Hardware recommendations for a new (to me) A1200

[ggerke]

I'm now a proud owner of an A1200 that has a 4GB compact flash card with AmigaDOS 3.1 installed on one partition. I used an Amiga or two back in ye olde days but, well... please don't hold it against me.

My question (hopefully without starting a holy war) is what would be good to order for h/w upgrades and it what order? I'm not talking a huge budget but I'm wondering what would be best.

- I know I need some way of getting software to it so if there's software that will let me read an MS-DOS floppy that'd probably be the easiest way.
- I'd like to get on the Internet to telnet to some BBS's so that'd mean some sort of network PCMCIA card... or I want to say I've seen something that attaches to a serial port and emulates a modem but actually does WiFi. Is there a preference or known better/smoother option?
- I've got it hooked to a 1084S and would like to get better video. Would connecting a flat screen TV allow for better/sharper video & more colors?

And I know it's not software forum but is there a general list of utilities that people can mostly agree to that would be a "you really need this" sort of list. I know there's NoClick and I found that DirOpus is now free and that's great. What about comm programs? I want to say I used to use Baud Bandit but without a dialup modem that might (?) not be of much use.

I really need to dig out my old box of software and see what's still there and hopefully hasn't turned to dust.

Thanks in advance!

[ggerke]

Oh - and something else just hit me. What's a cost friendly way of adding an optical mouse to this beastie? I've got my original ball mouse and it's less than ideal as compared to an optical.

[dovegrace]

If it were me, the first thing I'd get would be an Indivision, followed by an accelerator and RAM.

[Rob]

Rys MK2 is probably the best choice for attaching mice since USB won't be going anywhere soon and you'll have the widest range of choices.  most Amiga dealers stock it.

[giZmo350]

Well, nothing is really "cheap" in Amigaland... that said, for the best enjoyment experience and ease of use, just spring for some essential hardware.... if too expensive, you'll have too look around eBay. But, IMHO, after reading years of frustration in posts and going cheap ending up costing you just as much $$$ and a a LOT of wasted time, just go for these....

Accelerator........
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1296

But, IMO, just go for the good stuff here....
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1285

Scan Doubler.....
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=1148

USB......
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=1213

Internet.... for getting files the EASY way!
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=121

or.....
http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=42&products_id=116

Really, that's all you need for hardware... trust me this is the easiest way to go....   although some will chime in with many other options. BTW, Indivision products just work.

Software..... gotta have.....

Internet....
http://www.ibrowse-dev.net/

Word processor.....
Final Writer

Games....
WHDLoad http://whdload.de/ game loader
http://www.whdownload.com/ where to get the games
http://www.lemonamiga.com/ check out thousands of games w/DL links

Unreal amount of software... use this, discover it, browse it, learn how to download from it.... it's awesome!
http://ftp://grandis.nu/

user: ftp
pass: any

Aminet.... http://aminet.net/

These will keep you busy for 6 months!

OK..... others will argue my advice till the cows fart the earth apart!!! :lol:

Oh, and install OS3.9 for the love of GEEEEEEEEBUZZZZ! Just get the real thing!!!! Me no likey the pre-packaged OS's.

Keeping it simple is what gives me the most enjoyment when installing hardware and software. And like nearly every Amiga head here... I've tried it all!!!

From there the sky's the limit for software.... audio, productivity, cheap external CD drive for USB, SH!T... too much to list..... :roflmao:

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

If it were me, the first thing I'd get would be an Indivision, followed by an accelerator and RAM.

+1.  All of these products are available new from various Amiga retailers.

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1148

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1296

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1285

You didn't state (or maybe I missed it) whether you're in the US or Europe.  If you're in Europe, a lot of people rant & rave about the quality of SCART.  If, however, you're in the US, get an Indivision for the simplest install, or something like the GBS-8220 for a more complicated (but less expensive) upgrade, to allow yourself to use modern monitors.

3.1 + BetterWB (or 3.9) + Indivision + fast '020 or '030 = a really nice retro experience.  I'd replace the RF adapter with an HDMI port like this guy has done for a clean look.  Then from there you can start building the system out more.  You've already discovered some of the ways of networking, such as a PCMCIA network card or the Plipbox.  Have fun!  

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

Dammit.  Gizmo beat me to it again.  With almost all of the exact same links I was about to post, lol. :lol:

[giZmo350]

Dammit.  Gizmo beat me to it again.  With almost all of the exact same links I was about to post, lol. :lol:

:roflmao::rofl::roflmao::rofl::roflmao::rofl:

O&X's Mike!!!!!

[Iggy]

Oh - and something else just hit me. What's a cost friendly way of adding an optical mouse to this beastie? I've got my original ball mouse and it's less than ideal as compared to an optical.

Oh - and something else just hit me. What's a cost friendly way of adding an optical mouse to this beastie? I've got my original ball mouse and it's less than ideal as compared to an optical.

I'll leave the rest to everyone else, but I'd try one of the optical mouse conversion boards.
I haven't had good luck with mouse conversion dongles.

[ToddH]

Amigakit sells an optical mouse that plugs right in...

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=49&products_id=1258

[scuzzb494]

Hi

Can I just ask that whilst you consider and possibly implement the options being offered to you that you respect the computer in all that you do.

[dovegrace]

- I'd like to get on the Internet to telnet to some BBS's so that'd mean some sort of network PCMCIA card... or I want to say I've seen something that attaches to a serial port and emulates a modem but actually does WiFi. Is there a preference or known better/smoother option?

Once you have your network up and running, I'd recommend NComm or JR-Comm for terminal programs, along with TelSer to emulate a phone connection over network.  I've used this combination myself for BBSing on my A1200, although not recently.  VIRterm is alright, too.

There are a few QWK offline mail readers available for the Amiga (if you want to go whole hog), although I haven't tried any of them.

[ggerke]

Wow, thanks for all the responses. I'll try to summarize in to one reply rather than bulk reply.

I'm in the US. I used to do the newsletter for the Amiga Users of the Heartland (AUoH) back a hundred years or so ago.

This might be showing my age but I don't suppose the Fred Fish disks are still a useful source of apps and such...?

I'm thinking in order of importance I'd go the following route:

- EasyNet PCMCIA wireless card
- Indivision 1200 AGA MK2cr (my old eyes + 1084 @ 640x200 is not a primo combination)
- ACA 1221EC Accelerator + RTC module (unless there's an NTP available?)

Along those lines... is there a good reason to keep the RF shield in place any longer? I suspect I'll be abusing this little beastie in the not too distant future and the less I take out and put back is the less risk of breaking something.

@rob - I tried going to look for the Rys MK2 on amigakit (the US store) but it says "Stock Expected: T.B.A."

@gizmo350 - Oh, man - either gonna have to slip these past the Finance Committee (i.e. she-who-rules) or gonna have to go out and get my Chippendale's job back. But yeah, I'd rather buy something once than experiment on "iffy" products and then go redo a shopping run

AmigaOS 3.9 comes from where...?

@Oldsmobile_Mike - Ha ha! (Sorry, gizmo made me say that)

@scuzzb494 - I'll always respect the Amiga. It's just too darn cool not to.

@dovegrace - Thanks. I wouldn't have an easy way of hooking up an analog modem nor would have a place to dial in to.

I did start building a Raspberry Pi as a BBS (I'll get back to it Real Soon Now) so having some way to telnet in to it from the Amiga would be another cool thing.

[dovegrace]

@dovegrace - Thanks. I wouldn't have an easy way of hooking up an analog modem nor would have a place to dial in to.

No problem there.  The TelSer device I mentioned emulates an analog modem over a network connection, you use it in conjunction with a terminal program like Ncomm or JR-comm.  Simply enter the telnet address of the BBS into the terminal program instead of the phone number.

It's been a couple of years since I last did this, but setup should be pretty straightforward.

[scuzzb494]

I am very keen that users of the Amiga maintain the essence of the base machine in all its glory. There has been several waves of destruction for the A1200. The first being the hacks that occurred to expand the machines originally. Usually dreadful installations of 3.5" drives and the like. Next was the towerising of the computer and the destruction of the cases with just the retentions of base and motherboard. And to today with the cutting of cases to insert new fangled drives, USBs and the like. Plus the various colouring of cases etc.

For the real enthusiast that is likely to stay the course then I could probably just cope with that as these users do contribute to the greater good of the Amiga community. What is less palatable is users that come to the game after they suddenly have a shot of nostalgia but cannot live with the kit without trying to make the Amiga into some kind of modern machine and then give up when they fail. I collect computers and am very active on numerous groups and have seen first hand the destructive debris that many have inflicted on some quite wonderful machines. I rescued a 1500 that had been hacked and modified to take a 1200 motherboard and then abandoned when the person realised that there was no way of installing an accelerator in the space. In doing this he managed to destroy three Amiga computers.

So when I say respect its more about preserving a machine from the scrap heap in truth through over ambition that fades as the computer is unable to provide the desired function. These computers are old and getting older. We mustn't lose any if we can help it.

On the connectivity I have a wired ethernet card and wrote my own SAMBA scripts to communicate with all my PCs and used Miami as the launch interface. By setting the AUTO on the IP I was able also to get the A1200 onto broadband though only use it for mail. The networking is far more useful as I can directly use all the various drives on XP, Win98 and Win95 machines. I have SCSI on the Blizzard Turbo KIT and external drives for storage of files and also have CD and ZIP. The machine is also on a Parnet to an A4000D/040 where I keep my vast library of adf files that I have created.

Fred Fish disks are actually still very interesting to muck around with though less relevant today. I have the volumes on CD. The SCSI port is the only hack to my original 1993 A1200 which has been running every day since I first purchased the machine. I still have the original blanking plate if I need to put matters back the way they were. It is a credit to the computer that I have never had to repair anything. And trust me this A1200 has been used extensively and still does so. I have a small NetGear HUB on the floor that feeds to several machines so I am always able to find stuff.

I generally set up all my Amigas with Parnet, DOpus, CED, Squirrel or SCSI off a Blizzard plus internal 2.5 and external SCSI plus ZIP and CD. Kinda the norm for me. I still use the original monitors like the Microvitec though the A4000 is on a Mitsubishi driven through the PicassoIV. I have a 1200 in a tower which is a real beast and literally built from scraps of computers I have collected during my travels. Works fine.

Anyway , have fun and keep a record of your activity. Personally I wouldn't remove the shielding. I had a dreadful problem with a 1200 with an Apollo and a 3.5" where this had been done and there was an issue with shorting as I closed the case. I have seen some quite dreadful hacks of cases and insides of machines. It can be done well but sometimes it is quite heartbreaking.

All the very best. Do remember there is a CardReset issue with PCMCIA and you need to get your head round that if you haven't already. There are still various groups around that specialise in subjects like networking and the like. The fun often is in the interaction and the friends you make. What you are trying to avoid is doing anything with the Amiga that you later regret. So having discussions and doing research can help greatly. And like I say, keep a record of what you do and maybe even record it on a site blog somehow so others can share in your experiences.