When did you start collecting amigas?

[runequester]

For those of you with collections, when did it switch from "computers for general use" to "collecting" ?

[Franko]

Hmm. not sure how to answer that one, I've only ever used the VIC 20, C64 and Amiga for any of my computing needs and if by collecting you mean keeping hold of all these old computers, then both general use and collecting would have to mean the same thing to me...

[LoadWB]

Gotta agree with Franko on that one.  My "collection" is merely a collection by merit of having more than one.  In general, I use a Windows laptop because that it what I support in my day-to-day business.  But my hobby activities revolve around a rotating schedule in front of my various Amigas, Commodore 128D, and TI-99/4A systems.  And I am working to add an Atari 800XL to that mix, once I open up some time in my schedule.  Right now I am busy fortifying my TI system and rewriting some of my old games.

In terms of what I have in the closet, I do have several Amigas which are for parts purposes, and I am working to trim that down.  Ditto on Commodore 64 stuff.  I keep spare Amiga 500s, a couple of C64s and C128s, and TI-99/4As on-hand, just in case.

Specifically relating to the Amiga, I suppose my "collection" started in 1993 when I picked up my first spare A500 unit, or 1994 when I picked up an A1000 to work in concert with my A500.  I was forced to use my A1000 as my primary system for a short period when my 500 pooped and I had no spare mobo available.  Now it is sitting in a box awaiting the installation of the Fast-PAL kit.

Feh.

[Tenacious]

For those of you with collections, when did it switch from "computers for general use" to "collecting" ?

My first A500 with 1084S set me back nearly $1000 around 1989 from a local vendor.  Just a few years later, vendors began offering deep clearance discounts.  So, I bought spares.  I've always enjoyed Amigas, felt a great appreciation for their unique character.  But, my choice of computers has left me on a computing "island" away from the mass of computer users.  

Soon after, when Amigas began turning up as something for others to discard when upgrading or when their sense of fashion changed, I developed a rescuer/conservator's mentality.

There is a finite number of machines and compatible monitors, joysticks, mice, keyboards left.  When ppl post of recycling or disposing of classic Amiga equipment, I always feel a sense of loss.

[save2600]

Early 90's for me. Already had an A500 that I had purchased in the late 80's to replace my A1000. But by this time, A1000's could be had dirt cheap, so I started purchasing them, taking 'em apart, cleaning 'em, purchasing internal memory and Kickstart upgrades and selling them for just a nick cheaper than you could purchase a brand new A500 for. Refurbed only a handful before I really got "serious" and started collecting the various Amiga lines as well as consoles to restore and re-sell. Early 90's were the greatest time to do all of this as new parts and peripherals (talking about Amiga especially) were en vogue and people were letting go of their used stuff cheap. Playing around with and getting to know the hardware ins and outs was just so cool back then. Yellowing wasn't even an issue yet. Everything seemed like new when you got through cleaning 'em up  

C64c's, TI-99/4A's, Atari 8-bit line, you name it ('cept for the ST). Mid 90's, I was restoring and configuring a lot of A500's and A1200's for people. And keeping one representative each for myself

By the late 90's, I've had just about every game console, Amiga line, Mac line and portables ever made. And by the mid 2000's, down to just a handful of goodies I've kept for myself that's in my signature. Still won't pass up a good deal when I run across one though. Easy enough to repair/restore and re-sell to those that appreciate getting their hands on a bit of history  

[Templario]

With my first Amstrad CPC 6128, after my Amiga 500, my old PC K7, my crashed notebook and now my Sam.