New Recruit to the Amiga Ranks

[runequester]

You can get an amiga mouse pretty cheap from amigakit.com, or just check the sales forum on here, and Im sure someone can hook you up

[alfredbonnabel]

I love the comment about messing around with an old Amiga is like tinkering with a classic car - I couldn't agree more actually!

I love all the weird and wonderful accelerator cards and expansion pieces - makes it all so interesting and potentially endless!

I always wanted a A2000 as a kid

You are correct about the wide range of cards available. Unfortunately that is making it kind of confusing to me about what stuff is and is not compatible. Not really important to know right now but later on once I get some Amiga hours logged I will want to start tinkering.

[runequester]

You are correct about the wide range of cards available. Unfortunately that is making it kind of confusing to me about what stuff is and is not compatible. Not really important to know right now but later on once I get some Amiga hours logged I will want to start tinkering.

its a brave new world

In general, for accelerator cards and stuff, look for stuff that has a number of 20xx.
Tradition is that a card or expansion tends to have the first part of the amiga model number in it.
For processor cards, the last 2 digits tends to indicate the processor in question.
So 1230 would be an 030 card for a 1200, while 2030 would be the same for a 2000


In general anyways

[ad-rs1600i]

You are correct about the wide range of cards available. Unfortunately that is making it kind of confusing to me about what stuff is and is not compatible. Not really important to know right now but later on once I get some Amiga hours logged I will want to start tinkering.

I'm not really sure either to be honest! What I do know is that I would like a 030 accelerator for my A600!

Plenty of time for all that, and plenty of really helpful people on here!

The best thing about the A2000 is that it date's back to around 1985, yet with all the expansions etc. you can make it really more modern than it ever ought to have been should you wish!

If you like tinkering with old computers as I do, I think you'll be in your element with it

[alfredbonnabel]

its a brave new world

In general, for accelerator cards and stuff, look for stuff that has a number of 20xx.
Tradition is that a card or expansion tends to have the first part of the amiga model number in it.
For processor cards, the last 2 digits tends to indicate the processor in question.
So 1230 would be an 030 card for a 1200, while 2030 would be the same for a 2000


In general anyways

Wow, that's good to know. Thanks for the info runequester!

[alfredbonnabel]

Well guys, I finally got a keyboard courtesy of orb85750's sales thread over on Amibay! Now I just need a mouse and a better way to output video (mono composite sucks).

Incidentally, is there anything I can do with just a keyboard at this point? I booted into the GUI but couldn't seem to do any sort of navigation. Could be that I just don't know the proper keyboard shortcuts.

Also, does anyone have a good recommendation for a video card of some sort that would allow me to use a standard VGA monitor? Not having any luck finding an RGB-compatible monitor around here.

[SysAdmin]

Welcome, Picasso II is a good video card if you can find one. It will also need Amiga OS 3.1 to work.

[runequester]

Well guys, I finally got a keyboard courtesy of orb85750's sales thread over on Amibay! Now I just need a mouse and a better way to output video (mono composite sucks).
 
Incidentally, is there anything I can do with just a keyboard at this point? I booted into the GUI but couldn't seem to do any sort of navigation. Could be that I just don't know the proper keyboard shortcuts.
 
Also, does anyone have a good recommendation for a video card of some sort that would allow me to use a standard VGA monitor? Not having any luck finding an RGB-compatible monitor around here.

Try holding down one of the amiga keys and use the arrow keys.
 
As far as monitor, you'll need a scan doubler, either internal or external. Im at work currently, so I can't help much right now, but Im sure someone will jump in shortly

[countzero]

you have two choices here, go with a TV set which has some kind of video input and use a A520 modulator, or get a .htm]scandoubler and use a PC monitor. Scan doubler will give you better result, but will cost you more.

when going for the modulator, keeping mind that NTSC/PAL units are different, so you'll be wanting a NTSC one.

also this guy will be producing some s-video/component adapters for NTSC, it seems to be a good compromise of price/quality. (not really sure how much he will ask for them atm, but will probably be less than the scandoubler)

a scandoubler is universal though, so you may go PAL in the future if you want access to more European software.

btw, amiga mice are different to PC serial mice. Never ever connect a PC serial mice to your amiga, spare some bucks and buy a authentic amiga mouse.

[alfredbonnabel]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Yeah countzero, I've gone through a couple of PC serial mice before I realized I had to have an Amiga one. Would like to go the route of an internal card like a Picasso. Will be keeping an eye out, but definitely getting a mouse is the priority.

[countzero]

also keep in mind that getting a picasso or any other graphics card will only give VGA resolutions inside workbench only. Any application (read, any game, demo, software) using the native graphics chipset will switch the output to Amiga RGB output, taking you back to square one. If you're not interested in games/demos and stuff though, you'll be fine.

[alfredbonnabel]

Hmm, I didn't know that. Ideally I would love to just find a monitor and roll with that, but I've not been having any luck at all locally and I'm afraid of trying to have one shipped (cost and delicate nature of the unit).

[commodorejohn]

Cost isn't actually too bad within the continental US, and if you get it from someone who knows their way around computer equipment, they'll know to pack it thoroughly. Flicker-fixers and the like are always an option, but it might be worth your while to just get a Commodore monitor.

[countzero]

yes, but also keep in mind that amiga monitors are OLD devices, and prone to failures anytime unless they're very well maintained (change caps etc). If you're going to pay more than 60-70$ (including shipment) I'ld seriously consider a scandoubler, which is more versatile, and will last longer.

I suddenly felt like a individual computers representative :lol: but yeah, it's the way to go, unless you can source a monitor/tv cheaply. :afro:

[nicholas]

also keep in mind that getting a picasso or any other graphics card will only give VGA resolutions inside workbench only. Any application (read, any game, demo, software) using the native graphics chipset will switch the output to Amiga RGB output, taking you back to square one. If you're not interested in games/demos and stuff though, you'll be fine.

The Picasso IV has a scan doubler and flicker fixer built in.  It shows games and demos on a VGA monitor perfectly well.

[countzero]

The Picasso IV has a scan doubler and flicker fixer built in.  It shows games and demos on a VGA monitor perfectly well.

？ yeah but you forgot to mention they go for 300 to 400 bucks ...

Also you need to break the scandoubler module to use in a a2000 which is blashphemous ！:madashell: