What are your expectations for this computer? There is a very large range of ways you can expand it.
You can use it as is and play lots of disk games. You will be surprised at what this machine can do.
I started out with an A500 and expanded it to the point where I decided to switch to an A2000, and not too long after I bought an A3000 which I've been using for 10 years or so. It's my everyday computer.
Aren't A520's still easily obtainable? They were not that long ago.
I wouldn't mess around with the Commodore monitors. The ones you can get always seem to be at the end of their life. Hook the A500 up to the TV with the monochrome out (or to a VCR) and then get yourself an A520 and use the same setup in color. A *good* TV (not too big) will give you the same results a 1084 monitor will. If you want to do better than this, get a video card and a standard VGA monitor. I would recommend a Cybervision 64/3D card. I believe these are still available and they work really well with the A500. You cannot plug it directly into the A500 though. You can get a Bodega Bay which basically turns your A500 into an A2000 without the video slot. I know a guy who has one he might part with if you're interested.
