Subj : Re: Buying a retro '90s Mac or Amiga
To   : Nightfox
From : hollowone
Date : Sun Dec 31 2023 00:54:18

 Ni> Also, from what I've heard, it sounds like one concern with older
 Ni> computers is the possible need for them to be recapped.  I'm okay with

I purchased MIST FPGA back in 2015 or so and instantly installed Amiga Cores on it. It came with superb experience for gaming software as it accepted DB9 joysticks and also had MIDI ports. Later improvements introduced Akiko chip (hardware supported chunky to planar, which is required for Amiga CD32 emulation) and Picasso compatible RTG card. I purchased bunch of different Quick Shot joysticks for under 20 bucks each and I still have fun with this whole setup. I'm still planning to solder up rpi-zero to the fpga port to bring wifi connection to this whole setup. That would be my ideal mid-range Amiga, effectively hardware-emulating 040 + RTG and perfect for retro gaming.

I say hardware emulating as this is fpga so the core is hardware circuit emulator, not software emulation. Much more accurate and feels like real thing.

Why I started explaining FPGA while you seek real hardware?
Because in 2016 I purchased real Amiga 1200 that yes, indeed requires recapping, CIA port responsible for mouse control got damaged a year later and today have semi-working computer that comes with bad video signal and no right click and I'm no soldering pal. I keep postponing to send that hardware to some expert in my hood to fix it as the FPGA computer just works fine!.

Most likely I'll sell this Amiga when I fix it as the FPGA experience is so much real (and joysticks make it real, as you don't want to play Amiga games on PC's gamepads or keyboard). 

For the same reason, The C64 Maxi is better than real computer as it's stable, shows visuals in HD, accepts USB joysticks and comes with real C64 keyboard which you need to feel the thing.

If you want Amiga experience, sure buy the computer, but the prices became so ridiculous that vanilla A1200 today costs more than that G5 Mac on which you can install Amiga OS 4.0/MorphOS to get PPC Amiga feeling, which is bizarre, yet alien to many who never could afford it back in the times.

If your Amiga deal is more than 500 bucks then I recommend, buy V4-Stand Alone from Apollo COmputers. 

-h1

.... Xerox Alto was the thing. Anything after we use is just a mere copy.

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