Your Earliest Memory of the CPC?

[Badstarr]

I already posted about this in another thread  Re: GX4000 mod not going well console dead? :-(  I thought it was an interesting topic. The CPC was the very first computer I ever encountered as a 3 year old, well I might have been nearly 4 but I guess you could say it made an impression! 26 or is it 27 (?) years later and I'm still hooked! All the amazing advancements in graphics and cpu power and nothing has ever managed to amaze me more than playing 3D Star Strike for the first time all those years ago! So how old were you when you first used or saw a CPC what impression did it leave on you?

[Morn]

I think I was 11 or 12.

First impression: "Oh no, dad did not get a C64. WTF is a Schneider? Don't they make radios or something? Are there even games for this thing?"

Second impression (while unboxing): "Well, this looks rather professional, actually. Only a green screen monitor, but very nice build quality all around and a heavy, solid feel to it (due to extra RF shielding for the German market). And look at that manual! Aww, and that cute serif font on screen! And those floppy disks that don't look like they will break in your hands, unlike C64 disks. Maybe this won't be such a bad experience after all."

Of course compared to the C64, CPC games did turn out to suck a little, although not as badly as I had initially feared. Some were even superior to those on the C64. But the CPC is such a nicely done, educational, and interesting machine that I'm glad I got it. Perhaps BASIC is evil, but Locomotive BASIC is the exception to the rule.

[TFM]

1986 (because 1984 was Orwell)

[AMSDOS]

Vaginally recall my Dad coming home (on a farm) with a CPC464, he got Haunted Hedges as the free game with the computer, so I've got fond memories of that game, sure it may not be Pacman, though it plays well and offers various levels of difficulty!

Early in the piece we had that computer in the house (   you wonder, we had a little hut out back where the computer eventually went in there). There was a problem whereby when the computer was inside our home it would interfere with the TVs consequently meaning both devices couldn't be running at the same time, removing it out to the back solved this. My Dad also got a MP-1 Modulator (cause we had the Green Screen), though wasn't impressed with it, so sent it back. Roland In Time took ages to Load (I was inpatient, even back then, I played Harrier Attack a bit as a result). My Dad got Formula 1 Simulator for me by Masteronic, I couldn't understand why it sounded different to those AMSOFT games when it used to load since it was Saved in Speed Write 1, still seemed to take a while loading! 

[Bryce]

My dads employer had an employee offer to get an 8-Bit computer at a reduced price. He brought home the catalogue and we went through it together. the deal was that I had to pay 50% from my pocket money. My first choice was going to be the C64, because that's what most of my friends had. But the CPC (464 with GT64) was the final choice, because it wouldn't tie-up the TV while I was using it and it was all my savings would pay for. I remember it took 4 weeks to arrive after we ordered it, the longest 4 weeks of my entire life. It came with an Amsoft (10) games pack, which I loaded one after another and played for the first day. The next day I tried programming some basic examples from this book http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Starting_Basic that was also supplied with it. On the third day I took it apart to see how it worked  That didn't impress my father at all, but it still worked fine when I put it back together.

Bryce.

[MaV]

My first contact with a CPC was at a friend's who had the CPC464 with a colour monitor (after a VIC20). I was visiting nearly every day, and we typed in programs from magazines.
His CPC convinced me to wish for a CPC6128 for my birthday. Mainly because of the (green) monitor, but the price was alright as well. And I liked the disks. The C64 was out of question monetarily; you'd get a C64 plus the floppy disk drive for about the same price (perhaps a bit cheaper, I can't remember exactly) of a 6128, but then you'll still be missing a monitor. Besides I was already comfortable with the Z80, since my first computer was a ZX81.

I remember my friend laughing at me playing 3D Starstrike. When flying on the surface and through the trench I tilted my body in the direction I needed to move. So I was swaying from left to right and right to left, then raising my head and lowering it.

[00WReX]

My first contact was with an original (tall key) 464 back in 1985, my good mate had one as the family computer (with  the colour screen).
His whole family loved it and got involved, Dad, Mum, sister...they had a fair few games but the first one i remember seeing was Gyroscope.
Around 6 months later I got my own (with colour screen), after telling Mum & Dad how good this thing was (I think I was also drawn in by the coloured keyboard). At school we were using Tandy TRS-80's so the Amstrad looked awesome.
For me the interesting part of my story & my CPC collection is that I now have both of these CPC's.
Back in 2003 (and losing contact with my mate), I looked up his parents in the phone book. Called them as I had always got on well with them.
As luck would have it, they still had the 464 in the shed as they could not stand to throw out the machine that served them well for many years (they still had it in the house till around 2000).
Anyway they were grateful to see it go to a good home. Came with all the software, books, joysticks, lightpen, SSA-1...
Shortly after that another mate got a 6128 and we played Harrier Attack heaps...don't have that particular 6128 though
Cheers,
Shane

[ralferoo]

To be honest, I'd never even heard of a CPC until one arrived in the house!

I used to walk *really* slowly past the computers in Smiths / Menzies when I was younger, envying the BBC most but also the Spectrum. Interestingly, the C64 never even figured in the equation for me for some reason. I saw a VIC 20 when I was quite young, but I literally didn't know anyone with a C64 and don't think I even saw one "in the flesh" until about a year ago!

Anyway, my parents got me a Dragon 32 after Dragon Data went bust, which was good to teach me programming because there was little software released after that, but about a year later my Dad bought a 464 green screen secondhand so he could work on documents at home. After finding Amstrad Action issue 4 in the shops (with a Christmas covertape!), I bought it and was allowed to try it out on the computer - after that I was hooked and I begged and begged to use it whenever my Dad didn't need it. Eventually my Dad upgraded, so the CPC became mine...

[Bryce]

Anyway, my parents got me a Dragon 32 after Dragon Data went bust,

So even your very first computer experience was with an obsolete 8-Bit? No wonder you like retro computers

Bryce.

[Badstarr]

On the third day I took it apart to see how it worked  That didn't impress my father at all, but it still worked fine when I put it back together.

Bryce.

Haha! I used to drive my parents crazy doing that! I didn't get to pull my dads CPC apart but when I was about 5 I got a Meccano set and that screw driver could be used to disassemble anything! From that point on I voided the warranty on every birthday or christmas gift within 24 hours, I never broke anything though! But I wasn't allowed my 6128 in my room on my 11th birthday until I promised not to dismantle it, I think that lasted about 3 days until I caved in and pulled it to bits! I got very good at fully re-assembling things in the time it took to open my bedroom door!

[TFM]

Vaginally recall ...

You recall vaginal? Really? 

[AMSDOS]

You recall vaginal? Really? 

My hard luck Google Speller cannot spell Vaguely    Or I was just looking to see who would bother reading that story. 

[Morn]

My hard luck Google Speller cannot spell Vaguely     

If it's a Google product, that speller probably taps into your browser history and Google searches, then bases its suggestions on what it finds there. 

[Bryce]

Wow, I didn't know that! Tits the spelling checker I use too. Babe I should use Threesome else! 

Bryce.

[TFM]

[Zetr0]

My first experience with computing was when I was about 9 and a half years old in 1983, my father bought a ZX80 from a chap at work - he said it was to complicated for him to build since it was in kit form.

Alas my father had no soldering skills, and his reasoning was "Son, your good at holding a paint brush...."

Needless to say after three days and some burnt sore fingers, I had built my first computer, although I was told where everything went.  Strangely enough my father then sold the machine 3 weeks later and bought me a Zx81 with Sound/Speach unit, 32k ram pack and another dongle on it I forget now... a couple of months later, I got a 48K (shared with my brother), then a 48K+ arrived for me that Christmas and my brother got the C64... good days indeed, I remember that being the best summer of my child hood (1985) =)

This was when I started programming, basic at first and then dabbled in machine code, by the time I was 11 I was a pretty damn strange kid.... as I am sure you are begining to imaging =)

I should of known at that age I wasn't to be in my dream job of an architect, scientist or even a porn star.... no.... instead software engineer would be me.... pity I felt I had something to offer the p0rn indust.... errm.... I mean the architectual world lol.

So my first introduction to the CPC, was theCPC464 in about 1988, I was at my Aunts, and her husband Chris had this strange computer - with a colour monitor I may add!!!

I was told it was VERY expensive so I was unintentionally supervised while I played a game - it was like diggeres on the Atari XL800... and that was the last of it, until I had a strange need to explore this scene earlier this year.

[Executioner]

My first ever program was a Hunchback clone for the BBC-B in BASIC. Not long after that I managed to convince my parents to get me a Dick Smith VZ-200, and pretty well got straight into Z80 machine code (decimal, no assembler back then) after borrowing Zacks from my teacher.

A couple of years later, I'd seen a few CPCs in the shops running the Amsoft demos and was impressed, and my Uncle bought a CPC6128 with colour monitor, so I spent a day writing a Frogger clone for it in BASIC. Not long after that I got a CPC6128 + CTM myself for my birthday, on the condition that I sold all my VZ stuff.

[Gryzor]

After gathering my jaw from the floor, from watching a 2600 in action I kinda forgot the issue. My parents, having seen the glint in my eye, did not. A few years later, instead of getting me a games console, got me a proper Computer (capital C)!!!

It wasn't even my birthday, or Xmas or something. It totally came out of the blue, I guess as soon as they managed to save up for it. It must have been 1986, cause the game they got me with it was Into Oblivion.

The first day my dad loaded it up. The next day I wanted to load it myself but stumbled; at first I couldn't find the power button on the CPC itself - I didn't even know it was there. As a result, I thought I had broken it. My heart sunk. After all I located it, but... "Press Play then any key"?? Yeah, I can see Play, but no keys or keyholes!!! With the aid of my older sister I managed to get it running.

Computers were in my life...

[TFM]

With the aid of my older sister I managed to get it running.

Oh, and she will never stop telling this story again ;-)

[Gryzor]

I doubt she remembers it, the CPC was never a big deal for her (thankfully)

[TFM]

I doubt she remembers it, the CPC was never a big deal for her (thankfully)

Lucky you

[Gryzor]

Yup, all to myself, she can keep her dolls and stuff.

[Bryce]

I remember a rich friend of mine getting a 2600 almost the day they came out. Bastard! I was seriously jealous, but I didn't let it show. Bastard! We played it non-stop for months, it was unbelievable for it's time. It's also very well designed from a hardware point of view, there are still people modding them today.

Bryce.

[AMSDOS]

I remember a rich friend of mine getting a 2600 almost the day they came out. Bastard! I was seriously jealous, but I didn't let it show. Bastard! We played it non-stop for months, it was unbelievable for it's time. It's also very well designed from a hardware point of view, there are still people modding them today.

Bryce.

You're not referring to the Atari VCS in the original Wood grain box? I brought an Atari 2600 in the slick slimline plastic box for $50, I was happy at the time. I was spewing when I discovered how much the games were, until I got onto the Activision games. H.E.R.O is a favourite of mine, though the 2k Tennis game Activision made which I paid $10 for is also a Gem! 

[ervin]

I got my cpc464 with green screen early in 1985, when I was 12.
I was bouncing off the walls in excitement!

The first program I loaded was the amstrad welcome tape.
http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=6397

It just seemed completely amazing at the time.

I was desperately after an Asteroids style game, so off I went to my local Harris Scarfe's department store (where I would be frequently seen for the next 2 years perusing the amstrad stuff, until they started stocking less and less amstrad things), and I found a game that looked like Asteroids.

Unfortunately it wasn't asteroids. It was Atom Smasher.
http://www.cpc-power.com/index.php?page=detail&num=320
Oh the disappointment! It was awful. Ah well, lesson learned.

After that I would regularly visit a little computer shop called Conlan Computers in the beachside suburb of Semaphore, a short bike ride from where I lived. The shop owner probably got sick of seeing me so often! 

Those were the days...