Does anyone here solely use a Classic Amiga?

[DBAlex]

Just wondered if anyone here *only* uses their Classic Amiga for all computing and nothing else.

I think it would be kinda hard to keep up with most things... I think you'd have to have a PC/Mac/Linux to do some basic stuff like online banking etc...

If you do what problems do you have? How do you solve them?

I'm just genuinely interested. :-)

Cheers, Alex.

[DBAlex]

Well, it doesn't make tea so there's no point trying to use it for that...

LOL... I knew those custom chips had a limitation somewhere...

[DBAlex]

I did up until about 2002...

Cool!... So how come you had to get a PeeCee/Mac?

[DBAlex]

I think if you change some expectations of what your computing needs are, any old platform, even from the early 80s can be quite usable for many things.  I am a professional IT person so my needs to access clients systems remotely can't be done with systems of old but not everyone is an IT person.  

So, I guess one has to ask themselves, what do they need in a computer and maybe can they get by with losing some computing capabilities they have grown use to in the 2000s.  

I know this is not purely Amiga based, but I do have an Amiga 1000 as part of my "being used" collection of aged technology and as of now, I am on kind of a adventure of seeing what can be done with old tech and what can I "become AMISH" about and leave by the wayside as part of my new computing life.

Here is what I am doing..... For business purposes my newest machine is a 2.5 year old Macbook Air that is used daily as my business system.  I have my own company and need to remote into Mac clients systems on a daily basis so need at least a OS X capable machine to do that.  So, I get by with a 2.5 year old machine to run my business.  From there, all is veteran equipment that believe it or not, I use all these systems weekly for either enjoyment ot actual tasks.  

I think just having one old Amiga would be tuff for sure but how about using the Amiga for word processing, games, database tasks, and fun old programming.  If you need web and email, heck, phones these days can do that and technically, they are not a desktop computer so you can say the only computer you use is an Amiga.  :hammer:  Then use say an iPhone great email and decent web browsing that can handle Paypal, eBay, some banking, etc...

As for me, I am using a BeBox Dual 133MHz today for playing CDs and listening to great tunes to end my day.  Then I will sparkup my NeXTcube and can do some GREAT Desktop Publishing and I can even do email and basic web browsing from this old 68040 at 33MHz in NeXTSTEP.  Some great old apps on a NeXT.  Then I spark up my Atari 800 and play some great old games and end the day playing with my Amiga 1000 and some cool old apps.

In a nutshell, find a use for ALL your old equipment and not just let them rot in the box to say you own X number of Amigas.  I like collectors but collectors that actually use what they own.  Use it or Loose it.  :laughing:  Old tech dies if they sit in the box.

So, modify your expectations of what you need a computer for, find a alternative for what it can't do, and enjoy what you have.  I could be happy with an Amiga and an iPhone I am sure if that is all God let me play with.

tj

Very true about the iPhone... I have an iPod Touch and you could easily use it as your only web browser/email machine... iPhone is better of course due to 3G, but the iPod Touch is still very cool! Can't wait for the iOS4 upgrade! :-D

[DBAlex]

I have been scouring the forums all over this sight and once I've figured out what I need and where to find it. I'll start trying to get hold of the bits and pieces and chuck this imac in the bucket where it belongs.

(and YES up until about four weeks ago I had only ever used my 'Classic Amiga's' and had never even used the internet...)

It looks like I'll have to start writing my own browser though. (now there's a challenge !!!)

Cheers

Franko

@Franko

What's wrong with AWeb and IBrowse??

If you have a really nice Amiga with an 060, graphics card and lots of memory you can try NetSurf 68K too :-).

For OS4 their is OWB of course. :-D

[DBAlex]

@DBAlex


Hi DBAlex

My main amiga set up is as follows...

A1200 Blizard060/PPC603 60Mhz/240Mhz / 256Meg Fast Ram / 2 x 500Gb HD's / 2 DVD Burners / FASTATA MKIII / SUBWAY USB / Wireless Mouse

Now if you could let me know what I need and where to get it, to get this set up on the internet, then you will have made me the happiest Amigan on the planet

Cheers :drink:

Franko

Wow!!

Amazing Amiga setup..!! (I never even seen 256MB in a real miggy unless it was using emulators ;-))

Well theirs many ways to get your miggy on the net. IMHO the easiest way if you currently use an ethernet connection is to get a PCMCIA ethernet adapter. These can be bought from eBay or AmigaKit. (Their's a list somewhere of compatible models - mainly they are 3COM models). (Search google "3COM Amiga PCMCIA")

The other alternative is to use WiFi. The orinoco gold and silver cards work great (I have one in my A1200, connects every time !) and then you can set it up easily using prism2 drivers from Aminet and a TCP/IP stack. (Pretty much any will do, as long as they let you set the device to Networks/prism2.device unit 0) - i'm still using the original Miami software.

An easier way to set the WiFi up is using the EasyNet software from AmigaKit, but that is pay for software (£10). But a lot of people say it's very easy to use for people who've never had their miggies online before.

I'll post more info tomorrow or let other people say more... but that's the general gist of it :-D.

Alex.