Thanks for all of the info, I know have a lot of reading to do before I jump in. Budget is of course important, but I am setting aside money for the buy in. That of course assumes I can buy in.
If I do this, I will be all retro Amiga. I love the newer machines, but the cost is just far too high. I can get a new iMac for around the same price and I am not looking to spend a lot of money. Certainly not that much anyway.
So I have been reading, and reading, and reading. Then I read some more. I think I have settled on Word Perfect 4.1 for the software needs. I can save in WP format, then use Libre Office on my Mac to change the document format for submission requirements. Or I could use this site: http://www.zamzar.com/convert/wpd-to-doc/ (Not really sure how well it works as I have never used it)
For printing, I have decided that the few times I do need to print I will transfer the document to my Mac then print from there. Assuming of course I can open the file correctly.
Since I am looking to setup a writing station, I don't need a lot, but would like a machine with a HD (or a flash drive as this seems to be a popular mod, and floppies go bad). I would really like a full keyboard, so I am thinking A500, A2000, A3000 or A1200. Though I think the A1200 may be a bit hard to find in good shape.
I need a recommendation for a machine, a classic machine. As in, I am not sure about the difference in the WorkBench version numbers. I had an A1000, then an A500 so I am not familiar with anything beyond that. WB 2.1 (I think) was the last one I worked with. WB 2 seems to be widely supported, WB3 I am not so sure about, and from I can gather, a lot software for WB4 is either stalled, incomplete, or abandonware even if it is more "modern".
Just so you guys get where I am coming from, let me explain my "writing style". I have a room, well, large hallway closet actually, that I do all of my writing work in. When I am "in the zone" I don't want distractions. I just don't. Not even from my wife. Well, unless the house is on fire, maybe ...
I normally use my Mac Laptop that is basically set in airplane mode. No Wifi, Ethernet, or BlueTooth turned on. Which works ... most of the time anyway. Until I need to access a shared folder or something else that is not locally stored on the laptop. I try to plan for everything I think I might need, but there is always that one thing. Anyway, once I connect to the network, I am connected. All of my notifications from twitter and FaceBook start going off, my iMessage lights up like a christmas tree, emails start to come in, it's a mess. I am just OCD enough that work basically stops until all of notifications are cleared out, email cleaned up, etc. I'm crazy I know, but it is just how I am.
I have tried a DOS machine, which was horrible really, but the concept was good. The great thing about the Amiga is it just good enough to get online, or at least the local network, but just "not mac enough" to hammer me with sending me a bunch of notifications. If I could access my local share drive, which it looks like I will be able to, I would be in heaven.
Honestly, I would love to have another A500 (it really was a great little machine for its day). Would that be enough to run Wordperfect? Or even let me tryout some other software packages for writing? Or should I get something with WB3?
Ok, that turned out way longer than I had anticipated. Sorry about that, there is just so much I either don't know or have forgotten.
Can't you just create another profile on your computer that isn't linked to all your accounts that seem to be giving you a headache. Create a writing alias and then create privileges so you can access printers, folders etc. I have more Amigas than probably anyone, seriously, and I love them to death, but to get them to jump through hoops to do what say this Win7 machine can do seems pretty pointless. That is why I sit here writing all my words on a Win7 machine and then go have fun with my Amigas.
Not to put a damper on your desire but I'd keep your laptop as the cheapest option and then get an Amiga 1200 to have some fun and forget trying to get it to jump through hoops. Retro is retro at the end of the day and its hard enough just keeping the kit alive. Others will disagree.
You can get some great free writing packages for the Amiga. Loads appeared on cover disks and they come up on the Bay for pennies. Not sure if WP was ported to the Amiga... probably never noticed it. I use just a text editor for writing, even on this Win7 machine I use Notepad. On the Amiga there was Wordworth but that requires a serial number. I'm sure someone can help on that front. The A500 isn't bad but lacks simple expansion for say an accelerator or hard drive. Easier on a 1200. Don't get me wrong I love my 500s, but by choice I use the 1200. There is also the monitor you have to think of etc so it does start to build. You can scart to a flat screen I guess.
Anyway have fun.
