ScuzzBlog: Diaries August 2024
Entry 17th August 2024: Post 1: Collecting home computers - Before the A1000 era.
Collecting home computers - Before the A1000 era.
There was a lot of life in the home computing world the five years
before the release of the Amiga 1000. So if you were minded to
put together a retro collection for that period I have compiled my
list of favourites, starting with the top ten and the the best of
the rest.
When considering the history of home computing you should always be
wary of the authors bias to either Amiga or Atari. An Amiga user
will pretty much ignore the majority of Atari products out of a
general disregard for the product. And an Atari user will, well er,
who cares what an Atari user thinks.
I also do not include any PCs and Apple machines, basically cus
the Apple machines were aimed at the commercial, education sectors
and were like forever caught between two stools.
I am also from England and centre of the known universe, home to
Sir Clive Sinclair, Alan Sugar, the Acorn Risc Machines and fish
and chips. So there !!!
Anyhoo I start with the most significant computer for the 1980 to
1985 era leading up to the Amiga 1000 and add machines to the list
that I feel would warrant being included in any retro home computer
collection. There are obviously any number of machines in a makers
catalogue, but I feature the ones that I believe would cover most
of the bases for the platform.
Hope that makes sense.
Number 01: The Commodore VIC 20 or VC20 released in 1981 and was
the first computer designed specifically for the home market that
had, I believe, all the constituent components of the modern
computer. Three cheers for Jack Tramiel.
Number 02: The Commodore C64 probably the most popular home computer
of all time released in 1982. It basically built on the success of
the VIC 20 and expanded on its library. The machines used floppy
drives and datasettes designed to actually work with the machines
and provided proper monitors to view the display.
Number 03: The Sinclair ZX81 from 1981. You have to give Sir Clive
credit where credit is due, he was intent on making a very cheap
computer for the home market and that is what he achieved. This is
an iconic computer because, although we had had the ZX80, it proved
a turning point for Sinclair.
Number 04: The Sinclair Spectrum April 1982. In truth you couldn't
have a home computer collection without a Spectrum. It gave the UK
market a gaming boost for kids and video games unsurpassed.
Number 05: The ZX Spectrum+ marks the first efforts by Sinclair to
turn their product into a proper computer. It certainly made Jack
Tramiel sit up and note.
Number 06: MSX Toshiba HX10 unlike every other Japanese success
that managed to destroy whole industries, even though armed with
a superior product the MSX range of computers failed to knock the
big names of America and Europe off their respective thrones. If
you only buy one MSX machine get a Toshiba.
Number 07: Amstrad CPC 464 from 1984. Mr Sugar came late to the
party but like Jack Tramiel was keen to give the punters what they
really needed. So a full size keyboard and a cassette that actually
worked. This could be replaced with a 3 inch disc drive. Computers
also worked with support monitors.
Number 08: Amstrad CPC 6128 from June 1985. Scraping in just before
the Amiga 1000 but worthy of the list as it was a giant of a machine
and provides the pinnacle of 8 bit wizardry for the home market.
It sported its own internal 3 inch drive and used a colour monitor.
It also ran CP/M which was truly amazing in the day.
Number 09: The Atari 600XL and 800XL computers. Made by Atari in
1983 and sold pretty well. They have a games cartridge. Otherwise
pretty dull, but if you have to have an Atari , get one of these.
[ yawn ].
Number 10: The Tatung Einstein from 1984. Truly a proper computer
this, what with two three inch drives, full size keyboard and more
expansion ports than you will ever need. Clear some space.
OK best of the rest to take us up to twenty-ish
11: Acorn Atom.
12: Acorn Electron.
13: The BBC Micro B.
14: Dragon 32.
15: Enterprise.
16: Jupiter Ace.
17: Mattel Aquarius.
18: Sam-Coupe.
19: Oric-1.
20: Memotech MTX500.
21: TRS-80 Color.
And Tubular Bells ..... The Amiga 1000 computer from Commodore.
This is where the story really begins, so forget all that other
junk and just treat yourself to a house full of Amigas.
.. and if this doesn't warm the old cockles
Click the above link
Collecting home computers - Before the A1000 era.
And then came the Amiga 1000
And nothing was ever quite the same
If you can only see this CONTENT window
then click the image above for the full site
Last updated 17th August 2024
Chandraise Kingdom
Keep the Faith
scuzzscink 2024