I think if you change some expectations of what your computing needs are, any old platform, even from the early 80s can be quite usable for many things. I am a professional IT person so my needs to access clients systems remotely can't be done with systems of old but not everyone is an IT person.
So, I guess one has to ask themselves, what do they need in a computer and maybe can they get by with losing some computing capabilities they have grown use to in the 2000s.
I know this is not purely Amiga based, but I do have an Amiga 1000 as part of my "being used" collection of aged technology and as of now, I am on kind of a adventure of seeing what can be done with old tech and what can I "become AMISH" about and leave by the wayside as part of my new computing life.
Here is what I am doing..... For business purposes my newest machine is a 2.5 year old Macbook Air that is used daily as my business system. I have my own company and need to remote into Mac clients systems on a daily basis so need at least a OS X capable machine to do that. So, I get by with a 2.5 year old machine to run my business. From there, all is veteran equipment that believe it or not, I use all these systems weekly for either enjoyment ot actual tasks.
I think just having one old Amiga would be tuff for sure but how about using the Amiga for word processing, games, database tasks, and fun old programming. If you need web and email, heck, phones these days can do that and technically, they are not a desktop computer so you can say the only computer you use is an Amiga. :hammer: Then use say an iPhone great email and decent web browsing that can handle Paypal, eBay, some banking, etc...
As for me, I am using a BeBox Dual 133MHz today for playing CDs and listening to great tunes to end my day. Then I will sparkup my NeXTcube and can do some GREAT Desktop Publishing and I can even do email and basic web browsing from this old 68040 at 33MHz in NeXTSTEP. Some great old apps on a NeXT. Then I spark up my Atari 800 and play some great old games and end the day playing with my Amiga 1000 and some cool old apps.
In a nutshell, find a use for ALL your old equipment and not just let them rot in the box to say you own X number of Amigas. I like collectors but collectors that actually use what they own. Use it or Loose it. :laughing: Old tech dies if they sit in the box.
So, modify your expectations of what you need a computer for, find a alternative for what it can't do, and enjoy what you have. I could be happy with an Amiga and an iPhone I am sure if that is all God let me play with.
tj
