Amiga.org
Amiga.org specific forums => New User Introductions => Topic started by: Dew-It on March 30, 2007, 03:10:56 AM
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Well I own Atari ST's and wanted to know more about the Amiga computers. I'm thinking of getting a Amiga computer and just don't know what to get and what would be the most compatable Amiga computer for games. From what I see so far it looks like the Amiga computers are far more supported than the Atari ST. Is there a Amiga newbie web site or faq. I'm really not doing much with Atari's anymore and was always interested in the Amiga computer. I heard Amigas have better graphics and sound.
Don't want to start any wars of which computer is better or worse though. Just interested in information and help to join in the Amiga computer world.
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You need an Amiga 1200. It got everything you need, expand it, install games to harddrive, support for all scene demos etc etc.
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Hello, First, Welcome to Amiga.org! Second, yes the A1200 would be the best bet for games. You will have more options if you expand the RAM, though.....best part is you can install WHDLoad, which lets you run older, floppy-only games from the HD, as krize hinted at above.
Funny, you're an Atari fan trying to get an Amiga, I'm an Amiga fan looking to get an Atari!
Again, welcome. :-D
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Hiya Dew-it. Good luck on your search. For games, the A1200 is the ultimate machine, especially if you can get it with a few gig HD (in order to put all those WHDload games on), an accelerator with some RAM, and a CDdrive. For the CD, you have either the option of a SCSI kit (that goes with Blizzard type accelerators) or a SquirrelSCSI, if you want to stick with SCSI devices. Some people have modified their 1200's to fit a laptop CDdrive inside the machine, since the HD connector in the 1200 is IDE. With a special connector, you can have both a HD and the CD together. You'll need that to play CD32 games (if you find any).
The nice thing about the 1200, is that it is backward compatible with older programs by pressing the two mouse buttons before turning on the computer and using the options to get an "older" chipset that some programs need.
If you can't get that, A500's and A2000's are still widely available on the flea market circuit, and will do you fine for playing games, although you can't try one's that designed for AGA, but tons of games were programed for the older systems, so you'll be busy for a long time with the older stuff. It helps if they come with a HD already.
Have fun.
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INTRUUUUUDER!!!!
Oh sorry.. old 1989 reflex there. Yknow.. ST vs Mig. Ahh the good old days, you just don't get the same with PC vs Mac today :D
Seriously now....Welcome aboard!
If you want to fool around with an oldschool Amiga like they were back in the days, an A500 or A1200 is best. A500 will offer maximum compatibility but they're getting a little expensive to upgrade due to the rarity of the pieces. A stock A1200 with some ram and HD won't break your budget and still offers you very good compatibility. And should you ever become an amiga nut, you can expand the crap out of it.
Me, I'm a bit like your evil clone. Yknow, the same, but reversed (no cartman-style goatee though). Meaning that I've been looking at STs lately. Any pointers for a newbie? :D
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A Atari 1040STFM. Has a Internal 720K disk drive and RF Modulator to hookup to a TV Set or a Atari 1040ST which has a internal disk drive but you will need a Atari SC1224 Color Monitor for a Display. Can the Amiga be used with a TV Set?
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Welcome!
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Hello!
For retro gaming, I think you can't beat an A1200 with 68030 accelerator and a hard disk, and a copy of WHDLoad.
WHDLoad is an installer system that installs games onto your hard disk. The downside is that the installed games usually require a bit more RAM than they do running off floppy, but the accelerator I talked about above will have that.
The best part is that some games which worked on the (older) A500, but not on the A1200, are actually fixed by the WHDLoad installer.
Some links:
WHDLoad site (http://www.whdload.de)
AmigaKit.com (http://www.amigakit.com) (you can buy brand new, or NOS amiga stuff from there and get full support and warrantee)
The best place to get Amiga gear is probably eBay. Search for an A1200, and try and get a Blizzard 1230 card (the best ones, IMHO). The A1200 can use a laptop style 2.5" hard disk (it has the mounting cradle for one inside), or you can actually squeeze a modern 3.5" IDE hard disk in there if you remove the cradle and squish the metal shielding carefully (it'll need a special cable, though).
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Dew-It wrote:
A Atari 1040STFM. Has a Internal 720K disk drive and RF Modulator to hookup to a TV Set or a Atari 1040ST which has a internal disk drive but you will need a Atari SC1224 Color Monitor for a Display. Can the Amiga be used with a TV Set?
yes it can - if your telly has a SCART lead, its worth investing in an Amiga RGB-SCART cable (AmigaKit might be able to help or aminet (http://www.aminet.net) for hardware hacks if you're ok with a soldering iron ;-)), although the composite output is an improvement on the TV-modulator output.
I used to prefer STs before I had an Amiga - I have a coupla ST emulators on my AmigaOne - but cant find any software (I'm after Starglider which I had on the Speccy)
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Will a Amiga 500 power supply work on a Amiga 1200?
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An A500 power supply will work. I've never needed to. From what I have read the A500 power supply is better and more rubust than the A1200 version.
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Yep!
In fact it is actually better to use an A500 PSU (60some watts) than the underpowered A600/1200 PSU (23 watts) if you plan on using a second disk drive, hd, accel and what not.
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Thanks for the information.
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hi dont know if you managed to get an amiga 1200 but i have 1 on ebay in grewat condition with a harddrive in with wb 3,1 installed if your interested? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Amiga-1200-With-127mb-HDD-Workbench-3-1-Installed_W0QQitemZ330103546481QQcategoryZ4193QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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@Dew-It
Hi there and welcome :-)
I would take a serious look at the A1200 as I think it will give you what you are looking for. It is a fantastic piece of kit and looks great too. You can expand it in more ways than you may be aware of and even install it in a tower if you decide to go for multiple hard disks, cd-rom etc. It really is a lovely machine.
If you keep an eye on ebay you should be able to get hold of a decent one for a reasonable price. I know that Analogic had some new 1200's for sale recently with Swedish keyboards but they will change for UK keyboard if requested - at least you would get a guarantee!
Good luck and let us know what you go for.
Retromania