On behalf of RIYAN Productions can I just thank you for agreeing to granting us this Interview and answering some question that a lot of Amiga users have been asking since the Photo's of your customised Amiga appeared on the Aminet.
RP: Can you tell us a little about yourself ? (Age ...How long you have used an Amiga ...What you work at etc.)
My name is Mikael and I'm 23 years old. I come from a town called Halmstad in Sweden. I've been using Amiga for more than 9 years. I work at factory which hasn't really got anything to do with computers. Amiga is mostly a hobby in my spare time.
RP: Your Newly designed Amiga look fantastic, Was this always your original Idea or did it change over the Construction time.
It all started when I moved about a year ago. I didn't have any furniture so I needed a table for the living room, and I wanted something unusual. That's when I came up with the idea.
RP: Several Computers (old & New) have enticed the user through their designs ...like the Spectrum ZX (Cassette deck built in to the Unit) The iMac (With the internal workings housed in the Monitor casing) ..Your design appears to have the Amiga built into a freestanding Computer Desk ... Where did this idea come from and do you see any practical Benefits to this design?
The fact that you could fit in a lot in the computer makes it pracitcal. The external units such as the modem, the sampler and the midi is built inside the table as well. In the beginning I wanted the monitor to fold up from the table. Unfortunately that didn't happen.
RP: What was the System like prior to you rebuilding it (A1200/4000..Towered or desktop etc.)
The computert was a desktop Amiga 4000 from the beginning. Only the motherboard is in original condition now.
RP: What is the actual Specs of your machine Now ?
A4000 Table, PPC+CyberVisionPPC, 060, 64MB RAM, 12GB HD
RP: What material is used in the Construction of your "Tabletop" Casing and did you have to get it made by an outside company?
The box is made of hardpressed Perstorp wood and aluminium profiles. I got the material from my work.
RP: How long have you been working at the Reconstruction of your Amiga?
Four months. It sounds like a long time but since I ran out of money all the time it took a bit longer than expected.
RP: Did the redesign of the Amiga have any practical benefits for you as a user or was it purely a cosmetic change.
The fact that you can use it as a dinnertable or a desk is probably the most practical about it.
RP: How easy is it getting access to the Inner workings of your Tabletop design (Say for example you wanted to upgrade the accelerator card or add more Ram?
There are ventiles on both sides of the box. I can open this and see the zorro ports (picture 4). But if I'm going to change the processor card or the memory I'm in trouble. Then I'll have to remove the glass on top :( And that's a lot of work. But how often do you change processor cards? Eventually, I'm going to solve this problem later by making an hole underneath the table.
RP: Have you placed a "Copyright" on your design to prevent others from using it?
No, I haven't got any copyright on it. I'd like manufacture tables like this and sell, but it's extermely much work, and I'd need time, which I haven't got. But I've got other Amiga projects coming up which I'm going to sell. Amiga advertisement signs in the same materials as the table.
RP: I personally feel that standard Computers are bland and ugly machines, However your design could easily take pride of place in any modern home .. Do you have any plans of updating the design?
No, I don't have any plans on updating it now. Perhaps later if I get tired of the motiff I'll replace the picture.
RP: After all the hard work you put in converting your Amiga, Would you consider upgrading to a "New Machine" (Should one be released?
No. This Amiga is 145x77cm and it has a weight of 70 kilos. So I couldn't possibly get it through the door =)
RP: Finally .... I just have to ask! Would you consider a "Swap" for my "Desktop" 060 :))))
Hahaha :) Very funny
My thanks to Mikael Persson not only for this Interview, But for proving to me that the Amiga can still be a ground breaking machine and a thing of Beauty.