RETROCOMPUTERS
(And retrocomputing)
My first family computer was an Amiga A500, which we got around Christmas of 1988. Ever since then, I've loved Amigas.
Since then, the Amiga has moved it's way from an advancement in computing, into the retrocomputer field. I've follwed it through. Subsequently, I now have a strong interest in retrocomputing.
This has now advanced from just Amigas, to other systems. I have become interested in Commodore 64s, 6502 processors, Z80 systems, etc.
As fun as the real hardware is, I also use emulators, which allow me to easily access these systems.
Below is a collection of some of my systems.
Click on an image to bring up a high quality version. Most of these photos were just general photos in my collection.
Amiga A1000
Picked up from a garage sale in the mid/late 1990's. Tinkered with a little bit, but I already had a more powerful system (either A600 or A1200). Went in the shed after that, brought back out in 2022. Besides discolouration, and a damaged keyboard cable, the rest of the system works fine.
Amiga A500
Oops, no picture yet
Picked up from a garage sale in the mid/late 1990's, but never really used. Went in the shed. Came back out in 2021. Floppy drive doesn't work, but the rest of the system appears to work ok. Only lightly used at the moment.
Amiga A500 PiStorm
Another late 90's garage sale pickup, this one was used as a spare parts machine. In 2023, I have recovered the bits from the shed, and am rebuilding it into a PiStorm A500.
Currently, one CIA is faulty, and the keyboard matrix is playing up. The system is partially working.
Amiga A600
My A600 from my teenage years. Orginally I had a floppy-only A600. I wanted to upgrade by installing a harddrive, however I came across an A600HD, so I got this instead.
I had also acquired another A600 (no harddrive) from my parents as well. Unfortunately, time hasn't done them well, with keyboard and cap problems plaguing all of these.
Currently, I have been able to assemble what I have into one functioning system. The 40mb harddrive has been replaced with a compact flash card.
Amiga A1200 #1
Oops, no picture yet
My original A1200, with an 020/28MHz accelerator card. The system is currently in storage, and needs re-assessment before turning back on. Was working fine when stored, but probably has leaky caps now.
Amiga A1200 #2
Oops, no picture yet
My second A1200, bought as a network server around 1999/2000. Back when using dialup internet, we had multiple computers in the house, so we needed one system to distribute the internet access. This was the task of this A1200.
The system is currently in storage, and needs re-assessment before turning back on. Was working fine when stored, but probably has leaky caps now.
Amiga CD32
Oops, no picture yet
Bought secondhand in the early 2000's. Was great fun, until it started failing. Started diagnosing, but never finished, so it's currently in bits.
Commodore CDTV
Oops, no picture yet
Bought secondhand in the early 2000's.
Commodore C64c
(Running Desert Dreams from 1541-II)
Acquired through family 20-odd years ago. Works great, so this is my functioning C64 system. I have a working 1541-II floppy drive with it, as well as a SD2IEC, for loading files off of SD card.
(The 1701 pictured wasn't actually part of this system, I received this as a Christmas present to go with my first A600)
Commodore C64 Breadbin #1
My original C64 from when I was a kid, bought second-hand from my primary school in the early 90's. It had a few issues back in the 90's, I think it had some repairs. It wasn't stored very well after that either. In this picture is where I haven taken it out of the shed, before any cleaning or inspection.
As expected, the system doesn't work. I have started fault-finding it.
Commodore C64 Breadbin #2
Bought from an ARC member in 2022, "as-is". No surprise, it doesn't work. Haven't started diagnosing this one yet.
Amstrad PCW8256
Bought from FB MarketPlace late 2022 for a bargain, as someone was cleaning out their property. No disks, and the disk drive belts have all deteriorated.
I have replaced the floppy drive with a Gotek, and the system seems to work fine. This has also been fitted with a expansion module with a serial and Centronics port.
Dick Smith X-1198 Monitor
When I was a kid, my grandparents had a Dick Smith System 80, which was given to them. A few years later, they gave it away again. In the meantime, I had some great times playing with it, and learning BASIC on it. Great memories of early 90's long summer evenings, and learning BASIC on a glorious green screen.
Wanting to re-create this, I've been able to source the same model monitor. Just need the rest of the system now! In the meantime, this monitor helps re-create the same feelings by running an emulator through it.
Other Systems
Nintendo NES
Picked up from FB MarketPlace early 2022, but wasn't working. The only problem seems to be the edge connector. It's a little temporamental, but if you wiggle it right, it works.
And yes, it does have a top cover, I had just happened to take this photo when I got the system first working.
Emulation
Emulation is a great way to experience systems that you don't have, or an easy way to quickly play on an existing system (without having to unpack it). It also helps minimize run hours on real hardware as well.
To help with the "real feel", emulating through a classic CRT is a great way to do it.
Raspberry Pi 400
The Raspberry Pi 400 is a great way to experience computing in a keyboard-computer package, similar to the good old C64 and A500. Powerful enough to run emulators, and through a HDMI-Composite adaptor, can be connected to a classic CRT.
A500 Mini
Group Photos
A1000 & C64c at ARC meetup
C64c and RPi400 at ARC meetup
The monochrome 1201 monitor is what I originally had with my C64 (and also was initially used on my first A600, before getting my 1701). The C64 Breadbin sitting on top of the monitor is that original machine, currently not in working state - just displayed for the evening. (See C64 Breadbin #1)
C64c and X-1198 at ARC meetup
The Dick Smith X-1198 is connected to my Dell Inspiron laptop (behind monitor), running a TRS80 emulator. External keyboard connected to the laptop.
Commodore C64
Both breadbin C64s and the C64c, all together.
