Crazy Idea to get a A1200?

[NovaCoder]

Hi All,

Im a long term lurker here.

Lately I've been looking at the A1200 new-old stock at Amigakit.  I've always wanted a A1200 since I first saw my friends one in 1994 I would guess and I still got a slight itch to buy one.

My question is, is that a crazy idea to grab a A1200? I keep on thinking if its worth spending the money or if I would be still as happy with my A500 but from the perspective of building hardware for it.   (As a hobby I put together PIC/Atmel projects along with etching own PCB's).  

Another question I believe 030 & 060 accelerators are probably a must for the A1200 or else the experience might be a bit laggy.  Whats the speed difference between these two?  ie. 030 can satisfy you enough? 060 can you actually notice a speed improvement compared to the 030 or only when doing heavy number crunching tasks?

If you have an itch, the best thing to do is give it a scratch

[Damion]

IMHO, the '060/AGA combo only makes sense if you're into the late AGA-era demoscene. While there is a pretty huge performance gap between the '030 and '060, AGA is so slow that it's really not all that noticeable just using Workbench. Also, the '060 somewhat hampers compatibility with old games.

[ElPolloDiabl]

I noticed a speed difference going from a 33mhz 030 to a 25mhz 040. On Deluxe Music 2 the screen refreshed faster.
At the time I was also using it to connect to the internet on an old 28k modem, the internet was more useable too.
Other than those two things yeah there isn't a noticeable difference.

If you can wait there may be some backwards compatible clones (Natami is one of them) coming out... but who knows when.

If the minimig had more features I would have more interest in that.

I can't justify spending the money when you can get a Power Mac for cheap $$$.

[Hell Labs]

Occasionally though people do up and sell their entire setups for cheap. when they make it collection only it tends to keep everyone but the "true fans":confused: away.

[Cammy]

"Collection only" auctions are so much worse in Australia where we're all so spread out around this huge, empty continent.

NovaCoder has a great idea, check out YouTube for hundreds of videos that will make you want an Amiga again

[save2600]

I love the sound of Australia - "empty" and all  

[Hell Labs]

Man, you mean people actually live in austrailia? I thought that was just an urban legend.

Is the thing about having to wear hats outdoor to stop the sun giving you head cancer true?

[ElPolloDiabl]

You don't go out around midday or you will be sunburned in two minutes. My aunty who lives by the beach got a tumour on her nose, so yeah it is a good idea to where a hat.

[darkage]

Hi Darkage, welcome back into the Amiga world. I use my A1200 with 8MB Fast RAM/FPU with internal CF card and PCMCIA ethernet adapter every day. I browse the web, chat on MSN and IRC, use plenty of productivity software, code, and play games.

Whao!  Such admirable dedication!  Ok now that makes me want one even more seeing it still has some productivity uses today even if it is for fun!

I'm Located in Melbourne/Australia.    Saw this CD32 on ebay still in box

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/AMIGA-CD32-console-still-NEW-and-in-the-box_W0QQitemZ320389560083QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Computers_Vintage?hash=item4a98b4b713

Available for pickup ONLY out in the country areas.   $499 AUD for a CD32 seems a bit steep.    Wonder what the normal 2nd hand price is from non-collectors.

[Cammy]

IT'S A TRAP!!!

That guy is a con-man! He is selling a CD32 he bought on eBay from China for under $150 and reselling it for $500. You can get one from China yourself if you search internationally for CD32 in eBay. They're all new in the box, but they're all NTSC with American PSUs. Most CD32 games are PAL, and there could be compatibility issues with a lot of software because of the CD32 being NTSC. Some people have been able to modify them to be PAL, and you may be able to bypass the problem alltogether with an Indivision scan doubler, but then you'd need to plug the CD32 into a PC monitor (not that that's a bad thing).

For tinkering, you'd still be better off with an A1200 though, or at least a PAL CD32 with an SX-1 or SX32 expansion, but those are rare.

A600s are another option, they're quite expandable these days with a new 8MB FastRAM card and a 020 accelerator in the works. I've upgraded mine with 2MB ChipRAM, Kickstart ROM switcher, 1.3 and 3.1 ROMs, CF drive, PCMCIA Ethernet and SD Card reader, USB keypad, mouse and control pad, and a LCD monitor. I took some pics of it a little while ago which are here http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=49670

You should maybe look into going to one of the two Amiga club meetings in Melbourne, they get together every month I think. I'd love to go to them myself but I'm waaay up in Northern NSW where there seem to be hardly any Amiga users left. There are plenty in Victoria though.

[Crom00]

About the 600... I dunno... I had a buddy get an A600 back in the day and he sold it for an A1200 got a CPU card and ram. That was back in 93.  He loved the 600 but the A1200 had more colors and CSA had a special on CPU cards so he jumped on it.

He never looked back.

[Crom00]

STAY AWAY from the NTSC cd32 unless every game you want is in PAL. It's funky as some games will only work in PAL on a PAL CD32. I mean the problem is your TV will not display the game properly. A multisystem TV or Commdore monitor may be better. Why didn't they include the RGB port!!!! Aside from that quirk the CD32 rocks. The game compliation CD's you can acquire are great.

[Stug]

Hi
I'm sure you have seen the A1200 and lots of bits in the Auction House.
He's put it under Accessories/everything else.
Hope that helps.
Good luck.
(you know it makes sense!)

Stug:hammer:

[darkage]

Hi
I'm sure you have seen the A1200 and lots of bits in the Auction House.
He's put it under Accessories/everything else.
Hope that helps.
Good luck.
(you know it makes sense!)

Stug:hammer:

Yep I have seen the A1200 on the auction house.   UK is a little far though for shipping to Australia, but yet again brand new-old stock from Amigakit is tempting.

I knew this was bound to happen once I sparked my interest back in the Amiga.  Im finding I stay up until 4am trolling around for cheap Ami hardware.   Then I found a whole pile of Ami books in PDF on amigasupersite.com.   Makes me want to read them all, to have a much better understanding of the machine inside out.  I guess this is where things start to get nutty with some sort of obsessive behaviour. haha!  but its all good its all good (:

[runequester]

Not that crazy, Im looking to buy one myself. The cost isnt too bad, though the Indivision will add quite a bit to it.
 
Compatibility is pretty good. Only a few games that needed relokick or anything like that for 1.3 kickstart. And an AGA machine lets you play Banshee!

[darkage]

Not that crazy, Im looking to buy one myself. The cost isnt too bad, though the Indivision will add quite a bit to it.

Very true when thinking back to the original cost in 1992.   Correct me if Im wrong, I vaguely remember how much my friend payed for one when it was first released.   I can remember him saving up for sometime though.    Anyone know what price it was originally sold for?  I keep on think just above $1200 or $1400 for some reason.

I know my Ami500 costed my parents $1000 in 1998 Im sure.  actually I should have the original receipt someone in the filing cabinet.  somewhere