User Groups that have classic Amigas

[AmigaBruno]

Unfortunately, I don't know if there are any user groups which are mainly about the the classic or updated versions of Amiga Workbench or AmigaOS, instead of mainly OS4. I mean Workbench/AmigaOS 3.X.

I don't think that OS4 is much like Workbench/AmigaOS 3.X at all. I think it's mainly about using the Internet, which people could do on another computer, a tablet, or their phone instead. I think the Amiga is or should be mainly about creating things, such as graphics or music, organising your life (budgetting, how to plan a schedule of personal events), or playing games. It can also produce videos, but nowadays I think classic Amigas may only be able to produce what's called SD video, instead of the later HD video. Small video producers' goal used to be a resolution of about 450 lines recorded on Hi8 or S-VHS cassettes. Standard VHS resolution was about 240 lines.
 
I've never used an Amiga for Internet access. When I used Amigas as my main computer, I visited BBS systems, sent and received email using Fidonet. I visited cyber cafes where I saved some data onto PC formatted floppy disks, then took them home to read the data back on my Amiga.

[AmigaBruno]

Huh? theres loads in the UK. Some even host shows / meets for classic amiga.

According to any lists I've seen anywhere, there aren't loads, there are only a few, which are far apart from each other. I used to go to one several years ago, but I eventually stopped because everyone else there was using OS4 based NG Amigas, while I was using an A1200. I didn't see them creating anything, only using the Internet. I saw someone writing a script to make a YouTube video playable on OS4, but that was as creative as it got. I don't feel like travelling to a different region only to find more of the same. I've even posted in a few places asking if anyone wants to start up a user group for classic Amigas or even for the A500 Mini, but I haven't had any real response. My conclusion is that no one living anywhere near me is interested in meetings for classic Amigas using Workbench/AmigaOS 3.X. I might be able to join an international Zoom meeting, or a Disord session, but that's all. 



 

[AmigaBruno]

I'm in London. I've never heard of retro.directory before, but I'm trying to search on it now. It doesn't seem to make any difference compared with what I already knew about. I'd have to travel to your group in the Midlands, or the ones in Norwich, or Lincolnshire in the hope that there would be some classic Amigas there, instead of just NG Amigas running OS4.

Today, I've just seen the topic about "ZZapp Live! 2024". It was an event that was running yesterday (17-08-2024), but the topic was started on 15-07-2024, then seemed to somehow disappear, because I don't remember reading about this until today. I've read ZZapp Amiga on readly.com , but I don't remember reading any details of this event in there. I use readly.com mainly to read magazines in other languages which aren't available (i.e. BANNED!) in the UK, such as TV listing magazines from Germany, France, Italy and Sweden. I do remember reading under Amiga News and Community Announcements/Amiga Events about lots of the same events as usual, in California, USA, as well as Lincolnshire, UK, though.

Apart from this, there seems to be only the "Pintz and Amiga" live streaming event, which seems to start every Saturday night at 20:00 (GMT+1), so it looks like that's something I'll have to get involved in, better late than never, on Saturdays when I'm not going out anywhere. I could do some artwork live in Deluxe Paint V AGA using an Aiptek Hyperpen 6000 graphics tablet, as well as a mouse, using the advice given in a video by Mixel on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5ixZhIxMus&t=3s The tablet certainly does work under Deluxe Paint, but without pressure sensitivity, which you don't get with a mouse anyway.

[AmigaBruno]

There's only one Amiga user group I've been to. It's in London and all other members I saw there only used NG Amigas running OS4 at the club. Occasionally, a classic Amiga was brought out for gaming. That's all I need to say about it.

I've just found another club which is for various computers and games consoles in Greenford, near Ealing, west London, but they haven't even got any more events planned at the moment. The area was featured in the final classic Doctor Who story "Survival", but the only location in Greenford itself was the EYJ martial arts club in a hall, now called David Lloyd Centre. I wonder if that's where they meet?

Apart from that, it looks like the nearest other group I haven't been to is in Peterborough, north of Cambridge. If I went there, I'd have to try and find out beforehand if there were likely to be any classic Amigas there. You can see this more extensive list of groups on http://www.bambi-amiga.co.uk/usergroupfinder.html

[AmigaBruno]

@follett thanks for branching the thread. I held off posting again because we'd moved off the original subject.

@AmigaBruno is the Kickstart group accessible for you? It's the closest one to you I know of, but never attended. https://www.kickstartamigagroup.org.uk/about-us/

Well, this group looks like it's not too far from me, so I'll try it. I'm surprised I haven't been seeing their events listed reguarly before. My phone says it would take about 1 hour 22 mins to 1 hour 55 minutes to travel there, so that's fine, especially considering their next meeting lasts 12 hours!