Commodore Computers

[KeithS]

Now for a completely different topic...

I was lucky enough to grow up with Commodore 64s and Commodore Amiga computers.

We got rid of them about 20 years ago when PCs evolved but recently I acquired and restored a C64 with the help of a Sydney retro computer user group.

So now I'm on the lookout for anyone who might have a box full of old Commodore equipment stashed in their garage that they want to dump (working or not) especially if there is any old Amiga stuff. Just let me know and I'd be happy to collect it (and hopefully restore it for my retro collection!)

[calisota]

10 Keith, I want to see photos!

20 I never had a commodore, I had the Tandy colour.

30 Sounds like a great hobby.

40 Greg

[KeithS]

LOL - I do have photos, I'll get them off my phone and post them later.  I've gotten into the whole retro computer scene recently, now I'm hanging on to ebay and gumtree every day LOL.

I liked your little program above - that was funny

[calisota]

I liked your little program above - that was funny

I remember the days of games coming on audio cassettes. I even had a one day cricket program I'd written to update all the run rates etc after each ball. Now it seems so simple but back then it was so high tech.

Greg

[KeithS]

I had my C64 up and running last night Greg on my 46" TV haha - not really practical given the 320x200 resolution

My C64 has a tape drive too - I'm in the process of restoring that too, but I don't think I'll ever use it - I've got a few tape games, but I'm just restoring it to prove it works.

I remember waiting 20 minutes for some games to load of tape...we must have been more patient back in the 1980s.  We would start the load, then head outside to kick a footy, then come back in to play the game!

[calisota]

"You are in a dark room..."


Greg

[KeithS]

"You are in a dark room..."

"You are likely to be eaten by a Grue"

[Lauren05]

Ooohhh I had a Commodore 64 when I was younger. My favourite game was radar rat race.
It's possible everything is still at my parents place, but I was about 7/8 at the time and I can't really remember what other games we had....

[calisota]

It's possible everything is still at my parents place, 

Lauren, have you met Keith...? 

Greg

[KeithS]

Haha - another C64 graduate.  I've got mine set up and running now and I spent all yesterday playing various games that I grew up on.

Now I need to locate someone with an old Commodore Amiga buried in their garage too

[calisota]

Now I need to locate someone with an old Commodore Amiga buried in their garage too

When I think of all the things my mother made me throw out.

Greg

[KeithS]

Here you go Greg - some photos for you

This is before I started to clean it.


The keyboard ready for cleaning

Disassembly!


Replacing the PLA chip:


Success!

[calisota]

Thanks for that. it actually looked in pretty good nick even before you started.

Did you get the monitor with it as well?

I've just bought an arduino starter kit. Don't know anything about it but I'm hoping to get to the point where I can build my own robot.

Greg

[KeithS]

I've got an LCD monitor that my Dad gave me with an s-video input, so that works great.  I'd have loved to have gotten a CRT but they are hard to get and expensive (man - who'd have thought that when I through all mine on the council cleanup pile!).

I'd like to see what you do with the Arduino - I really like the recent interest in single board computers - my Dad has a Raspberry Pi or two.  I've been watching a lot of youtube channels about electronics and retro computing - they've gotten me hooked.

I'm still looking for an Amiga 500, 1000 or 1200 if anyone has one in their garage LOL.

[calisota]

I'd have loved to have gotten a CRT but they are hard to get and expensive (man - who'd have thought that when I through all mine on the council cleanup pile!).

Really!?  Damn! Just recently I (when I downsized to retire) threw out a really big HD CRT.

I have one RPi at the moment and I'm running Home Assistant on it so I can automate stuff. It's a bit of overkill given i live in a studio apartment but I can turn the lights on and off, control the TV and air-conditioner, all with voice commands. It's also got automations to do things like turn off the air con if I go out and forget. I have some curtains coming that I'll be able to automate as well. It's a bit of a black hole you fall into once you get started on this stuff.

Greg