»

[mdv2000]

I am sure this might have been asked before - but I want to make sure I get the latest info before I spend some serious bank.


I've been looking at getting a Amiga 1200 at AmigaKit.com http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=305

My questions are:
1. The drop down for Version is PAL - does this mean it won't work on my tv? I see there is an RF Adapter - is it clear?

2. Does A1200 hook up to a modern monitor or will I need to use an adapter?

3. Is the 4GB Internal CF card enough or should I choose 120GB?

4. Should I go with Kickstart 3.0 or 3.1 - is there really enough difference to warrant the extra cost? Might be since I will probably try to upgrade everything I can on it over time like USB, Ethernet, etc.

5. I see they sell an accelerator too - http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=913 Is it worth it or is there better deals out there?

Note: I see the there is a US PSU option - I assume I must get this.

Thanks in Advance for any insight advice! I have ordered from AmigaKit before so I have no worries on that!

[tone007]

RF won't work for you, and composite most likely won't either unless your TV supports the PAL color system and 50hz. You'd only have a sure thing using RGB or an Indivision.

To use a modern monitor for games, you'd need a scandoubler like the Indivision. Workbench can display on a modern monitor in any of the 31khz modes.

4gb is generally enough unless you want to stick every game on it.

Kickstart 3.0 is fine if you only want to run OS 3.1, I'd go for KS 3.1 to run OS 3.9.

Better deals can be had on accelerators, but Amigakit's might be guaranteed.

[mdv2000]

Originally Posted by tone007

RF won't work for you, and composite most likely won't either unless your TV supports the PAL color system and 50hz. You'd only have a sure thing using RGB or an Indivision.

To use a modern monitor for games, you'd need a scandoubler like the Indivision. Workbench can display on a modern monitor in any of the 31khz modes.

Its what I feared... but I do have an Ambery convertor http://www.ambery.com/rgrgtotvcosc.html that I use with my A2000 and it works great. I am assuming it will work the same with the A1200 - but I'd like to hear from someone who has already accomplished this.

Thanks for the info!

[rvo_nl]

If you're only using the a1200 for (classic) games then I suggest you first connect it to a big screen tv. You can always decide on getting an indivision and dedicated monitor later on.

If you still need to buy a monitor, make sure it has dual inputs: one for the indivision/sandoubler output, and one for ordinary output like workbench. Most modern monitors have dual input, but a lot have vga + dvi-d which is digital only and wont work with a normal vga signal (there are no converters for this!)

Last, a CF card is pretty cool, fast and cheap but to be on the safe side a (3.5") harddisk isnt a bad idea either and not that hard to connect inside the a1200. I do recommend a kickstart 3.1 a1200. As for accelerators, the faster the better ofcourse. But start with looking at second-hand examples. My personal preference: the Blizzard 1230IV/50.

[Boudicca]

99 quid wow....never thought of buying a New/Old Stock 1200's before, you must like NOS toys......

The Last 1200 I payed for last year was 50p.....plenty around if you know where to look but u must have plenty of patience tho.....99 Quid thats a lot in my book. And that includes in the US....I'm sure you can buy a 2nd 1200 for a lot less that 150 dollars.

[rvo_nl]

Originally Posted by Boudicca

99 quid wow....never thought of buying a New/Old Stock 1200's before, you must like NOS toys......

The Last 1200 I payed for last year was 50p.....plenty around if you know where to look but u must have plenty of patience tho.....99 Quid thats a lot in my book. And that includes in the US....I'm sure you can buy a 2nd 1200 for a lot less that 150 dollars.

They are unusued and boxed, right?

[Tajmaster]

Originally Posted by Boudicca

99 quid wow....never thought of buying a New/Old Stock 1200's before, you must like NOS toys......

The Last 1200 I payed for last year was 50p.....plenty around if you know where to look but u must have plenty of patience tho.....99 Quid thats a lot in my book. And that includes in the US....I'm sure you can buy a 2nd 1200 for a lot less that 150 dollars.

Dont take this the wrong way but most A1200s dont go for 50p, Im sure you were just being pedantic tho
I personally hate the way Amiga hardware is way overvalued. I dont give a scoop of monkey crap what anyone says, an A1200 is NOT worth over 30 quid (if that). Its just idiots on eBay bidding like crazy as if its the last Amiga theyll ever see. It isnt rare, so stop f*cking bumping up the damn prices so normal people like the OP and lots of others on here and other forums can enjoy part of the golden age of computing without having to get 6 numbers on a Saturday night! Ok rant over now lol

[scuzzb494]

Originally Posted by mdv2000

I am sure this might have been asked before - but I want to make sure I get the latest info before I spend some serious bank.


I've been looking at getting a Amiga 1200 at AmigaKit.com http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=305

My questions are:
1. The drop down for Version is PAL - does this mean it won't work on my tv? I see there is an RF Adapter - is it clear?

2. Does A1200 hook up to a modern monitor or will I need to use an adapter?

3. Is the 4GB Internal CF card enough or should I choose 120GB?

4. Should I go with Kickstart 3.0 or 3.1 - is there really enough difference to warrant the extra cost? Might be since I will probably try to upgrade everything I can on it over time like USB, Ethernet, etc.

5. I see they sell an accelerator too - http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com/...roducts_id=913 Is it worth it or is there better deals out there?

Note: I see the there is a US PSU option - I assume I must get this.

Thanks in Advance for any insight advice! I have ordered from AmigaKit before so I have no worries on that!

I guess your in the States and therefore I don`t think the PAL version will work. Not sure, only used a monitor... There are Amiga dedicated monitors but they are getting rare. You need a mutisync or you are going to need a to fit a scandoubler/flicker fixery thing. Mine is internal in the tower. Not sure about the one Amigakit sells. Mine works a treat, though my best A1200 is on a Microvitec which I bought for the Amiga in 1994.

4GB my goodness, like chucking bananas up the high street, sorry shouldn`t have said that. Anyway, that will eat everything you can chuck at it.

3.1 runs with the 3.1 ROMS and is one step from 3.5/3.9. Trouble is they really need an accelerator and graphics card I believe for 3.9 (not 3.1). I have 3.9 on an A1200 in the original case and its a pain. 3.1 is fine though cus you get the 3.1 ROMS so stay with that. I have been using 3.0 since 1993, no problem. Doesn`t really matter.

Dunno what the accelerator is but I would say the Amiga needs extra RAM and an accelerator. Trapdoor Blizzards are great but anything with 8MB+ on the RAM is of great use. This will fulfill your classic games and software needs. Obviously better would help but watch cooling and probs with conflicts with the PCMCIA card.

US power is ..er.. very silly. I mean honestly come on. Anyway the UK has different so yes. But then you need an Amiga that works in the USA. NTSC wasn`t it.. and 110V or something. Don't quote me..

Just out of interest.. Here is what I spent in 1993/94...

Amiga Magic Pack with 80MB hard drive £550
Microvitec Monitor .. £350
Accelerator with 4MB RAM .. £550
Upgrade hard drive to 350 MB cost £350
PCMCIA RAM card 4MB cost £99

And if there were no Amiga 1200's about and one suddenly
became available trust me I would part with that cash
again. My A1200 sitting here has outlasted everything
and still works fine... Best buy of my life.

scuzz
http://www.commodore-amiga-retro.com

[runequester]

a 4 gig hard drive will fit everything imaginable.

The emulated one I use currently with uae is about 600 meg's, and thats including virtually every game I could imagine to throw on there.

[lauri.lotvonen]

Originally Posted by runequester

a 4 gig hard drive will fit everything imaginable.

The emulated one I use currently with uae is about 600 meg's, and thats including virtually every game I could imagine to throw on there.

I had to double the amount (8GB) to get every imaginable game on my a1200.

[Hell Labs]

I strongly recomend tracking down an indivision and using a normal monitor, rather than your TV. I was using my 1200 today to write a page or so long document, and eventually I had to pick up the computer and sit a lot further away. There was too much eye strain.

[mdv2000]

Originally Posted by scuzzb494

I guess your in the States and therefore I don`t think the PAL version will work.

Yes, I am in South Carolina, USA. I was worried the PAL model would be an issue. I am assuming they did make NTSC A1200s. Of course, living in SC, I never saw anything besides Amiga 500 and 2000s in stores. By the time the A1200 came out - I read about it in magazines - there where no Amiga dealers anywhere I could find. Heck, I even had to find a specialty store carrying Amiga software in Charlotte, NC way back in 1990. Of course, the last time I went to see what they had they had - they had gone out of business and I never saw Amiga hardware/software in a retail store again.

I appreciate all the input here.... I may just have to hold off getting an A1200 until I see a good deal on ebay for a NTSC model.

[zombie10k]

it took me a while, but I found an NTSC A1200 a number of years ago to replace the one I sold in the 90's (bought new from Softhut in my home town). I didn't give it much though since I used it with a 1084 monitor, but it does indeed show color via the composite hookup which is how I am using it now.

I have an indivision AGA on the way and looking forward to finally using this with a large monitor after owning a 1200 for 15+ years.

[koshman]

@ rvo_nl: why should he have dual inputs for a scandoubler and for "ordinary output like workbench"? Scandoubler is not a graphics card, he can have games/demos AND wb both go through it.

@ Boudicca: I think the Magic pack box is included in the base price, the extra 6 whatever is for the Magic software pack.

[rvo_nl]

Originally Posted by koshman

@ rvo_nl: why should he have dual inputs for a scandoubler and for "ordinary output like workbench"? Scandoubler is not a graphics card, he can have games/demos AND wb both go through it.

you're right, was just going to correct my mistake. Im using a bvision so I have workbench and indivision output connected to one monitor, thats a different story. Im wondering what the highest resolution is you can output through an indivision. High-res laced? That would make a nice substitute for DBLPAL indeed.