Hi All ,
Thought I would introduce myself :)
After an absence of 30 years I thought it was time to "re-invest" ( that's what I've told my wife :) ) in my childhood memories.
My introduction to the world of Amstrad was a CPC464 for Christmas 1984? ( if my memory serves me right ). What I do remember is the painfully long month and months of waiting to get my computer. I still remember having a massive colour brochure , which had a full scale image of the keyboard/computer , and spreading it out on the kitchen table and staring at it for hours...ahh the memories. My father , bless him, gave me the manuals a month or two before xmas , I must have read them front to back at least a dozen times. lol
She had a monochrome monitor , but due to not having a lot of money we never had any upgrades or expansions. Games I recall are Gunship, Starion and an F1 racing game ( can't recall the name ) . It was my first introduction to computer programming , a passion that has continued till today. I sadly gave it away to a friend many years later. I have tried to relocate them, but have had no luck.
So now it's time to let the buying spree begin :) . I've already bought about 30 games ( still waiting on delivery ) , but have yet to buy a computer. Looking to get a 464 with a colour monitor ( if possible). The monitor could be a tough find though. Would also love an original RAM expansion and disk drive. Australia has a relatively small market compared to Europe , so it may take a while to get what I need.
If anyone has a 464 they would like to sell let me know :D
Thanks all , see ya round :)
G'Day. :)
Welcome to the forum! Yet another Aussie to add to the list (I'm from New Zealand myself) of CPC loverz!
Good luck in your quest to find a CPC, I had to pay NZ$300 to get hold of my working 6128 :o and I went the HxC route to play games via SD card.
There's also lots of hardware still being made and new games / software cropping up every now and then.
All the best in your re-investing and re-discovery of all things CPC!
Yeah well eBay maybe the best bet for getting a 464, every now and then one comes up, probably rarer for a working one to come up, usually they have the $$$s going with them. But they still hold some secrets that an Emulator incorrectectly emulates.
Hi 260Z!
*waves*
(I'm a South Aussie).
I also use a HxC with my 6128.
Welcome! :D
Welcome mate, what state are you located in ?
Cheers,
Shane
Thanks everyone for your welcomes :)
Quote from: 00WReX on 11:57, 27 July 15
Welcome mate, what state are you located in ?
Cheers,
Shane
Hi Shane ,
I'm located in Toowoomba Queensland.
Cheers,
Robert
No worries, I'm from Victoria.
I regularly check out various 'for sale' sites & ebay.
Will keep an eye out for anything up your way and let you know.
Cheers,
Shane
Quote from: 00WReX on 12:12, 27 July 15
No worries, I'm from Victoria.
I regularly check out various 'for sale' sites & ebay.
Will keep an eye out for anything up your way and let you know.
Cheers,
Shane
Thanks Shane :)
What's a reasonable price here ? , there's a computer only ( no monitor ) for $200 plus postage. Expensive ?
Prices are definitely on the rise, but I reckon $200 for just the 464 is way overpriced.
Maybe half that if it is a really nice example.
Don't be too concerned about the monitor (especially if you have to ship it...will cost you a fortune).
There is a relatively cheap VGA adapter board you can get to run the CPC off a VGA LCD screen.
Amstrad CPC 464 to VGA (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/amstrad-cpc-hardware/amstrad-cpc-464-to-vga/msg45655/#msg45655)
Cheers,
Shane
Thanks for the input.
Yea , I'm still getting my head around all the mods/firmware/hardware ect that exists. :o . A lots changed in 30 years. :)
Welcome!
The F1 game could be 3D grand prix. Good luck with the CPC 464. It should be easier than a 6128,664 and plus version.
Reading the big red manual, the golden days, memories...
Quote from: Token on 12:46, 27 July 15
Welcome!
The F1 game could be 3D grand prix. Good luck with the CPC 464. It should be easier than a 6128,664 and plus version.
Reading the big red manual, the golden days, memories...
Cheers Token , you're correct. It was 3D grand prix , just googled it. Thanks :)
Yes I've noticed the 6128 is thin on the ground. My neighbor had one when I was a teenager , I remember going to their place once and drooling over the disk drive, colour monitor and 128k of RAM. The saddest part about that story was that I was invited over by their good looking daughter , and I spent the entire time playing with the computer. A true nerd , lol.
Hi and welcome to the forum 260Z. I think that quite a few of us on here started off with a 464 and got into computing/playing games that way.
Maybe you could buy/make/obtain the correct scart lead and power supply, to connect a 464 to a tv with a scart input. I know that it won't have the same 'feel' as having an original 464 and monitor, but I am sure that it would be a lot cheaper than trying to import an original crt monitor?
Quote from: 260Z on 13:06, 27 July 15
The saddest part about that story was that I was invited over by their good looking daughter , and I spent the entire time playing with the computer. A true nerd , lol.
I hear you bro!
Been there as well!
LOL
Quote from: 260Z on 13:06, 27 July 15
The saddest part about that story was that I was invited over by their good looking daughter , and I spent the entire time playing with the computer. A true nerd , lol.
Yeah, but a 6128 still looks amazing today. Can that be said for the daughter?
Bryce.
Hello!!
The story about the daughter is a bit particular but Bryce has a strong point here. I am sure that the 6128 is more appealing now than her ;D ;D
I hear they've both gone yellow
hahahahahaha
Hey, I'm from South Australia & I noticed that there is a 464 on Ebay at the moment at the bargain price of $199 :D
Just joking, I wouldn't pay that much!! But they are around if you keep an eye on it.
Quote from: Dizrythmia on 00:32, 28 July 15
Hey, I'm from South Australia & I noticed that there is a 464 on Ebay at the moment at the bargain price of $199 :D
Just joking, I wouldn't pay that much!! But they are around if you keep an eye on it.
Hi dzrythmia ,
Yea , I noticed that one. May offer him $100 , but I wouldn't expect him to except.
That one on ebay.au at the moment is $199.99 + $40.00 postage.
I would say that you you could easily do it for a hundred dollars cheaper getting one from the UK or Europe.
E.g. This seller is in the UK but posts to AU, and I realise there is still plenty of bidding time to go but postage works out to around let say $50.
Amstrad CPC464 Personal Computer IN Original BOX | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121714500618?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D121714500618%26_rdc%3D1)
But they do come up a lot cheaper than $200 + post in AU as well if you are patient and scan through local 'for sale' sites. e.g Gumtree.
I picked one up on Gumtree in 2013 for $25 with green screen. And just 2 weeks ago got one without a monitor but with the Manual and cassette game for $51. These were both local to me 5 to 10 minute drive.
Cheers,
Shane
Quote from: 00WReX on 06:30, 28 July 15
That one on ebay.au at the moment is $199.99 + $40.00 postage.
I would say that you you could easily do it for a hundred dollars cheaper getting one from the UK or Europe.
E.g. This seller is in the UK but posts to AU, and I realise there is still plenty of bidding time to go but postage works out to around let say $50.
Amstrad CPC464 Personal Computer IN Original BOX | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121714500618?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D121714500618%26_rdc%3D1)
But they do come up a lot cheaper than $200 + post in AU as well if you are patient and scan through local 'for sale' sites. e.g Gumtree.
I picked one up on Gumtree in 2013 for $25 with green screen. And just 2 weeks ago got one without a monitor but with the Manual and cassette game for $51. These were both local to me 5 to 10 minute drive.
Cheers,
Shane
Cheers Shane.
You'll notice there is one bid on the UK unit listed above.... that's me , lol. I probably won't go any higher , but if I get it for that I'll be pleased. I confirmed with the buyer earlier that he was happy to ship here.
Hahaha...good luck with it.
OK everyone...no bidding on the above Auction, this has Roberts name all over it :D
Cheers,
Shane
Definitely buy this one as an alternative to the ridiculously priced $200 one on Ebay Australia. It's half the price & has its original box!!
Quote from: seanb on 21:03, 27 July 15
I hear they've both gone yellow
Even stranger, Retrobrite (BBlonde) can be used to restore both :D
Bryce.
Quote from: 00WReX on 06:58, 28 July 15
OK everyone...no bidding on the above Auction, this has Roberts name all over it :D
Might have to resort to the LCD monitor option if Monitor cannot be repaired. But it should all work out.
Too late to welcome you to our community? :)
so according to Bryce : RetroBryce can repair anything ?
The Bryce is right.
(and the Bryce de Nice...)
really I'm hopeless... :D
Welcome upside down Austrian friend.
Alors comme ça, vous aussi ?