Classic Computers - Whatcha Got?

[Flack]

Two questions:

One, what classic computers do you have currently hooked up and ready to go in your home? By this, I mean if I showed up at your door with a cartridge or a diskette, we could play it right now.

Two, what classic computers do you have at your home that you could get working in a day's notice?

For number one, I have a Commodore 64, an Amiga 500, and a 486 for classic DOS games all hooked up and running in my house at the moment.

For number two, I also have an Atari 800XL, an Apple II, a Macintosh Plus, a TRS-80 Model II, and several spare C64's all in the garage that could all be hooked up within a day.

[AlanD]

Well if you showed up we could play the Atari 800XL pretty much instantly. It stays hooked up at all times as my game-playing/dev system and is currently within 2 feet of where I am sitting now. It is a fairly loaded system (hard drive, SIO2PC, ramdisk, expended memory) except my PC dev system that usually is connected to it finally bit the dust. I hope to replace it in the next few weeks.

In short order we could run out to the shed and round up some of the assorted Macs I have and hook them up. I would have been able to say an Amiga 3000 also but I just gave it away to a friend last week.

In the attic I have the rest of the Atari series: 400 (8K & 16K), 800 (16K & 48K), 1200XL, 600XL, 65XE, 130XE, XEGS. Mostly the same thing as the 800XL but they are in the collection. Also have the 520ST, 1040ST (and FM) and MegaST2 though little to play on them. For Commodore I have C64, C-128 (both versions), Vic-20 and the oddballs: +4, C16 and SX-64. Usually the C-64 would be hooked up for the wife to play Bubble Bobble but I took it down to set up the Atari the way I wanted.

Years back I got rid of my collections of TRS-80, CoCo, Ti-99/4a & Aquarius. Too little play for the space they took up. Of course I could say the same thing for some of the weird Atari and Commdoore computers but I just don't have the heart to get rid of them since they are from my two favorite computer companies.

Alan

[calthaer]

I have a DOS machine and an Apple II, jacked up and good to go. The Apple II is actually a Laser 128, which is having some problems using Apple Disk Transfer...so it's really only hooked up until I can get my old Bard's Tale characters off.

[Ze_ro]

Well, the only systems I have hooked up right now are:
C-128 - I think it's the one electronic device I have that has never been unhooked for more than about an hour since I bought it about 8 years ago.
Amiga 1200 - The hard drive is messed, but it can still load disks
Mac LC-II - Normally, I wouldn't have bothered keeping this hooked up at all, but the monitor is specific to the Mac, so there's not much point in packing it away
Pentium 90 - I initially set this up for my mom so she could check email and browse the internet and such. I guess that almost counts as a classic computer by now
I have a whole bunch more systems that could be hooked up with about 5 minutes of work... including a number of C-64's (although there isn't much point when I have a C-128 hooked up), an Amiga 500, a TI-99/4a, an Apple IIe and an Apple IIGS.

I have a bunch of other computers that, due to various problems, I can't actually use at the moment:
VIC-20 - Actually, I'm not entirely sure what's wrong with this one. The best I can seem to get out of it is a very dark, monochrome picture. It could be due to a faulty RF modulator, or the system itself might be damaged (I have a feeling it's the latter).
Amiga 4000 - It works perfectly fine, but a long time ago, my brother snagged one of the hard drives out of it, and we never took the time to tell the 4000 about that, so when it powers up, it comes up with a ton of complaints about missing files and such.
Atari 400 - It's missing it's RF cable. I can open it up and attach one, but I don't have any to spare at the moment. The system works perfectly fine otherwise.
Atari 600XL - I'm missing the power adaptor... although I've been able to verify that it works by using a variable power supply from an electronics lab.
Atari 1040ST & 1040STFM - I don't have an ST monitor cable, so I can't test the 1040ST (I think it works). I've tried hooking up the 1040STFM through it's RF modulator, but it comes up with a garbled picture. I'm almost certain its BIOS is dead.
--Zero

[oesiii]

Ready to GO:

Atari 130xe
Atari 800XL
Atari 1040ST
Amiga 1000
Vic-20

Give me a day to set it up:

5 Other Atari 8bit computers :D
Atari 520ST
Commodore 64
Coleco Adam (this one might take a few days to move it from room to room :) )

[ventrra]

Two, what classic computers do you have at your home that you could get working in a day's notice?

Tandy 1000HX, Tandy Color Computer 3, Yamaha CX5M MSX, Apple IIc, and Commodore 64.

[calthaer]

Unfortunately, the VIC-20 suffers from the same design flaw that the NES does in that the cartridge slot often just doesn't work after a while. Corrosion, dust, etc. made my VIC-20 almost worthless after a while. I sold the games to some guy in the UK.

[scooterb23]

The only classic computer I own, is a C64. I don't think I want to go too far into the world of old computers...I have too many consoles as it is :)

[Nature Boy]

I've only gone one machine connected - an 800XL. But I don't have my disk drives connected to it right now - I'm trying to save 'em so I'm using APE and the SIO2PC cable :)

I've got an Atari 400 and a 130 XE as well though. The 130 XE is the only Atari machine I didn't own "new" - my dad found it at a garage sale and picked it up for me.

I've also got 2 C64's. The breadbox model and the (I think) second model. One was given to me by a coworker, the other I found at a thrift (with a model II drive) for under $5.

I *used* to have a C64 hooked up at all timesl but I decided that the monitor was simply taking up too much space. And as an avid Atari computer guy the choice between the two on my main classic gaming rig was an easy one :)

[icbrkr]

Ready to go:

Amiga 1200
Atari XEGS
Apple IIgs
Commodore 64
Commodore Plus/4
Texas Instruments 99/4a
TRS-80 CoCo3

In a Day:

Timex Sinclair 1000
Timex Sinclair 1500
Timex Sinclair 2068
Amiga 500
Tandy 1000
Commodore SX-64
Commodore PET 2001
Mattel Aquarius

[Flack]

Knowing that there are still other Commodore 64's hooked up out there just makes me smile. :D

[scooterb23]

I feel like a moron forgetting about my TI994A computer.

I just think of it as anouther gaming console in my collection...There are times I forget being able to program it...

[ozyr]

Ready to go:
Apple IIgs
Apple IIe
Many old Macs (LC III, Quadra 605, PM7200, etc., etc.,)

Ready in a day:
ZX81
TS/1000
TS/1500
TS/2068

[anagrama]

Just an Amiga 600 that's ready to go. I've recently acquired an A1200 but haven't had a chance to set it up yet. My C64 and ZX Spectrum are packed away somewhere in a large box of random power supplies, controllers and bits & bobs.

[Phosphor Dot Fossils]

Ready to go:

Apple IIc
Commodore 64
TI 99/4A
Atari 400
Aquarius

http://www.thelogbook.com/earl/hizzouse/thumb-7/c64apple.jpg
http://www.thelogbook.com/earl/hizzouse/thumb-6/rack3.jpg

I have two Apple II clones, a Franklin Ace 1000 (my first computer!) and a Franklin Ace 2200, in my storage shed. They both still work pretty well.

That's all I've got, really. Pong/dedicated consoles aside, if I've got it, it's on hot standby. :D

[Duncan]

...if I've got it, it's on hot standby. :D

You work like I do. I want to have anything ready at a moment's notice...even if I don't play it that often, just so I can be "sure" everything still works.

Back to the topic at hand...I need to liberate the old 286 and all its glorious 5.25" disks from my sister's garage. That, and I'm pretty sure my aunt has an old Mac kicking around somewhere, assuming she didn't sell it.

Too bad we sold our PowerPC Performa all those years ago - I may be the only person left who still remembers when Bungie was mildly famous for a little FPS called Marathon.

Today, Bungie is best-known as the creator of an Xbox game we call Halo. And now you know...the REST...of the STORY. LOL

[le geek]

Ready to go: Amiga 2000HD

Gimme a Day: C64 (2 in storage)

Needs Help: Mac IIcx (needs new motherboard battery)

Cheers,
Ben

[Charlesaway]

I have setup on a desk in the basement, ready to go save plugging in (I don't have enough plugs, but the extension cord reaches everything), from Left to right, an Apple MacIntosh LC II, C128D (desktop model), C64, Vic-20, and a Tandy 1000SX.

I could have the following up and running on a couple hours notice: Atari 600XL, Atari 800XL, C64C, TRS-80 CoCo 2, TI 99/4A, Tandy 1000, a half-dozen 386/486/P1 class dos systems (haven't had the heart to dump them yet), Atari Mega ST 4, and a Timex Sinclair 1000.

[MonkeyWizard]

All I've got is a DOS machine. :(

[Jibbajaba]

I have the following:

Apple ][+
Apple IIc+
Commodore 64
DOS box (486 DX4/100)

Coincidentally my Apple IIc+ is hooked up right now but it usually isn't. The other are not hooked up but I could have any of them hooked up in 5 minutes.

[ClubNinja]

Ready to go:

Amiga 2000
75 MHz Pentium DOS-only machine
Atari 800
Commodore 128

Ready within an hour tops:

Atari XE
Timex Sinclair 1000
Texas Instruments TI-99
Tandy Color Computer 3

[hydr0x]

i've only got a Amstrad CPC 6128 (Schneider version) but it's always ready to go....

[Ze_ro]

http://www.thelogbook.com/earl/hizzouse/thumb-6/rack3.jpg

What's with the lighting? :hmm:

And what kind of computer is a Franklin Ace? I've never heard of them before. Are they something unique, or is it a clone of something else?

--Zero

[sniperCCJVQ]

Macintosh :

SE/30
LC520

PC :

HP Vectra VL 5/xxx Series 5 (P200MMX)
IBM Thinkpad 560 (P100) --> I still use it on the road, very reliable notebook.
IBM Thinkpad 755C (486DX-75)

[Ze_ro]

And what kind of computer is a Franklin Ace?

I guess I should just shut up and do my own homework, right? I mean this is the internet and all... :P

As usual, old-computers.com has a good write up (http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=769) on each of the different models of Franklin Ace computers... They're all Apple II clones, but with much nicer cases. In fact, they're very sleek and impressive looking machines, except maybe the 1200, which looks like an old PET.

--Zero

[Wookie]

Figures, I found this thread just before the forum closes. Classic Computers were my 1st retro-love, predating even videogames.
Ready to go:
Commodore 128, SX-64
TRS-80 Model III, IV, 100, 102, 200. CoCo3
Atari 800XL
Amiga 2000

Ready in <1 hour
Commodore 64, VIC20, C16, +4
Atari 400,800,130XE
Mattel Aquarius
Kaypro II,4,10
Otrona Attache
Telcon Zorba
TI-99/4A
Timex 2068

Ready in <1 day
TRS-80 CoCo, CoCo2, Model I, MC-10
Commodore CBM 8032 (PET), Colt
TI-99/4 (no 'A'), CC40
Mattel Aquarius
Panasonic JR-200U
IBM PCjr
Tomy Tutor
Atari 65XE, XEGS, 520ST, 1040ST, MegaST
Amiga 500, 1000, 2500
Osborne 1
Hewlett Packard HP85
Apple IIc, IIGS
Timex 1000, 1500
Coleco Adam
Epson HX20

...and probably a few others I can't think of at the moment.
-Ron

[Saabmeister]

Right Now: Mac SE

In about 5 minutes:
Mac LCIII
2 C-64's
C-64 C

[TNTPLUST]

Well I dont have it hooked up at home but anytime you are in Brea, California you can stop by my Classroom and Play on a TI-994/a, SX-64, or an Amiga 2500. I actually use these computers in my lesson plan to both illustrate the history of the PC as well as let the kids play with them.

Within an hour I could set up a Laser 128 mac clone, or a Laser PC clone, Vic-20, Mac Classic, LC-III, c64, or c128.

On a side note you could also come into my room and play 2 person Typing of the Dead or Typing of Fury on a Dreamcast LOL