To sell or not to sell?

[whologram]

Greetings All,
I have an Amiga 2000 system that I bought in 1990. The date on the Motherboard is 1988. In 1998 I bought a PC, and have been using it since. I mainly use it for video editing. As many of you know, because video editing is sensitive to a system, it's best to have one machine by itself as a no internet - video editing computer, and another computer for internet only.
I've been thinking about selling the computer on Ebay. But then the thought occured to me "maybe I should keep it for my internet computer?" (I prefer the PC for video editing mainly for price reasons. Back when I bought it I was aware of the Video Toaster. But is there any more reasonably priced VE software now?)
I haven't worked with my Amiga for years. Because so much has changed, I don't even know how I'd go about using it for the internet? I used to have Compuserve on it, but I want/need a browser. Will the Amiga do that? What about compatability? Is that a big or small problem, or even a problem at all?
It's such a good machine (don't have to tell anyone here that!), maybe I don't need to sell it at all?
Ideas?

P.S. I'm currently in the process of gathering photos and data on this system.

Mark Smith
Canton, IL

[Erol]

Well the A2000 is a collectors machine, but you might find it better if you buy an AmigaOne.

http://www.stellardreams.co.uk/index.php - if in UK.

You'll need some new hardware but basically
you can upgrade your A2000 to run on the Internet.

Items u will need
1. Kickstart ROM 3.1 for Amiga 500/600/2000-Powerc.com
2. Workbench 3.5 or 3.9 -Powerc.com
3. Mini Mega chip for A500 and A2000 £79.95  -Powerc.com
4. A2000 accellerator card with memory (68040 or 68060)- search Ebay
5. X-Surf Network Card. - jschoenfeld.de

Your'll also need a Hard Drive and CDROM, which i assume u have one already.

some sites that may help with items above

http://www.powerc.com
http://www.vesalia.de
http://www.ebay.co.uk
http://www.jschoenfeld.de/

[FastRobPlus]

This might seem distasteful to some… But I have a few Amiga 2000’s, and some of them (due to their stock configuration) are not worth selling.

I was toying with the idea of gutting one, and adding a PC mobo and power supply, then adding Windows.  This would give me a clone PC in a 2000 case.  If you were to add Win UAE, you’d be left with an Amiga-alike computer in a 2000’s case that runs the net faster than an Amiga 2000 and cheaper too.

My big issue is that I’d want an authentic feeling 2000, even the keyboard, mouse, and joysticks would have to work.

My understanding is that the forthcoming Catweasel MKIV will let you use your Amiga joysticks, mice, and keyboard in UAE, right?

So with proper cable modification and routing, one could have a truly authentic-looking Amiga.

Any flaws in this plan?

[TjLaZer]

Rob,

Putting a PC mobo in a 2000 case is indeed very distasteful!!  How dare you?  Do I have to get Doomy in on this one?

[adolescent]

FastRobPlus wrote:
Any flaws in this plan?

Besides the fact that the A2000 is huge and horibly ugly?  No, not really.

[FastRobPlus]

LOL!

So if I understand it, the only issues are:

1. I should not abuse an A2000 by exposing it to an ugly clone mobo

2. I should not waste a new mobo on an ugly A2000

Got it!
:-)

[odin]

Well the A2k case is (IIRC) originally a C= PC case, so I don't really see any flaws in this plan ;-).

[MiAmigo]

I just finished spending a couple of months (and a LOT of money) rehabbing an old A2000 I got off of eBay. Don't know if you're ready for this, but restoring an A2000 is a time-consuming and expensive project, espeically if you want to bring it up to a spec of usability compatible with today's standards. That definitely means a web browser and a network device of some type,a CD player, and most likely video card accelerator and CPU/RAM/SCSI controller and accelerator. These items are not cheap. And, most importantly, look at the battery, and remove it! More than likely, its leaking, and slowing eating up your motherboard.

Later on, after you've added what I consider the basics, you may want to got for a sound device and other coolities. (See the spec list on my machine). Good luck!  8-)

[orange]

I've got several A2000. Unfortunately, they are pretty useless without some turbo CPU card, because 68k is too slow for tcpip and most other important things. For eg. I have Picasso II gfx card but can't run P96 drivers 'cause they need at least '020..
Even if you can find faster CPU card for A2000, it will probably cost much more than A2000 itself. The same applies to a1200 and most of other Amigas.
Your best chance is to get already accelerated Amiga for small price.

I do HOPE that coldfire will be usable on other Amigas besides A1200..

PS. IMHO CDROM is not essential if you network A2k with some other computer (nullmodem/parallel..). You can even use floppys like in (good) old days.