyone is doing anything for STE now?
https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=71&t=555

Re: Plan for 2019 ( abandoning repairs and upgrades)

Posted: Fri Jun 07, 2019 12:03 am
by Darklord
Do whatcha gotta do Chris.

We got your back bro! :)

Re: Plan for 2019 ( abandoning repairs and upgrades)

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:38 pm
by Cosmic Puppet
Working on a new ST makes the most sense to me. Although I know nothing about electronics, being able to build it yourself with all the insight into Atari faults you have, would future proof the system for those people who don't want to emulate.

P.S. Didn't notice the date of this article. I'm VERY warm.

Re: Plan for 2019 ( abandoning repairs and upgrades)

Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:48 pm
by exxos
Cosmic Puppet wrote: Thu Jun 25, 2020 8:38 pm Working on a new ST makes the most sense to me. Although I know nothing about electronics, being able to build it yourself with all the insight into Atari faults you have, would future proof the system for those people who don't want to emulate.
Yep. There comes a point where the time and expense to fix a machine just isn't worth it anymore. Though this thread is old now, theres a new one. https://www.exxosforum.co.uk/forum/viewt ... =20&t=2905