Where to start?

[Retro_Raiden]

Hey guys n girls!
I've recently been thinking about collecting old gen computer systems. I've already got an Amiga 500 boxed (needs workbench disks) and a Commodore 64 which sadly isn't working at the moment (blown RF unit) but I'm not 100% sure on where to start. I've been going through eBay under the vintage computer section and having a look to see what there is and 1 or 2 things have caught my eye but I was just wondering if there is anything anyone on here recommends I invest in first. The systems that have caught my eye are the ones I've attached below. There the Tatung Einstein Computer, BBC Micro and the Apple Macintosh. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Retro_Raiden

[WiggyDiggyPoo]

Welcome to the 8it comp club  :21:

Your A500 will work fine without WB disks but do try to finf out if it is a 512kb or 1mb model.

A BBC Micro will be well supported, esp in the UK. If you are US based the A500 or ApMac will do you fine.

Games, well its all personal in'it but BTIM I'd say A500 needs James Pond II or Superfrog, Turrican I or II, Supercars I or II and Lotus I, II or III all do well. The others I@m not an expert on and odont want to suggest.

Amiga has a wealth of Point&Clicks as well, lovely computer to collect for.

[Retro_Raiden]

Thanks WiggyDiggyPoo (nice name by the way lol). I'm no Amiga expert so do you know how to find out whether I have the 512Kb or 1mb model?

I am in the UK so the BBC Micro will probably be my best bet at the moment. I would to get something like the Tatung Einstein Computer at some point as I think those computers are just awesome looking.

[WiggyDiggyPoo]

If the Amiga is a A500+ (says on case) it definitely has 1mb. If it is an A500 you'll need WB to tell for sure but a simple way is to open the trapdoor slot on the bottom, if it has a card in there its likely a 512kb expansion.

BBC Micros were very popular in UK schools (my secondary school had 20+ in 1 room alone) so shouldnt be too expensive for a working example.

Commodore 64's also were very popular (understatement lol) so again not expensive.

The Amiga is probably the easiest to start with if thats working, try any discs you have and see if it will boot etc

[Retro_Raiden]

I will check my Amiga case when I get back. I hope it has the 1Mb upgrade.

The BBC Micro is a really big temptation at the moment. There not really expensive in my opinion so that is a bonus.

I have a C64 but the RF unit is blown so it aint working. Not sure if it is an easy fix or not. Gotta see if anyone here in the UK can have a look for me.

I already have 1 game for the Amiga 500 and that is Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder. No idea if it's any good. I got it with my Amiga I just don't know if you can install the game without a workbench installed.

[WiggyDiggyPoo]

Install? Like to a hard drive?

You can't do that on a basic A500, though various solutions exist either native amiga hardware from the time (A590 hard drive from Commodore for example) through to various modern solutions involving replacing the floppy drive with a SD card reader which then has ADF disk images loaded to it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_of_the ... video_game) If it runs, you have a 1mb machine 
Nice game too, 88% from Amiga Power http://amr.abime.net/review_71

What I think you're best doing is trying the machine and if you like the Amiga get an A600 (basically a small A500+) or A1200 as they will both run 99% of the old software, but more importantly its a lot easier to put things like a compact flash HD in for fast loading.

[Retro_Raiden]

Thanks for the suggestion dude but I personally do not like using things like the SD Card Readers or Flashed Hard Drives. I know it sounds a bit wierd but I like the real experience of having my patience tested by these machines when loading a game lol.

[WiggyDiggyPoo]

Thanks for the suggestion dude but I personally do not like using things like the SD Card Readers or Flashed Hard Drives. I know it sounds a bit wierd but I like the real experience of having my patience tested by these machines when loading a game lol.

No I understand, my C64, Speccy 48k and Amstrad 464 are all run stock. But my Amiga's upgrade really is nothing more than a better HDD as it still boots from the CF Card, it simply a lot faster!*


[size=80]*Disclaimer - My Amiga is currently held together with electrical tape and works when it a quarter moon or on every third pentecost. I.E. when it wants![/size]

I'm exactly the same however a genuine A500 hard drive is rare, expensive and slow. I'd definitely say

[zapiy]

Some good advice there i fella and i can't really add much more.

I would def go with the BBC Micro at first, but why not get the Amiga and C64 fully working how you want them before buying anymore?

[Retro_Raiden]

The Commodore 64 is broken internally (blown RF unit) and I don't have any knowledge on repairing it. Don't suppose you know anything about this?

The Amiga 500 is working and everything. I have a cable which converts it's output to scart so I can plug it into any TV I want without having to make any internal modifications to the Amiga 500. The only thing with it is whenever I boot it up, it asks for a workbench disk besides that it works fine. When I can I will take a photo of the screen the Amiga gives me. At the moment it's at my mums house and I'm at my uni accommodation.

My knowledge on the A500 and C64 is limited to hardware specs and model types. As for actually using the machines and installing software / games on them, I got no idea what I'm doing.

[WiggyDiggyPoo]

C64 I cant help sorry, they are that common its probably easier to buy a new one though.

All Amigas (ok not the A1000 but thats a different story!) have their OS loaded when it turns on. Workbench is the GUI (Graphical User Interface) that is used to perform many of the tasks a user of the time would want to perform e.g. launching smaller programs, managing files etc

So most of the software you will get for the Amiga, will just run, just put the disk in and provided it is an A500 game it will just work. Some games are AGA only - those need a A1200 - but the vast majority are 1mb games that work on your computer.

You'll get (best guess) this screen when it boots as even though the A500 is upgraded to 1mb, it still has KickStart 1.3:

[Retro_Raiden]

I know C64's are common as hell and aint really expensive but I would prefer to get the one I got now working simply because it was my Dad's and he gave it to me for a 18th birthday present so I would prefer to get it working again.

The Amiga screen you are probably right but better safe then sorry lol.

[WiggyDiggyPoo]

Ah I understand - my A1200 is my (teen)hood one so I get the nostalgia angle.

Maybe try a dedicated post here in the C64 thread to see if anyone knows how to do it, or external (youtube?). Best guess is you'll need to sharpen up your soldering skills to fix this 

[Retro_Raiden]

I'll try that thanks.

[Lorfarius]

Give the Lemon64 forums a whirl to get it fixed, there's a few tech people that might be able to help.