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© 1997-2006
Gareth Knight
All Rights reserved

 

Merlancia Industries were an authorised US Amiga dealer located in Phoenix, Arizona (USA). They announced the development of several hardware devices marketed the business and consumer industries during 2000-2001. However, the company did not have the funding or technical expertise to deliver these products. These products exist on paper only.

MMC Apocolyps DT
MMC Apocolyps Leopard LT
Merlancia MCC/Apocolyps ST
MMC Tsunami
Hurricane UltraLite palmtop
MMC Radian

MMC Apocolyps (DT)

The Apocolyps was a mid-range PowerPC system to be sold in configurations for the desktop. It was to be sold in three processor configurations, including the 8240/200, 7410/500, and 7450/733 CPU and would be installed with a choice of operating systems (Amiga OS, Amiga DE, BeOS, Linux, QNX were cited).

The release schedule for the Apocolyps may be considered optimistic. The product was announced in summer 2000 and had a planned alpha release for November 2000, followed by a pilot release in January 2002. The Apocolyps desktop would be made available sometime during February/March 2002 (later changed to Q1/Q2 2002), followed by the release of the laptop in summer-autumn 2002 (Q2/Q3-2002). The company announced an estimated retail price of $1999.95 and $2499.95 USD for the desktop systems.

Processor:  Motorola PowerPC 7XXX & 8XXX Series:
  • 8240/200 Single Processor
  • 7410/500 Single Processor
  • 7450/733 Single Processor
Memory Configuration: 133 MHz SDRAM
2 DIMM sockets
128MB - 1GB
Graphics: Matrox G400 Millennium Video card (fitted to AGP socket) 
Storage: 20/30GB Hard Disk (50GB option on desktop)
Slot loading DVD Drive
Expansion & Ports:  133 MHz Processor fitted with the system's Processor card
2x PCI slots
1x AGP slot
MIDI, In Out & Through
IEEE 1394 (Firewire) 100/200/400 Mb/s transfer rates
Ethernet 100bT RJ-45 connector
4 Industry Standard USB Connectors
IDE/ATA100, 4 (up to 4 fixed or removable storage devices)
DB15 Game Pad port
Input:  USB Connector
Mouse and Keyboard included
Touch sensitive Keyboard and Trackball will be available separately
Audio: Sound Chipset

MMC Apocolyps Leopard (LT)

The Apocolyps Leopard was a high-end laptop intended for the commercial and high-end consumer market. The laptop was announced in 2000 as the Apocolyps LT, but was later changed to the Apocolyps Leopard in mid-2001. Two versions were announced, to be fitted with the PowerPC 7410/500 or 7450/733 processors.

Merlancia indicated the laptop would enter alpha release in November 2000, followed by pilot release in January 2002 and final release during the 2nd/3rd quarter of 2002. The company announced an estimated retail price of $3499.95 - $4299.95 US Dollars.

 
Processor: Motorola PowerPC 7XXX Series:
  • 7410/500 Single Processor
  • 7450/733 Single Processor
Memory: 133 MHz SDRAM 
1 SODIMM socket 
128MB RAM (maximum 1GB RAM)
Graphics: Matrox G400 Millennium Video card (fitted to AGP socket)
Sound: Sound Chipset
Stereo sound out
Storage 20GB hard disk
Slot loading DVD-ROM
Expansion & Ports: 133 MHz Processor fitted with the system's Processor card
1 PCI dock connector
MIDI port-link
IEEE 1394 (Firewire) 100/200/400 Mb/s transfer rates
Ethernet 100bT RJ-45 connector
1 Industry Standard USB Connector
IDE/ATA100
Video Out
Input: USB Connector
Mouse and Keyboard
Touch sensitive Keyboard (optional)


Merlancia MCC/Apocolyps ST (set-top)

An artist impression of the proposed Merlancia MCC

The Merlancia MCC was positioned as a low-end consumer Internet appliance/kiosk device, similar to Gateway's unreleased set-top box.

The Coldfire processor was initially identified as the processor for the MCC. However, Merlancia appear to have changed it to a PowerPC 8xxx processor at a later date. The motherboard was to be fitted with an on-board TiVA AGP video and sound card, in addition to 2 USB sockets, DB15 game ports, IDE/ATA100 interface, and an Ethernet 100bT RJ45 connector.The release schedule indicated the board was enter alpha status in December 2001; to be followed by a pilot release in January/February 2002, and final release in March / April 2002. The Merlancia web site indicates an expected retail price of $1999.95 - $2999.95 US dollars.

 
Processor: Motorola PowerPC 8XXX Series: 
  • 8240/200 Single processor 
  • 8240/250 Single processor 
Case design 'high quality' stainless steel
Memory 133 MHz SDRAM
1 SODIMM socket
128MB RAM (max. 512MB)
Storage: 10GB hard disk
Expansion: Ethernet 100bT RJ45 connector 
2 USB Sockets 
IDE/ATA100 
DB15 Game port 
Graphics: TiVA Video Chipset 
Sound: Sound Chipset 
Stereo sound, Composite (NTSC or PAL) video, and RGB video out. 
Input Infrared touch sensitive keyboard with built in trackpad


MMC Tsunami

Tsunami tower

The MMC Tsunami System was planned to be a desktop system marketed towards the high-end multimedia industry. It was to be sold to the Apple Mac market, but would offer features that would attract former and current Amiga users. The machine was to be designed by Merlancia Industries, in cooperation with bPlan and would be sold using three variations of the PowerPC G4 74XX processor.

    1. PowerPC G4 7410/500 single processor
    2. PowerPC G4 7450/733 Single Processor
    3. PowerPC G4 7450/733 Dual Processor

The MMC Tsunami was announced in summer 2000 and had a planned alpha release for February/March 2001. The alpha system would be sold to developers only for an estimated $1699.95 - $1999.95 US dollars. A pilot release was planned for July/August 2001 and a finalised version was planned for November/December 2001. The single processor systems would sell for an estimated $1999.95 - $2499.95 US dollars, dual processor systems would retail for $3499.95.

Each machine would offer the following components.

Memory slots 2x DIMM sockets
Installed Memory 128MB RAM 133MHz SDRAM

Maximum Memory 1GB
Graphics Matrox Millennium G400
Storage 30GB Hard Disc (UltraATA, SCSI-III Optional)
Auto-Inject Floppy Disk Drive
Slot loading DVD-ROM
Expansion

133 MHz Processor fitted with system processor card
4x IDE/ATA100
3/5 PCI slots (expandable to 8 with an optional buscard)
1x AGP slot
MIDI, In Out & Through
Firewire (IEEE 1394) 100/200/400 Mb/s transfer rates
Ethernet 100bT RJ-45 connector
4x Industry Standard USB Connectors

Legacy 2x Standard PS/2 Connectors (Keyboard and Mouse)
Standard Serial and Parallel Ports
DB15 Game Pad port

The system specifications indicate a 'CLeo' custom chip would be implemented in later revisions of the disk controller to allow the use of native Amiga format disks.


Hurricane UltraLite (PalmTop)

The Hurrican Ultralite was a palmtop device to be sold to the 'high-end' business/consumer portable market. The Amiga DE-based device would contain a 7.4" 16/24 bit LCD screen, a touch sensitive keyboard with built in pen tablet and trackpad, fitted in a stainless steel case. Limited expandability would be provided via a PCMCIA slot, Firewire connection, Ethernet port, and a 1x PCI slot (!?). Two versions were announced that would use the PowerPC 8240/200 and 8240/250 processor.

The announcement, dated December 12th 2000, indicates an alpha version would be available in December 2001, to be followed by a pilot release in January/February 2002, and a final release in March/April 2002. A retail price of $1999.95 - $2999.95 US dollars was indicated.

Processor:
  • Motorola PowerPC 8240/200 Single Processor
  • Motorola PowerPC 8240/250 Single processor
Screen: 7.4" VGA+ LCD with 16/24 bit graphics
Memory specifications: 133 MHz SDRAM
1 SODIMM socket
128MB RAM (max 512MB)
256MB Flash Memory; for OS and Applications + Storage. 512MB Option
Expansion & Ports: 1 PCI Bus Port for expansion devices.
1 PCMCIA
1 Flash2 Socket
IEEE 1394 (Firewire) 100/200/400 Mb/s transfer rates
Ethernet 100bT RJ45 connector
1 USB port

MMC Radian

The MMC Radian was intended to be a mid-range video workstation and would retail for $1999.95 - $2499.95 US dollars. The system, announced in 2000, would follow a three stage release schedule: an alpha version would be available to developers in November 2000; a pilot version would be available in January 2002; followed by the final retail version in February/March 2002. Four variations of the MMC Radian were planned, equipped with single and dual processor configurations. The buyer would be given the choice of several operating systems, including Amiga OS, Amiga DE, BeOS, Linux and QNX.
 
Processor:  Motorola PowerPC 7XXX Series:
  • 7410/500 Single Processor
  • 7410/500 Dual Processor
  • 7450/733 Single Processor
  • 7450/733 Dual Processor
Case design: Stainless steel mini-tower case
Graphics: Matrox G400 Millennium Video card (fitted to AGP socket)
Sound: Sound Chipset
Stereo sound out
Memory: 133 MHz SDRAM
2 DIMM sockets
128MB RAM (1GB Max. RAM)
Storage: 30/50GB Hard Disc (UltraATA, SCSI-III Optional)
Auto-Inject Floppy Disk Drive
Slot loading DVD-ROM
Expansion: 133 MHz Processor fitted with the system's Processor card
3/5 PCI slots (expandable to 8 with an optional buscard)
1 AGP slot
MIDI, In Out & Through
IEEE 1394 (Firewire) 100/200/400 Mb/s transfer rates
Ethernet 100bT RJ-45 connector
4x USB Connectors
2x standard PS/2 Connectors (Keyboard and Mouse) 
4x IDE/ATA100
Standard Serial and Parallel Ports 
DB15 Game Pad port 
Input: PS/2 Mouse and Keyboard Connector
USB Connector
Mouse and Keyboard included
(Touch sensitive Keyboard and Trackball will be available separately)


Related Links

Merlancia Tsunami concept designs
Merlancia and the Amiga creators
Dave Haynie describes his experiences of Merlancia Industries (15/02/2003
Merlancia purchase the Walker and MCC Merlancia Open letter to the Amiga Community (29/6/2001)
Merlancia Industries Clarifies Questions Regarding Current Legal Status (18/09/2002)
Merlancia issue statement explaining their move to a new location (05/11/2002)


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