Where is TotO?

[Bryce]

Hello all, some of you may have noticed that TotO has been offline recently, so I'd like to explain to you how this came
about so that no rumours or mis-information gets spread around.

As you know, my current project, the 5VCPC, is about to be released and the first users have already stated their
interest in buying some of them. TotO took it upon himself to contact several of these users directly via PM claiming
that I was scamming them. He also sent them a link to a Cheap Chinese DC/DC converter that is available on ebay
for a mere $1.18, claiming that my device was actually one of these and advising them to buy these instead.
It's miles apart from one of these and I would not recommend that anyone use such a cheap generic DC/DC converter
in the CPC, at least not without knowing the many things that can go badly wrong.

I put a lot of time and effort into designing my device to be not only safe, but also to ensure user-friendliness and the
least amount of interference to your CPC. Hand choosing the components to best suit the CPC environment and the
exact voltage and current that the floppy drive requires.  I didn't choose the cheapest components, I chose the best ones.
I also went to the effort of designing and manufacturing a PCB so that it is plug and play, requiring no soldering skills from
the end user or irreversable changes required to the CPC. These things cost money and scale of economics means that I
could never get my price even close to a generic Chinese product. To insinuate that my custom device is in any way comparable
to some mass produced Chinese rubbish is not only completely wrong and extremely misinformed, but also quite insulting.

However, people don't get banned for insulting me, I'm quite thick skinned. Nor do they get banned for a lack of electronics
knowledge or being wrong. TotO was given a temporary ban due to his backhanded, devious PMs to users which goes against
everything our community stands for. As I hope most of you will agree, this is disgraceful behaviour, that has no place in our Forum.
If he really believed and stood behind what he claimed in the PMs, then he would have been quite entitled to call me out in the thread and
discuss the differences between the two devices, he may even have learnt something, but he chose to take a very different route.
The whole ethic and spirit of the CPCWiki community is one of sharing, discussing and supporting each others work. I have supported
and recommended TotOs products regularly in the past, which makes his behaviour even more difficult to understand. Despite his ban
being only temporary, he seems to have chosen a more drastic route and from what I understand has decided to leave the CPC
community completely.

If anyone would like to discuss the technical merits and differences between the two devices I am more than happy to discuss
these in the original 5VCPC thread.

Bryce.

[JonB]

A sad day.


However, I stand by what you say about the spirit of the forum. You are absolutely right.


Cheers
JonB

[MissionComplete]

Sad day, indeed 

I think all can be fixed and I hope this too...

[Gryzor]

Let me chime in, if I may.


Tot0 has been a very valuable member here, and I've had great relations with him. He's done some really great stuff and brought great joy to the community.


This is why I really, really can't understand why he would act this way. God knows I'm no electronics expert, though when I asked Bryce for a technical explanation it sounded clear enough that TotO's claims were unfounded. Much more importantly, though, the way TotO went about spreading that information was extremely disappointing and surprising. Hence why, sad as it was, I had to concur with the action taken.


That said, I sincerely hope TotO does come back. I don't think there's a single person who doesn't want him as part of our community, so TotO, if you're reading this, please do reconsider...

[SOS]

Imho, sometimes it's better to resolve things not in public.

[Gryzor]

I agree; but based on past experience, not doing it in public causes opinions and feelings to fester among us, hence why.

[VincentGR]

Mistakes are for people.
It would be better to say your opinion and exchange thoughts but hey, we all have a bad day from time to time. Right?


Hope he'll return someday.

[spybro]

Our community needs everyone!!!
I would like to thank both Bryce and TotO for their contribution.

[SOS]

It would be better to say your opinion and exchange thoughts...

And THAT's the problem. You can only hear one side of the view. That can never be fair.
Everytime you must hear both sides, but this can't be a part of the public.
So only bad vibes can be transported in public. Helpful?
I think it's better to receive 20 Mails of "where are User XYZ"....
(I'dont know, we don't live together in one house)

TotO, I hope you come back soon.

[Bryce]

Imho, sometimes it's better to resolve things not in public.

I did reach out to TotO directly, asking him why he did it and explaining to him why his e-mail was both the wrong thing to do and technically inacurate. The mail was longer than my post above. His reply came two minutes later, was two sentences long and more or less the equivalent of showing me the middle finger.

Bryce.

[1024MAK]

Ahh, I'm feeling left out. I never got any such PM...

Oh, and it's likely you can get those cheap DC-DC converters for less than $1.18 if you buy in larger quantities...

As with everything in life, you can get the cheap item that may or may not do the job, and which may or may not be reliable in extended service. Or you can buy an item which has been properly designed using good quality components.

You makes your choice and pays your money...

But although I already have a number of the cheap DC-DC converters (that I bought a few years ago to see how good they were), I will still buy one of Bryce's for use in a CPC.

Mark

[VincentGR]

And THAT's the problem. You can only hear one side of the view. That can never be fair.
Everytime you must hear both sides, but this can't be a part of the public.
So only bad vibes can be transported in public. Helpful?
I think it's better to receive 20 Mails of "where are User XYZ"....
(I'dont know, we don't live together in one house)

TotO, I hope you come back soon.

Sorry, my mistake. I wasn't clear enough.
I meant between them.

[AMSDOS]

I've heard of people dying as a result of cheap phone chargers plugged into the wall, while they were listening to their music through their ear plugs. There are electrical standards which I'd imagine would be placed in Europe like they are in Australia, to protect consumers from dodgy components. Unfortunately Cheap Asian shops are all over the place, which I think is were you need to watch out for potentially hazardous good (if you're not shopping online).

[Bryce]

I don't usually discuss the pricing of my devices at all, but as it has been called into question (by more than one person), I will be post a full breakdown of why my device is not a $1 device and where the costs occur. Hopefully this will remove all claims and speculations being made.

Bryce.

[AMSDOS]

I don't usually discuss the pricing of my devices at all, but as it has been called into question (by more than one person), I will be post a full breakdown of why my device is not a $1 device and where the costs occur. Hopefully this will remove all claims and speculations being made.

Bryce.

I've read your comments on numerous occasions, which includes stressing out to others, not to purchase cheap electronics. I would of thought anyone who has been on here for a while now would know that. 

[pelrun]

You don't just pay for the cost of the parts, you pay for the time and effort of the person making it. Supporting the people who support our little community is surely worth an extra tenner.

[Gryzor]

You also have to take into account the waste that comes from broken or lost stuff - this has to be spread among the rest of the units...

[roudoudou]

Since Toto do not build XMem card anymore, is there any affordable alternative?

[Bryce]

If anyone has the time or interest, the post is now here: http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/5vcpc/msg139209/#msg139209

Bryce.

[Gryzor]

That was a fascinating read, at least for me. I think it shows how much thought has to go into some electronics designs to produce a long-lasting viable solution.


That said, it's quite sad that we had to come to the point that a BOM had to be provided - this is normally always the case, as it would mean that a dev really is trying to scam people out of their money, but I would think that in cases like this, when the "inflated" price is so low, it's silly to argue that someone is trying to get rich by scamming us. So, what, if Bryce went for the el cheapo solutions, he could probably make €10 a unit? And make a total of €150-200? Still well, well worth it IMO - it still means very little for the time he spent developing this unit.


It'd be a different issue if it was about someone who came in, saw, sold something that caused issues and questions never to be answered, and who left without supporting their stuff. But -yeah, not even going to try to sum up how much help Bryce has given throughout the years here.


In sum: can it be built cheaper? Maybe. Will it be as good? Most probably not. Can it be as cheap as TotO claimed? Kinda doubt it. Would I mind if I paid Bryce €15 in profit? Absolutely not.

[ivarf]

Still I find it sad the way the community keep loosing good people that have done much good here and for CPC users everywhere. It would be nice if we all could get along and be friends. People like Bryce and Toto are very much needed

[Munchausen]

I can't think of anyone that has done more for the CPC and CPC users than TotO. TotO, don't go!

[robcfg]

I don't think their views on CPC hardware are incompatible and I think that if TotO just asked Bryce on the price of the 5VCPC in the thread, everyone would be happy.

Still, I fail to see how closing cent pour cent or leaving the CPC scene would help.

I'm waiting for TotO's ban to end so he can reply and give us his point of view.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dragon]

But is really necesariy ban a user directly?.


I mean, It not best first made a warning instead of a ban directly.Not only for Toto,  But to any other user.


I think ban people should be last resource. When warning fail.

[ASiC]

Oh good, drama... That's exactly what the scene needs, not...


This whole mess is just wrong.
From banning a member like TotO, to making this a public matter.


What exactly is this post trying to do really? Justify the ban or bitch about a member's doing something immoral and/or wrong?


It's mainly wrong because we cannot listen to the other party's view of the issue.
Very easy to demonize someone and accuse them about anything since they've got no means to defend themselves!


I'm not saying that Bryce is talking mince, no.
But it's hard to believe that a well known and respected member suddenly started behaving like that for no reason.
You can't have fire without smoke is what I believe...[/size]