Amiga.org
Amiga.org specific forums => New User Introductions => Topic started by: justinr12 on February 05, 2006, 07:18:10 AM
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Hello there, forum-goers. As Tiger/SonGoku mentioned I'm a friend of his who's a bit interested in the Amiga (in fact, my "Computer Concepts and Applications" instructer wanted me to get and bring in an old A500 or A1200 in to demonstrate how the were still some of the most advanced systems back in the day). Thing is, due to the fact I've a rather seroius back condition, I can't afford to get a towerized A1200 in fear of worsening my spine to the point of ending up in a wheehchair permanently.
Anywho.. I want to get an Amiga not only for games, but to learn how the system works by using real hardware, and program for it. Unfortunately the only A1200 slimline (original case) systems I've seen are either from AmiKit or on eBay. In both cases just about all the ones I've seen are from the UK.
Reason why I wanted to learn how to do some programming for the Amiga computers is just to create a few games on the side while either going to school or after next spring begin work (going to see about majoring as a computer consultant). Since gaming is my primary hobby I have learned of some unique tricks that do involve hacked MegaDrive controllers (known to everyone in North America.. like how I used to refer it.. as the Sega Genesis.. don't ask why I keep referring it as the MD) so the computer could make use of all four or eight buttons (Depending on which type it was). That, plus having played some arcade conversions (like Grandslam's conversion of "Pac-Mania"), I was a bit disappointed and want to see if I could re-do them or create something similar.
I'm also starting to take up some more artistic hobbies (will be buying a guitar around the start of March, and might see about getting some personal art lessons), and want to learn how to use some of the art programs to make use of the Amiga's capabilities (much like in this one old 1985 tv special how the A500 was demonstrated how to take a bland-looking picture of the King Tut sarcophagas face and make it look more metallic and vibrant through layering). Don't get me wrong, having heard from a friend of mine in Norway about gems like Sensi. Soccer and others gaming is a good hobby to keep one's self occupied (collect quite a few old game systems and games), but I need to expand my horizons a little bit.
Well.. that's me and my fascination with the Amiga.
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Welcome, where are you from?
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Well, I used to live in southwest GA, but I'm now in central FL.
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Welcome to A.org :-) :pint:
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Hi, and welcome. Amigas have had some pretty interesting design innovations, so could be interesting for the course.
Have fun.
Oli
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Welcome to Amiga.org
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Welcome Dude!
:-D
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Welcome welcome.
I myself am a little bit of a Deluxe Paint freak. I love it. Dan Silva is like a god or something. I guess I liked the original Autodesk Animator too by Gary Yost on the PC.
I myself am trying to lay out a game myself. Yeah just to break out in the 68k market, so I can have my name among the elite people :-D
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justthatgood wrote:
I myself am trying to lay out a game myself. Yeah just to break out in the 68k market, so I can have my name among the elite people :-D
Not to mention making one's fortune! :banana:
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justthatgood: Just thought I'd post on this thread so you can be among elite people.
:-)
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cool members keep roling inn welcome to a.org
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Welcome and enjoy your stay.
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So, now with the intros out of the way, what's the best way for someone in the States to secure an A1200? Like I said in my intro post one of my instructors would like to see it demonstrated in a presentation at the end of the term. So far I can't really find anything that comes with a US power supply.
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Well, I'm new here too but I'm about to take possession of my A1200. I found it on this website that someone posted a few days ago. I've also bought some items from AmigaKit online. They seem to post here often and they have a great website.
Ebay is also a good site but as always Buyer Beware or just be careful. Softhut is one site also.
I've gotten a LOT of very useful information from this website and the community here has been awesome!
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Both my A500 and A4000 were purchased from eBay. I was really lucky and got my A4000 for $150.00 using by it now, but that was only because I was looking at listings when he put it up. I took a gamble on it, but except for missing the hard drive bracket it was in excellent shape.
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Not to derail the thread but I love your Avatar Mercid. LOL!
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CAUTION: This thread contains flashing lights which may cause epileptic seizures in small children.
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justinr12 wrote:
So, now with the intros out of the way, what's the best way for someone in the States to secure an A1200? Like I said in my intro post one of my instructors would like to see it demonstrated in a presentation at the end of the term. So far I can't really find anything that comes with a US power supply.
Buy a converted ATX PSU, keep checking eBay and other Amiga sites like Amiga.org and Amigaworld. I believe you can use a UK A1200 here in the states as they will display NTSC or PAL using the early startup menu (hold down both mouse buttons on startup).
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Yeah, it's good that we have more people coming in here. More Amiga people, mean a bigger community.
As for trying to code games. It's all about games. Games are a lot more fun to program then utilites I guess.
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Welcome to A.org my friend :-D
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Thanks. But what would an ATX power supply do if I'm using the original slim case A1200?
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An upgraded power supply will give you more juice for an accelerator. The stock A1200 power supply was only 21-watt so wasn't up to powering an accelerator with RAM + SCSI, then a hard disk etc.
You can convert a PC AT/ATX power supply for the Amiga as the voltages are the same. You'll need to keep your original square A1200 plug and get instructions as to the pin lauout.
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Maybe in a few weeks I might see if there's someone here in my area who might be willing to do so for a fee. I'm NOT very good at soldering. In fact, I have the failed attempt at making the 4-player adapter from some Genesis/MegaDrive extension cables.
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The AT/ATX power supply conversion won't require soldering as you can simply use a connector block. However you will need to use a multimeter to verify the voltages on the wires.
This archive has a picture which shows the voltages required by the desktop Amigas:
ftp://de.aminet.net/pub/aminet/pix/illu/A1200PowerSupp.lha
It might be easier to just buy an Amiga tower like the Power Tower/Micronik or get a PC case so you will have a switch for the PSU. An external case will help for storing CD-ROM drives etc. but you can get heavy duty PSUs such as the Wizard Powerbox and Goliath Power Supply that are self contained, external boxes.
I blew two power supplies (one was a meatier A500 version) when I upgraded to Blizzard 1230-IV/SCSI-IV but this may have had something to do with a power hungry scandoubler/FF competing with an internal hard disk.
:-)
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I understand completely, Hyper. The problem is that given how my back is currently (scoliosis, NOT fun) I need something that's easy on the back to carry into the classroom.
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For artists there are Genius/Tabby graphics tablets (pen style mice).
For keeping power consumption and weight low maybe an internal ATA flash drive would help.
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By the way, where do I post a want ad for an Amiga? The person who offered me one that didn't have screws for the case or the KickStart chip never replied to me on shipping, and this one A500 bundle I found on eBay is FAR too prohibitive in costs.
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@justinr12
Hello :-D I'm catching up.
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redfox