|
Post by retrobits on Jun 25, 2009 20:14:59 GMT -5
What to do with a 4032? You've got 32K of RAM there! Perhaps the first PET twitter client, following in the footsteps of the C64? :-)
All joking aside, first thing would be to get at least a C2N tape unit, if you didn't happen to find one with the unit itself. You've got to store the programs somewhere...
If you're not interested in keeping it as part of your collection, selling it is certainly an option. I think the old PETs sell pretty well if they are in good shape.
- Earl
|
|
|
Post by miner2049er on Jun 26, 2009 4:15:00 GMT -5
How silly of me, I didn't even think my C2N from my C64 would fit it. As a side note, I did an experiment with my C64 last week. Using one of these I hooked up my iPod to the C2N and played a .tap file that I had converted to a .wav file. After some playing around with the volume level (I think it finally worked around a quarter) I was able to load a game successfully and play it.
|
|
zeem
Junior Member
Posts: 82
|
Post by zeem on Jul 19, 2009 18:14:52 GMT -5
Snap! Not long after I got my current job in a school, I was given what looked like a wooden first aid box. I opened it and revealed a ZX81, 16 RAM pack, ZX printer with paper and the power supply! Even with the school's postcode written on top in yellow paint.
I downloaded Space Invaders, copied it to tape and loaded it - it all works fine. The tape recorder was one of three "TRS-80" branded ones I found in the music room that I quickly removed ;D I also found a bunch of tapes in the music dept. - BBC Master Welcome cassette, some PET stuff, and other stuff I've forgotten!
The most recent thing I found was an Acorn A4000 hiding in a cupboard in the Design and Technology block - that's all working too ;D
|
|
|
Post by miner2049er on Jul 21, 2009 6:07:25 GMT -5
Well, these long forgotten cupboards are turning up further surprises. I found one of these yesterday. Haven't powered it up yet so I don't know if it runs or not. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PCW
|
|
|
Post by thurstan on Jul 21, 2009 12:46:10 GMT -5
the computer that carried Amstrad for a good few years
|
|
zeem
Junior Member
Posts: 82
|
Post by zeem on Jul 26, 2009 4:55:46 GMT -5
I found one of these yesterday. Haven't powered it up yet so I don't know if it runs or not. Two things: it won't do anything at all without a boot disk (LocoScript or CP/M Plus), and usually the rubber belts running the drive(s) will have perished after this amount of time. Replacements are really cheap from CPC, from memory it's part number AVBELT6. A bit fiddly to replace but worthwhile, I'm sure there are instructions out there on the 'net. I've got a bit of a collection of these machines, I really like them.
|
|
|
Post by thurstan on Jul 26, 2009 11:46:58 GMT -5
I have replaced the drive belt on a few Amstrad disk drives, its a little fiddly but pretty straightforward for anyone to do with instructions.
|
|
|
Post by retrobits on Jul 26, 2009 12:49:42 GMT -5
I would really like to play with an Amstrad - unfortunately, a real unit probably isn't in my future. Is there an emulator that is recommended?
Thanks,
- Earl
|
|
zeem
Junior Member
Posts: 82
|
Post by zeem on Jul 26, 2009 14:00:37 GMT -5
I would really like to play with an Amstrad - unfortunately, a real unit probably isn't in my future. Is there an emulator that is recommended? If it's the PCW you're talking about, then John Elliot's Joyce emulator is probably the only choice, although it's certainly recommended on the basis that it's very good. Searching Google for 'joyce pcw' should give you his site. You'll need boot disk images which aren't easily downloadable because they're still available somewhere (I think an existing PCW-related company bought out the rights to Locomotive's software catalogue, then renamed themselves Locoscript Software). I've got some disk images for a whole selection of software. If it's not the CPC you're thinking of then there are a few emulators. Arnold is one, I think there's also CPCEmu and some others. I've not really used those very much because although I've had a few CPC machines, and still have a couple of 464s, I've never really used them for much., so I wasn't too bothered about emulators either.
|
|
zeem
Junior Member
Posts: 82
|
Post by zeem on Jul 26, 2009 14:02:30 GMT -5
I have replaced the drive belt on a few Amstrad disk drives, its a little fiddly but pretty straightforward for anyone to do with instructions. The three rules of Amstrad Disk Drive Club are: 1. Don't lose the write-protect pin 2. Don't lose the write-protect pin 3. Don't lose the write-protect pin ;D
|
|
|
Post by thurstan on Jul 27, 2009 4:18:44 GMT -5
Amstrad emulator of choice for me is WinApe www.winape.net/ , it has so many features and options. Even emulates a fair few add on peripherals. Second to that is Caprice, although I have issues running this in Vista 64bit www.caprice32.cybercube.com/downloads.phpZeem - yes that is THE most important rule!!!! I carefully made sure it didnt fall out in the first place
|
|
|
Post by miner2049er on Dec 28, 2009 17:39:14 GMT -5
The big hulk of a computer hiding at the back is indeed a Commodore PET. It is the 4032 model. OK, I have this unit at home now, and as far as I can see it is fully operational but the CAPS Lock key is broken. I have what I think is all the parts but it won't go back together. Where is a good place to price check these things? I'd be interested to know how much it's worth.
|
|
zeem
Junior Member
Posts: 82
|
Post by zeem on Jan 7, 2010 15:36:12 GMT -5
Where is a good place to price check these things? I'd be interested to know how much it's worth. They seem to fetch good money on eBay. I can't remember how much the last ones I was looking at fetched, it was possibly £50 or maybe more.
|
|