Amiga 600 (or A600)

[cwhaley]

Anybody still using these? I grew up using one as a child and it hung around into the early 2000s – massively outdated by then, but still used for the odd bit of gaming and use of older software suites.

I’ve just bought one for myself as Christmas present. Got it very cheap because it powers on but is untested (seller said they don’t have a screen to plug it into) so I assume there’s something wrong with it. I’m assuming using the RF modulator on the rear of the unit I can plug it straight into my modern TV?

I’m very aware these were probably the least expand-able units of their era and it was very short-lived, but I have fond memories of it and I wouldn’t want it for anything more than a bit of fun now and then. I still have the original user manual for it somewhere but my Dad threw the unit away a long while ago.

 

[RandomGrinch]

A1200 user here!
Used regularly since new in 1995. Before then I was a proud owner of an A500+ and a CD32.

I recently started playing with a (an ancient!) PCMCIA WiFi card and yes got the A1200 on the internet
Not without issues though. A flaw in the way PCMCIA is implemented means I couldn't use my trapdoor RAM expansion.
Surfing with 2MB is rather limiting, but Aminet is still accessible

If your TV has a SCART socket, an RGB to SCART lead gives a far better picture than RF.
An example here:
https://amigakit.amiga.store/scart-amiga-cable-with-audio-p-226.html
Or build one yourself:
http://www.amigalog.com/amiga-rgb-to-scart-cable/

I am also using a cheap SCART to HDMI converter to connect to my monitor. But the multiple conversions aren't always perfect.

You might need to look at re-capping the motherboard, there are plenty of kits available.

Have fun!

 

[cwhaley]

Ooh the posh A1200 -- what the A600 should have been! I don't think I've ever heard of anybody getting an Amiga of that vintage onto the world wide web. The best I manage is getting my 1999 iMac running OS 9.2.2 on the internet using FourTenFox. I'd be interested in experimenting with it, especially if there are abandonware resources out there accessible on the machine. Does your's run on many website aside from the Amiga one?

My TV does have a Scart connection, but it is almost entirely blocked by the frame which holds the TV to the wall-mounted arm. The composite ports are all blocked also I'll see how RF looks at 50" so long as it's doable, and then probably end up opening up access to the composite or Scart sockets!

I'll take note of the re-capping. I don't believe this one has ever been opened up, so should be interesting seeing the state of affairs under there.

Can't wait to hear the sound of that floppy drive ticking away and booting into WB again (still got it on floppy, plus a few demo discs from the time)

 

[Nozzle]

A1200 here too, quite heavily expaned (and then gave in).
Your A600 also have composite (yellow) and audio Red/white - known as RCA, which will give a better picture than RF. Also compatible with SCART (though not RGB) so if you have a TV or VCR with SCART then you can connect it that way. I think my modern Denon even has RCA connections, so you can use such athing to connect it to a modern HDMI telly.

I've been getting in to WinUAE recently to show my 5 year old what kind of games I used to play, handy!

Nozzle

 

[RandomGrinch]

It amazes me how much support there still is for the Amiga.
Amigakit is a decent parts supplier and there is still new software released on AmiNet every now and again!

To be honest, getting the Amiga on the net was the challenge, it really isn't usable with 2MB. I did get a broken Google page up though! I will have to find the screenshots.

And it is a bit of a cheat, but most people install an IDE to Compact Flash adapter and use that as the HDD.
http://amigakit.amiga.store/hard-disk-drive-p-883.html
The setting up of Workbench is all done on the PC with any downloads you need copied straight to the CF card.
You check it all works with WinUAE, before putting the card back in the Amiga.
It's a bit easier on the A1200 as there is a spare port where the CF adapter can sit in the back, allowing the card to be swapped.

And to keep you going ...

 

[cwhaley]

A1200 here too, quite heavily expaned (and then gave in).
Your A600 also have composite (yellow) and audio Red/white - known as RCA, which will give a better picture than RF. Also compatible with SCART (though not RGB) so if you have a TV or VCR with SCART then you can connect it that way. I think my modern Denon even has RCA connections, so you can use such athing to connect it to a modern HDMI telly.

I've been getting in to WinUAE recently to show my 5 year old what kind of games I used to play, handy!

Nozzle

That's the term I was looking for -- RCA. I've referred to it as composite in my first post (think they're the same). Unfortunately the coax port is one of the few ports I can use without hindrance of the tv arm support. The ports it's hidden for the past five years are ports I've never had to use until now. I occasionally use my old VHS player but do so with a scart to HDMI adaptor for ease.

I'll use RF during the restoration stage and then have to alter the fixing plate on the back of the TV to allow for the RCA connection.

I think I've used WinUAE before, but can't remember why I stopped. Certainly more practical.

 

[RandomGrinch]

RF to start with, but if you already have a SCART to HDMI adapter, that really is the way to go!

 

[cwhaley]

It amazes me how much support there still is for the Amiga.
Amigakit is a decent parts supplier and there is still new software released on AmiNet every now and again!

To be honest, getting the Amiga on the net was the challenge, it really isn't usable with 2MB. I did get a broken Google page up though! I will have to find the screenshots.

And it is a bit of a cheat, but most people install an IDE to Compact Flash adapter and use that as the HDD.
http://amigakit.amiga.store/hard-disk-drive-p-883.html
The setting up of Workbench is all done on the PC with any downloads you need copied straight to the CF card.
You check it all works with WinUAE, before putting the card back in the Amiga.
It's a bit easier on the A1200 as there is a spare port where the CF adapter can sit in the back, allowing the card to be swapped.

And to keep you going ...

Jeez that really does bring back memories -- that screen is burnt into my retina from the hours I sunk into that. If I think about it I can smell the transformer burning dust!

I've thought a bit about HDD options. Initially I was going to use a spare drive I have from an old Sony Vaio, as I think it'd fit in the case quiet well but speed-wise I don't imagine it'd be as good as compact flash. Plus it's not a huge mod to make. Thanks for the tips on WB too.

I'm genuinely impressed there's still interest and new content for the Amiga. Is there a good repository of free software out there on the web?

 

[RandomGrinch]

Oh yes! The transformer dust!
And in no particular order:

https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_amiga_games

http://www.whdload.de/

https://www.planetemu.net/machine/amiga

http://aminet.net/

 

[cwhaley]

Oh dear.. I can see me losing many an hour at weekends in the future...!

I won 100 Amiga floppy discs on eBay last night for a couple of quid. I think they're all blanks so I'm looking forward to downloading stuff straight onto floppy and getting them running on the Amiga.

Thanks again for this it's been a refreshing bit of learning. I was a bit too young to appreciate them properly, but I do remember the Amiga mags which there seemed to be so many of. I was only really interested in the demo discs.

 

[Keithmac]

I had an A500 (Kickstart 1.3) back in the day then a bit later on an A1200 with the Blizzard 060 board (treated myself when I got my first job!).

Still have the A500 somewhere.

Recently I used Cloanto Amiga Forever emulator, also ran an emulator on my Series X Xbox in developer mode (just to run Speedball 2 really!).

 

[RandomGrinch]

an A1200 with the Blizzard 060 board

 

[Keithmac]

I got it playing on our 4k TV through the Series X, needed a Zipstick 2 joystick really though!.

Breathless on the A1200 060 was an eye opener, still got the A1200 as well but it's broken (green screen), sold the accelerator and the scsi cd rom drive years ago.

 

[Nozzle]

I had an A500 (Kickstart 1.3) back in the day then a bit later on an A1200 with the Blizzard 060 board (treated myself when I got my first job!).

Big money, great joy. And then the PPC cards came along which were erm "specialist"

 

[^woody^]

IMO, it was only good for the pirate game scene. I've had a go on an emulator in the past, raised a smile and brought back a memory or two, but otherwise was just meh. I don't really see any reason to use old tech when its no longer relevant.

I remember spending almost all of a tax rebate on the A500, screen, 9 pin dot matrix, hand scanner some peripherals and software - £1800 back in 90/91. I cut my teeth on CAD software which I remember spending more time fighting with than drawing - and oh those disappointing print outs. And word processing software was useless - stuff just never printed as it appeared on the page on the screen!

I'm going to have trouble sleeping for a few nights now with these flashbacks