Amiga.org

Amiga.org specific forums => New User Introductions => Topic started by: Bit-Killer on July 20, 2006, 04:13:10 PM

Title: Hello!
Post by: Bit-Killer on July 20, 2006, 04:13:10 PM
Hi friends, im from portugal and the amiga scene here is so poor that i thought that amiga computers no longer existed!
So in a search on google about a A600 , that i had in some years ago, i found this forum and i was surprised how amiga scene is strong! That make me hell happy! :-D . Im now thinking in adquiring an A1200 and put it in my network with internet, something that i thought years ago that were impossible ! I was watching the forum for online shops that could send stuff to portugal, but im so outdate that i dont know a thing now, about new stuff that walks around , well any advice is greatly welcome and nice to meet you all guys! Power on amiga!!! cheers! (BTW sorry my bad english)   :-P
Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: SamuraiCrow on July 20, 2006, 05:03:39 PM
Welcome.  There is lots of news about Amiga to catch up on.  Right now there are 3 competing successors to AmigaOS 3.9:  AmigaOS 4.0 (Runs on AmigaOne series computers that are no longer available new), MorphOS (not really AmigaOS but will run some older Amiga code better than OS 4), and AROS (runs on PC hardware instead and isn't backward compatible to Amiga binaries at all).
Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: Gavilan on July 20, 2006, 05:08:46 PM
Hello and welcome!! You have just found one of the finest places for all-things-Amiga

I can suggest you a couple of places who will send you stuff to Portugal for sure (dont forget eBay & Amibench).
Try here: Amiga Super Bit (Spain) (http://www.amigasuperbit.com) , here Amigakit (http://www.amigakit.com), here Vesalia (http://www.vesalia.de) and also try here: Elbox (http://www.elbox.com)

if you need any more info about anything concerning amiga, you have come to the right place
Feel free to ask!!
Im very sure there are a couple of other portuguese Amiga useres in this forum...

 :-D

Seja Bem Vindo!!!

Sebastian
Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: Bit-Killer on July 20, 2006, 05:29:59 PM
hehe, already a good start! thanks for the info!!

Do i order an A1200 with HD 20gb , AmigaOS 3.9 ? :-D
i think its a good start, to refresh my memory on amiga scene and start getting updated! what do you think?
What do you advice?


Thanks for the help!

Cheers!

Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: Lando on July 20, 2006, 05:31:45 PM
Seja bem vindo! Acredito que voce vai gostar daqui.

Welcome to Amiga.org! There are only a few people here from Portugal (I can only think of one other) so you are something of a celebrity (almost).  I know of a store in Portugal called 'Amiga Centre' who, at least, used to be an amiga dealer, but looking at their site now, I can't see any Amiga-related items, although their logo still consists of the 'Frog Design' Amiga logo, and the classic Amiga 'Checkmark' so who knows.
Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: Gojirax on July 20, 2006, 05:36:28 PM
That sounds like a good start. I would also suggest getting at least an 040 or better accelerator for your Amiga 1200 and a PCMCIA Network card (Check the dealers, they have lists of PCMCIA network cards that are supported).

Once you get to playing with it more you will find whether you want to add little bits and pieces to it.

Down the road I would add a scandoubler (For using with Flat Panel monitors and nicer VGA monitors), then if you decide you are REALLY into it you can get a tower case for it, upgrade it to PowerPC, pickup a PCI expansion board for it and get some PCI Ethernet, USB Ports, 32 Meg Voodoo3 video card, TV Tuners, Creative Labs PCI sound cards.. you can really turn it into quite a decent system! (Although it will cost a fair amount by the time you are done..)
Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: Lando on July 20, 2006, 05:36:44 PM
If you order OS3.9 you will also need a RAM expansion at least 4MB, or preferably an accelerator (68030 or more) with 16MB+ of RAM.  If you can get a Blizzard 1230 that would be ideal.

It all depends on how far you want to go with your A1200 - at the top end, there are PowerPC accelerator cards and PCI expansion buses (can work out very expensive), but if you just want to play WHDload games, and use Workbench, a 68030 A1200 with hard drive is ideal.
Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: Bit-Killer on July 20, 2006, 07:29:26 PM
Hi mates, i ordered this :
Kit: Amiga 1200 PAL, incl. AmigaOS 3.1, mouse (please configure keyboard, power supply, software, and manuals)
This product is currently not available (no delivery date confirmed).
Configuration:

Keyboard: Portuguese
Power supply: 220V European
HDD incl. cable: 3.5" HDD 20 GB
OS-Upgrade (required for HDD >4GB): Amiga OS 3.9 CD-ROM
Cables & Adapters: VGA adapter for multiscan monitors

on http://www.vesalia.de

But it's not in stock
 :-(  

Quote

Lando wrote:
It all depends on how far you want to go with your A1200 - at the top end, there are PowerPC accelerator cards and PCI expansion buses (can work out very expensive), but if you just want to play WHDload games, and use Workbench, a 68030 A1200 with hard drive is ideal.


My objective is to put my future amiga :-D as my "default" computer system. To everything , to code, playing games , internet , networking etc...  

Quote

Lando wrote:
If you order OS3.9 you will also need a RAM expansion at least 4MB, or preferably an accelerator (68030 or more) with 16MB+ of RAM.  If you can get a Blizzard 1230 that would be ideal.


i think i made a mistake in ordering amigaos3.9 , i didnt knew about the ram expansion! He doesnt support it normally with the basic hardware?
thanks you all for the help mates, good community here! :-D
Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: InTheSand on July 20, 2006, 08:06:09 PM
Hi,

Welcome to A.Org!

According to AmigaKit's web site, they have A1200s in stock (http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=305&osCsid=115baeeb0ed44b82f6e7bfb574a9b2c0)...

As for OS3.9 on an unexpanded A1200... You might be able to coax it into running, but it may be a bit on the slow side...

If you're not planning to expand to a graphics card-based Amiga later, etc, I'd probably stick with OS3.1...

 - Ali
Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: Lando on July 20, 2006, 08:15:28 PM
Quote

Bit-Killer wrote:

My objective is to put my future amiga :-D as my "default" computer system. To everything , to code, playing games , internet , networking etc...  


You are crazy ;-)

In that case you'll need a graphics card, and a network card, and the easiest way to get these is to put your A1200 into a tower case, and get a 'Mediator' PCI bus board (from Elbox), which will give you PCI slots, into which you can plug a Voodoo 3/4/5 graphics card, and a Realtek 10/100 network card.



Quote

i think i made a mistake in ordering amigaos3.9 , i didnt knew about the ram expansion! He doesnt support it normally with the basic hardware?


Infelizmente, nao.  Actually, I underestimated the minimum specs for 3.9 - it is 3.5 which needs at least 4MB fast RAM - OS 3.9 needs at least 8MB of fast RAM - a stock A1200 only has 2MB RAM.  You can either get a RAM-only card, or a 68030+ accellerator card, which has a RAM socket on the board.   I reccomend the Blizzard 1230/1240/1260, which can each take up to 128MB on the card, and an additional 128MB if you get the optional SCSI kit, giving a total of 256MB.

Quote

thanks you all for the help mates, good community here! :-D


You are welcome :-) Returning / new Amiga users these days are quite rare.
Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: Chain on July 20, 2006, 08:17:05 PM
try amigakit configurator:

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=305&osCsid=d4b5eecc4f5bf2dd9f75a525a6cdb8c6

Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: pierre on July 20, 2006, 09:00:16 PM
welcome!
If I where you I would wait and get this stuff on e-bay.  When you say you want to use this computer as you main workstation I would have to warn you.  I love amigas and spend LOTS of time working and PLAYING with them.  I have 2 amigas a 3000er and 4000er, I have lots of extras like network cards, graphic cards, video and sound gear.  Amigas are old, realy not good internet machines at all as they where developed before all that ever took off. They can be clunky for modern work.  I'm glad I have a linux box and a windows box around to burn CD's(AND DVD'S), do 3d renders write e-mail, hookup up scanners and other practial stuff. Amigas ar fun for a hobby type usage but not cost effective as a regular computer.   You will find that you can spend a serious amount of $ on amiga gear, for that same money you can get a NICE intel computer that will also run UAE ! (UAE is an amiga emulator that is VERY nice)  Wait for the right time and grab a a1200 on ebay when the price is right, but know that is only the beginning if you plan on making that computer  "modern" (lot's of $$$) and that the result is cool but still along shot from true modern technology. (sorry I can't read that MS office doc, ohh I can't see that flash banners (or flash ever for that matter) Java? USB? firewire? .net? YOu can do some ofthe things I mention here in the Amiga, but you won't WANT to..... The "classic: amigas will never become "modern" no matter how much hardware you put in there. The a1200 is even harder becasue it has NO SPACE... that being said the a1200 is one sweet amiga!
Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: irishmike on July 21, 2006, 03:47:57 AM
I have to disagree with Pierre on the usability of Amigas... if it does what you need (including Internet related work and day to day operations) more power to you.

I myself merely play older games on my Miggie, but I have a Mac Mini for my regular work, but I do require some horse power and an ability to run modern software like PHP, MySQL and the like -- things that won't work from an Amiga.  But if all I needed was Internet e-mail, IRC, Word Processing, etc... a Miggie would be just fine.  This is of course my own opinion.

Welcome to A.org and good luck finding your machine!

Have a great time in our community!

Mike

Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: Bit-Killer on July 21, 2006, 09:38:14 AM
hi friends! Well today im going to order A1200 from AmigaKit's website since they have the option of the expansion card 8MB , then i should run OS3.9 with no problems i think  :-) , i think it's a good start to get used to amiga nowadays, since i was just used to work with workbench 3.1 on A600  :lol: Hope it arrives soon! hehe

Well about what pierre said, i understand your point of view, i have an Amd Athlon 64 3500+ 1gbDDR with 2 sata's samsung 160gb etc.. but amiga is different, yes it can take a bunch of time to get something "powerful" but it's always an amiga! I think it's the spirit!! cheers!

And again thanks all for your useful help here!
Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: Bit-Killer on July 21, 2006, 03:19:45 PM
a question here! I have a 80gb ide HD on my pc that i dont need it , can i put it on a1200? if yes how?

thanks!
Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: Bit-Killer on July 21, 2006, 03:21:16 PM
a question here! I have a 80gb ide HD on my pc that i dont need it , can i put it on a1200? if yes how?

thanks!
Title: Re: Hello!
Post by: Lando on July 21, 2006, 03:42:05 PM
 It will be a tight squeeze to fit a 3.5" hard drive inside the A1200 but it is possible.  You will need either a 2.5" to 2 x 3.5" IDE cable or a 4-way buffered IDE interface (you can get them from AmigaKit).  You would need one anyway to connect a CD-ROM drive (for installing OS 3.9).

When you install OS3.1 (which you must do before installing 3.9), you should only partition and format the first 2GB of space on the drive, then install 3.9, then use the HDToolbox from 3.9 to partition/format the rest of the space.  (AmigaOS 3.1 and lower does not support hard drives larger than 4GB.)