NCASE M1: a crowdfunded Mini-ITX case (updates in first post)

Fair enough, I'm hopeful that you'll find a solution. You're pretty great at this stuff! And if you can't find that nice balance any other way than this then I'm sure we'll manage.

Fair point on the filters. Perhaps you can add a slightly more expensive pledge level to include them? It'd probably be more dicking around after the fact though. Again, I'm sure we'll be able to deal with it whichever way you guys go.
 
Big thanks Necere for the last test ;) Am I right, that the NH-C14 with its hight of 130mm is the biggest solution on a board and the phanteks top blow with its 140,5mm wouldn't fit? I mean only the distance from board to side panel without the fan bracket.
 
Haven't checked this in months, but I read the first post for an update. Where is the plastic part of this case that is mentioned? It is hard to tell from the pictures. Also, wasn't 100% aluminum one of the main design criteria?
 
ipuoL said:
Big thanks Necere for the last test ;) Am I right, that the NH-C14 with its hight of 130mm is the biggest solution on a board and the phanteks top blow with its 140,5mm wouldn't fit? I mean only the distance from board to side panel without the fan bracket.
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Board to side panel without the fan bracket is actually ~144.5mm. But you have to add the height of the CPU socket, which is around 7-8mm. So I don't think it will fit with the top fan.

PCMusicGuy said:
Haven't checked this in months, but I read the first post for an update. Where is the plastic part of this case that is mentioned? It is hard to tell from the pictures. Also, wasn't 100% aluminum one of the main design criteria?
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Er, yeah... I assume you're talking about this sentence midway down the first post: "Lian Li sent us some pictures. We wanted to have the plastic part completely hidden behind the faceplate, but that didn't work out." It makes a lot more sense in context. Don't ask me why w360 chose to omit the rest of it.
 
PCMusicGuy said:
Haven't checked this in months, but I read the first post for an update. Where is the plastic part of this case that is mentioned? It is hard to tell from the pictures. Also, wasn't 100% aluminum one of the main design criteria?
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The USB/audio ports?
 
PCMusicGuy said:
Haven't checked this in months, but I read the first post for an update. Where is the plastic part of this case that is mentioned? It is hard to tell from the pictures. Also, wasn't 100% aluminum one of the main design criteria?
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They meant the green and pink rings around the headphone out and mic in on the front of the case. I think the original plan was to have the holes just large enough for the plugs to be inserted.
 
So I'm reconsidering the idea of a logo. I feel like the case lacks a bit of presence right now, an identity. So what I'm considering is an "NCASE" logo, a small one, centered on the front panel. we did talk about this before, and people were against it, overall. I can understand being initially against it, because ncase was something no one had heard of at that point. It didn't mean anything. But people have been referring to it using that name for a while now - they're familiar with it at this point. Every other product out there has a logo, you know? I think a name helps to define what it is. Gives it a name for people who don't know anything about it. Introduces itself. Otherwise it's just "that black box."

W360 has expressed his vehement opposition. But I wanted to put it to the forum again. So what do you think?
 
I'd enjoy seeing NCASE and M-1 printed on the bottom left and right tabs of the front panel, beside the IO. I think something that isn't mounted but instead etched (and filled possibly) such that it remains flush would be best.
 
The original logo is plain and unobtrusive enough. I don't see it as a problem if it serves a purpose. Though I'm personally more concerned about the utility of a case than the looks, so a logo is not a minus to me in any way.
 
It's a good idea for brand health or whatever it's called. Everyone who buys it initially will know exactly what it is anyway, but if it gets sold down the road or spotted at someone's house or whatever... People won't be able to put a name to it unless they ask someone who knows.
 
I like the logo on the side of the CAD drawing, except i think centered on the front someplace would be better.

I definitely think you have to put a name on it somewhere, or its just a random black box with a PC inside.

Just make it subtle and proffesional looking, like the rest of the case. And make sure "M1" is on it because i fully expect an "M2" from you in the future.
 
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unlike some of the more... emotional.. people on this forum that throw around terms such as "deal breaker" or threaten not to buy one unless x change does/does not happen... i'll just say a logo has no bearing on my decision to buy one. i will say, i think it depends on your future plans. a logo might be more useful for you guys, if you start a business. but if this case is just a one-off, then having no logo does not seem to be that big of a deal. either way it does not effect me
 
I think a subtle stylish logo would be nice. I dont like the obtrusive logos such as the ones found on many silverstone boxes.
 
I like the idea of a small logo... Maybe on the front bottom side.

I think it should be silk-screened like Silverstone does on many cases so that it can be easily and cleanly removed with the sugar cube method.

I think it should be a charcoal grey "NCASE", it would look elegant against the black anodizing.
 
A sticker will leave dirt marks on the case and I think it looks worse than an imprinted one, so for me, it's either imprinted or if it's a sticker, I won't be using the sticker.
 
cowsgomoo said:
A sticker will leave dirt marks on the case and I think it looks worse than an imprinted one, so for me, it's either imprinted or if it's a sticker, I won't be using the sticker.
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I agree. Stickers suck. Sure they look OK when you first put it on, but what about in a few years. Find a 5 year old sticker that still looks fresh and new like the day you stuck it. They fade, and peel, and scratch.
 
I'd prefer no logo. I don't see any point if there is no intention on creating a full blown business out of making cases.

But if you are going to put one on it regardless, I'd prefer it was a symbol of some sort, rather then a word or characters; just as Zangmonkey said above about Silverstones logo.
 
I'm with you guys - I think a sticker is lame. It's little more than a token gesture. It makes a logo an option, but such a poor substitute for a properly printed one that no one will use it. IMO it's a do or do not proposition. No half-assed compromises.
 
I say do it if you want to. It's your case and your design, not to mention marketing if there happens to be enough demand for justify future manufacturing runs.
 
I'd be against a logo, personally. I quite like the case without one. I feel it has more of a presence because it has no logo. It's such an excellent and unique design that it can pull off not having one, if that makes sense.
 
Thumbs up for the side style M1 logo on the front. I already have enough faceless lian OEM cases around here ;)
 
Necere said:
I'm with you guys - I think a sticker is lame. It's little more than a token gesture. It makes a logo an option, but such a poor substitute for a properly printed one that no one will use it. IMO it's a do or do not proposition. No half-assed compromises.
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It's a compromise that greatly favor those who don't want any stickers. Taking the sticker-path, you'll end up with most people having a black box (with those who actually put on the stickers peeling off their stickers in time when they start to rot), which means no-logo. So yeah, in the end it becomes a question of imprinted logo vs no-logo only, the sticker is for our foreheads. Not that it concerns me, you guys go fight it out. :cool:
 
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Screes said:
I agree. Stickers suck. Sure they look OK when you first put it on, but what about in a few years. Find a 5 year old sticker that still looks fresh and new like the day you stuck it. They fade, and peel, and scratch.
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Thought I'd pop in on my favorite thread to talk about stickers since I have experience manufacturing them.

Stickers fading is entirely dependant on two things:

1. Quality of the original sticker stock, printing process (four color inks or toner) and lamination (many stickers are unlaminated, but all-weather lamination is readily available at a relatively low cost).

2. Exposure of the sticker to the elements, especially sunlight and contaminated air (smoke, high humidity, extremely low humidity, etc.).

Back to watching from the digital bushes...
 
Any easily swap-able part that can have a logo'd and no-logo version, like the lower front trim on the SG05?

Or maybe extra pieces that bolt/stick on? Sort of like lettering/badges on cars.
 
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A similar thing to the noctua badges which come with their heatsinks could work. It's an embossed/painted bit of metal with 3M double sided tape.
 
Perhaps a reasonable compromise would be to offer some sort of appliqué-style badge. It could be a metal or metallic-looking plastic ornament that adheres to the case with two-sided tape. This could add a not insignificant amount to the cost, but it would give users the option while giving them a good option. My Lian Li T60 has an appliqué logo that's installed at the factory, but it wouldn't be difficult to cleanly remove.

Stickers give people the option, but it isn't really a good option. They'll fade over time, are difficult to remove cleanly and potentially diminish resale value if applied.
 
I prefer an etched small logo. No stickers because it looks "cheap" and I would think it's absurd you would make this case "nameless". Not that I like those over the top designs but if you look at Lian-Li's examples, they don't hide their name either.
 
I dont care either way.

As a side anyone else notice that vast majority of the new GTX 770 cards are using non-reference open air coolers. Might suck if this is the start of a new cooling trend.
 
I think silk-screened looks elegant on anodized aluminum and can very easily be removed cleanly.

It will look much better than a badge and tremendously better than a sticker.
 
Zangmonkey said:
I like the idea of a small logo... Maybe on the front bottom side.

I think it should be silk-screened like Silverstone does on many cases so that it can be easily and cleanly removed with the sugar cube method.

I think it should be a charcoal grey "NCASE", it would look elegant against the black anodizing.
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This!
I have a slight preference towards a logo, but it should not dominate the case.
 
Necere said:
Board to side panel without the fan bracket is actually ~144.5mm. But you have to add the height of the CPU socket, which is around 7-8mm. So I don't think it will fit with the top fan.


Er, yeah... I assume you're talking about this sentence midway down the first post: "Lian Li sent us some pictures. We wanted to have the plastic part completely hidden behind the faceplate, but that didn't work out." It makes a lot more sense in context. Don't ask me why w360 chose to omit the rest of it.
Click to expand...

WiSK said:
The USB/audio ports?
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SithSolo1 said:
They meant the green and pink rings around the headphone out and mic in on the front of the case. I think the original plan was to have the holes just large enough for the plugs to be inserted.
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Doh! Now I understand that the plastic is just the surround of the audio jacks. I was terribly confused. Great idea on trying to get them flush mounted but I could see that causing electrical static issue if the plug were to touch the metal of the case that is grounded to a home ground that doesn't have a clean electrical system. Swapping the plastic rings for black is the best of both worlds.
 
I think it comes down to one thing, will this venture continue afterwards. If your going to continue selling M1's, and designing M2 and so forth then you need some sort of branding. If this is just a one time thing that will never happen again then a logo isn't needed.
 
Personally I don't mind either way. I think if you guys plan to work together in the future and bring more awesome cases to life then building a brand is important and then that would be your main driving force for a logo on the case.
 
I think no more than a simple M1 logo at best.

Is there an updated ETA for production? I can't wait to start building mine.
 
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