Coming Back Into The Community

[Nlandas]

Keep your eye out for an A1200 with 3.1 roms and OS 3.9. You might just find one for that.

AmigaKit has PAL refurbished ones left for $146USD - add some for OS, mouse, etc. and you'd need a US power Supply or build one from an ATX power supply like I did. (That's an easy solder job.)

It's PAL unless you want to do some hardware hacking and ground one of the pins on the Alice chip to make it default to NTSC on boot.

Watch around, you might just find one.

-Nyle

[irishmike]

@nlandas:  I appreciate that, I actually already looked into that and they even do have a PS already for the US market available as well.  It will would come down to shipping and I already found a great A2000 I have agreed to buy right here in my area.  That is going to be around $150 USD and then maybe $100 USD more for the OS and the 3.1 ROM.  I am actually excited about acquiring this unit!

@everyone:  I am also looking forward to Jens Schönfeld's upcoming release of the indivision VGA adapter for the A2000, he thinks around October it should be available.. so if I don't find a solution before then... I will definitely pick one up as soon as it is made available.

[save2600]

You'd be best off waiting for Jens' Indivision product. The Microway's floating around are rather weak performers. Faint lines on the screen, RF interference, no PAL support (all my observations when I've owned them), plus they're old and still kinda expensive.

[irishmike]

@save2600:  I will likely wait for the indvision to come out... just would be nice to see my new game go now instead of 3 months from now ;-)  I am not obtaining a C= monitor for the machine so it will be "dormant" until I get a VGA adapter for her.

Expense is definitely an issue too though.

[tone007]

The Commodore 2320 is around as well and works much better than the Microway, for one it supports both PAL and NTSC.

[irishmike]

@tone007:  I will keep that in mind.  I must also point out that you were the original person to tell me to look into the upcoming Indivision product and so I contacted Jens to see what his timeframe was on the A2000 model and he responded in kind with his timeframe and what issues he is working on getting the controller working -- he said he wants to release it in October, but didn't want to be held to that because things could still be delayed with the issues he is facing.  I think the guy is great!  He is definitely an asset to the larger Amiga community.

[tone007]

The Indivision AGA is a great device, I have one in my 1200.  The OCS/ECS version should be very nice as well, though it might not be quite as flexible due to those machines not having AGA (1024x768 256-color workbench is a big selling point on the AGA Indivision.)

[stefcep2]

The Indivision AGA is a great device, I have one in my 1200.  The OCS/ECS version should be very nice as well, though it might not be quite as flexible due to those machines not having AGA (1024x768 256-color workbench is a big selling point on the AGA Indivision.)

How usable is 1024x768 8 bit?

[new2amga]

If you would like to borrow a C= Monitor from me until you get your SD/FF, let me know.  I am more than willing to let you borrow the monitor on my A600 for the interim.  I too hope to purchase at least 3 of those ECS SD/FF when they come out.  Give me a ring and let me know.

Nathan

[Cammy]

How usable is 1024x768 8 bit?

On my A1200 030/50 it's unusable. I run my Workbench in 1024x768 in 16 colours and it's very responsive, but any increase over that and there's very noticable lag to everything. Waiting for windows to slowly draw themselves on screen takes the fun away from using Workbench.

On another note, although the Indivision is great, it's not the only way to get a flicker-free display from an Amiga these days. I have my A600 plugged into an LCD TV using the new S-Video adapter from AmigaManiac.com, which gives me a rock solid display in resolutions up to 1364x536 widescreen. Here's a photo of Workbench playing some music - http://home.exetel.com.au/amiga/PICT4033.JPG

Something like this might also do the job until the Indivision ECS arrives. If Jens is aiming for an October release, it'd be great to see them being sold at AmiWest.

[tone007]

How usable is 1024x768 8 bit?

Like Cammy said, it's not the snappiest, even with an '060 things get a little sluggish, not to mention it doesn't work right with FBlit.  Still nice to be able to do it occasionally though, since I'm pretty sure I won't be coming across a BVision setup anytime soon and it's fun to squeeze the most out of the desktop 1200.

I generally stick with 32 colors and get decent performance and FBlit compatibility.

[motrucker]

I would stick to the idea of getting the A2000 first. These are great machines, and it is easy (and usually inexpensive) to upgrade.
You might want to consider a graphics card with built in SC/FF. I used to use a Spectrum from GVP with very good results.

[irishmike]

Hey guys, thanks for all the support -- man I am feeling the love here!

I did get my A2000 this morning with the 030 accelerator and it has a 4GB Hard Drive and 8 mb Ram 4 chip and 4 fast (4 on the accelerator naturally).  It seems to be in real good shape and now it is just a matter of the pesky VGA situation and maybe a second floppy drive in it.

Those that PM'd me, thanks, I have written you back.  I will have to see how the budget looks in a bit on some of that.  I REALLY appreciate the support though!

@new2amga:  We'll talk soon I am sure ;-)

Anyhow, the new A2k seems to be a very nice one indeed, it has like one scratch on the case, but otherwise has little to NO yellowing and is every bit as pretty as beige can be :-D

Soon she will be up to 3.1 ROMs and at least OS 3.1 to go with.  I am thinking of buying the OS 3.1 and 3.9 from Amigakit when I do the roms.

@amigakit:  A while back you included a copy of easyADF for me with a purchase, I can not seem to find the disk... would you be willing to throw another copy in when I buy the stuff?  PM me if this is okay.

[irishmike]

@motrucker:  Will probably pick up a spectrum for the interim.  I assume (forgive my ignorance here) that it will do VGA?

Sounds like a decent card.

[tone007]

Spectrum is fun for RTG stuff (correct, VGA output,) but it doesn't scandouble unfortunately so native Amiga screenmodes as in games would still require a 15khz monitor.

[irishmike]

so the question becomes:  What is the best solution for now to get scan double, flicker fixer and VGA output for my A2000?  I really would also like to spend less money right this moment :-D  Wouldn't we all though.   But having purchased the A2k and last month the Atari ST, my vintage computer hobby budget analyst says to "cool it" for now (aka my wife).   So I know that I am into next month before I can buy the 3.1 ROMs and the Amiga OS media that I wish to purchase for this machine ;-)

Between the "vintage computing hobby" and my vinyl LP collecting, I am sure that I could spend many dollars per month were my wife not "grounding me" in reality sometimes.  Hey, that is one thing wives are good for though!