I just received this email:

Dear subscriber,

With this newsletter, we would like to inform you about the current status
of the One Chip MSX computers that are being made available for the Western
market. You are receiving this message because you subscribed to our
newsletter.

Unfortunately D4E has recently informed us they will not be able to
produce the 'Western market' batch before the end of Spring 2007. As a
matter of fact they will not be able to deliver any time soon. Production
of the One Chip MSX for the Western market has not been canceled however,
but has been postponed until further notice.

The hardware design of the One Chip MSX is currently under investigation
and alteration. Reasons are RoHS compliancy of the ciruit board, component
availability and costs. Also a different, transparent casing is preferred
for the Western edition. This modified One Chip MSX, produced for
distribution on the Western market, is likely to be distributed as a
'limited edition' in Japan as well. Through this newsletter, we will
inform you on the status of this project when more concrete information
becomes available.


Yours truly,
Bazix

I got it too. I wonder what color they will have on the Western edition case?

transparent as in 'no color'

well, the Japanese version is transparent blue, so I guess the western could be transparent red or something. But until its ready I guess it is transparent as in 'no color'.

I've received the same newsletter, so let's hope it is being produced in the end! The transparend blue was good enough so I am intrigate now with the new one.

mmh, for me the RoHS compliancy is the real problem!!

orange?

It would be kind to have more informations about the new case.
I have bought that computer because it's a kind of new MSX but also because it looks great.
I don't really want to spend my money for something that would be, from my point of view, disappointing.

"postponed until further notice" sounds pretty bad, IMHO. Not even a tentative date?

And just one more question: does this affect the main prize for the MSX2 and up contest?

Quote:

And just one more question: does this affect the main prize for the MSX2 and up contest?

Just means more time for the judges to choose a winner

I really hope they will produce the western OCM though. There is a big interest so it would be a shame if they didn't. Hopefully the RoHS issues aren't too big.

What stops you from wanting/getting a Japanese one?

Actually I prefer a Japanese one since I live in the US.

In any case I am glad, that the "Western Edition" still isn't called to be dead (I was already afraid about). I just wonder, if during this year we will see cheaper solutions for a FPGA-based MSX. Of course I won't cancel my two orders for the Bazix OCM. But I am thinking now about buying a Japanese one. Are these still available?