topgun@vpnet.chi.il.us (robert white) (07/09/90)
I have the original Amiga,I believe it's called the 1000 model. I haven't used it in years. I thought that even though the new models use much more memory and this first model is largely outmoded there still ought to be some usefulness left in it. I went to my local AMIGA store and asked them what I would need to do in order to use the computer to communicate with online services and so forth. They told me that there is so little memory on this model that it's useless. They suggested I dump it since it would cost way too much to try and upgrade it. Are they accurate? What would I neeed to do to be able to use it to get services such as Compuserve and various BBS. Thanks....
martens@anaconda.cis.ohio-state.edu (Jeff Martens) (07/10/90)
In article <2697404b-25ffcomp.sys.amiga@vpnet.chi.il.us> topgun@vpnet.chi.il.us (robert white) writes: >I have the original Amiga,I believe it's called the 1000 model. > I haven't used it in years. I thought that even though the >new models use much more memory and this first model is largely >outmoded there still ought to be some usefulness left in it. > I went to my local AMIGA store and asked them what I would need to >do in order to use the computer to communicate with online services >and so forth. They told me that there is so little memory on this model >that it's useless. They suggested I dump it since it would cost way >too much to try and upgrade it. > Are they accurate? What would I neeed to do to be able to use it >to get services such as Compuserve and various BBS. I use my A1000 every day (right now, for example). If you've got 512k RAM, you shouldn't have any trouble hooking a modem up, loading a communications program (Online, for one, works in 512k), and using it to access various networks. If it only has 256k, then you need the RAM upgrade. It's a little box that you screw into the front middle (there's a plastic door between the drive and the power light), and you should be able to pick up a used one cheap, since so many people are upgrading their 1000s. If you have 512k, but decide you need more, there are a lot of memory upgrades for reasonable prices. Watch for used ones on the net, or look through Amiga World ads. I've got a 2MB Starboard myself, and, trust me, this makes life easier. Now, on the down side: I really wouldn't sink too much into your 1000, because it may not be straightforward to upgrade it to run the newest version (2.0) of the OS. Is anybody listening who is actually doing this, as opposed to thinking about it? While we're talking about OS versions, it occurs to me that you might still have 1.1 (or 1.0?). If so, you might need to pick up 1.3 in order to run a comm program. It should say on the box of the program what the minimal OS configuration they support is. Your dealer, or any mail order place, should still have the 1.3 enhancer disks. -=- -- Jeff (martens@cis.ohio-state.edu) I'm looking forward to getting my hands on an SLC; I'll bet it'll run X11 almost as well as a 3/50 runs MGR!
david@starsoft.UUCP (Dave Lowrey) (07/10/90)
> >I have a suggestion along these lines. Let me say first that this >is not a solution to everyones problem, so no flames please. One >way you can help both yourself and the cause of the Amiga is to >donate your old iron as it becomes excessed. I gave my A1000 to >my brother in law; the result is that he is now tuned into the >Amiga and is out buying software/hardware from "brother" developers. >So far, he has purchased $1K worth of stuff - thus, giving up a machine >that would have otherwise gathered dust instead generated sales for others >in the Amiga community. And perhaps a sale down the line for CBM >if things follow their natural course. When the time comes I plan >to give up my A2?00 gear to the pre-school my kid attends that is (believe >it or not) still using PETs. That way I get a tax writeoff as well as >giving Amiga exposure to many potential customers. If you're a student >living on a stipend checks, my suggestion probably isn't for you. If you're >a developer who leverages purchases off business income, consider the >strategy. Its better than hanging onto your machine on the off chance >it will wind up on Captain Kirks desk in the year 2200 ;-). I used to >keep old computers as trophys, but with a new model every two years and >being sixteen years into the field it gets a bit ridiculous to keep them all. > > Rick Spanbauer > Ameristar > If you have old/unused computer equipment, check with your local public library. Ours has an "Adult Literacy" program which uses computers. They use all kinds of computers in the program. I donated my old C64, and two broken disk drives (they have found a repair shop that will fix them for the cost of parts). Not only do I feel good about helping someone, I get a Tax write off too. -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- These words be mine. The company doesn't care, because I am the company! :-) Dave Lowrey | In Texas: {uhnix1,moray}!starsoft!david Starbound Software Group | The World: dwl10@uts.amdahl.com (amdahl!dwl10) Houston, TX |
stevem@hal.CSS.GOV (Steve Masters) (07/10/90)
topgun@vpnet.chi.il.us (robert white) writes: >I have the original Amiga,I believe it's called the 1000 model. > I went to my local AMIGA store and asked them what I would need to >do in order to use the computer to communicate with online services >and so forth. They told me that there is so little memory on this model >that it's useless. They suggested I dump it since it would cost way >too much to try and upgrade it. > Are they accurate? What would I neeed to do to be able to use it >to get services such as Compuserve and various BBS. For simple terminal communication, file upload/download, your A1000 is more than adequate. Assuming it has 512K total memory, most commercial and public domain communications programs will work just fine. All you need is an external modem and plug it into your serial port in the back. (Be ***SURE*** you get the proper cable for the A1000!!!) An external floppy drive can be bought for about $200 if you don't have one already, but you don't actually need it. My A1000 ran for its first year with only 512K and only its internal drive. I wouldn't recommend it for software development, but it was easily adequate for communications. BTW, the modem and external floppy are still compatible for the newer Amigas, so you won't lose them if you do decide to upgrade. Steve Masters stevem@hal.CSS.GOV ENSCO, Inc. Melbourne, FL 32940 (407) 254 4122
new@udel.EDU (Darren New) (07/10/90)
In article <2697404b-25ffcomp.sys.amiga@vpnet.chi.il.us> topgun@vpnet.chi.il.us (robert white) writes: > I went to my local AMIGA store and asked them what I would need to >do in order to use the computer to communicate with online services >and so forth. They told me that there is so little memory on this model >that it's useless. They suggested I dump it since it would cost way >too much to try and upgrade it. That's just silly (or, I suspect, an intentional lie). Of course you can use the A1000 for minimal applications. Otherwise, nobody would have bought the A1000 in the first place. I'm typing on an A1000 right now. If you only want to use it as a smart terminal, the minimal amount of memory that comes with the A1000 (256K) is probably enough. It's true that it would be almost impossible to upgrade it at this point, since the hardware has a different edge-connector than the newer models and companies are not making the old hardware any more. On the other hand, I think the A590 (memory and hard disk for the A500, which is a smaller version of the A1000) can be stuck onto an A1000 with the right setup. (You have to turn it upside down, or something.) Also, there are several commercial and home-made "kludges" for making the A1000 work as well as the newer models; I'm not familiar with them. I use the VT100 program (which is shareware). If you have any way of getting software to your A1000 besides floppy, you can get lots of good software via FTP or EMail, most of which is free. If not, you might want to ask Marco whether his ATermIII will run under the amount of memory you have; I hear many people sing praises of this program. You can also probably get somebody to mail disks of software to you; Fred Fish is a good person to get stuff from this way. The latest version of the operating system that runs on an A1000 is called "Workbench 1.3". You can get it for about $35 in the USA. You would probably want this to run the latest terminal software. If you have 512K (boot the machine, start the "workbench", and look at the bar at the top of the screen), you should not have any trouble running lots of programs. If you only have 256K, you might have some trouble with modern programs. -- Darren
papa@pollux.usc.edu (Marco Papa) (07/11/90)
In article <24111@estelle.udel.EDU> new@ee.udel.edu (Darren New) writes: >I use the VT100 program (which is shareware). If you have any way of >getting software to your A1000 besides floppy, you can get lots of good >software via FTP or EMail, most of which is free. If not, you might >want to ask Marco whether his ATermIII will run under the amount of >memory you have; I hear many people sing praises of this program. The name is A-Talk III, Darren :-) Anyway, A-Talk III will run in a 512K A1000, though you won't be able to multitask with much else. 1Meg is recommended and there are still LOTS of companies that will sell you memory expansions (take the insider for example). Moreover, with things like the Rejuvenator you'll be able to run the A1000 with the new 2.0 ROMS and new Agnus and Denise. BTW, I still have my original 1985-vintage Amiga A1000 with 512K, which I still use for testing. -- Marco -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "Xerox sues somebody for copying?" -- David Letterman -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
swarren@convex.com (Steve Warren) (07/11/90)
In article <24111@estelle.udel.EDU> new@ee.udel.edu (Darren New) writes: (...Explanation that the A1000 is till useful deleted...) [...] >It's true that it would be almost impossible to upgrade it at this >point, since the hardware has a different edge-connector than the newer >models and companies are not making the old hardware any more. No, the 1000 has the same expansion slot as the 500, it is just on the other side (on the right instead of the left). For a "useless" computer, my 1000 seems remarkably useful right now... > ...On the >other hand, I think the A590 (memory and hard disk for the A500, which >is a smaller version of the A1000) can be stuck onto an A1000 with the >right setup. (You have to turn it upside down, or something.) No, it's just that because the slot is on the right side, the box when plugged in faces toward the wall instead of facing you. Makes it sort of silly looking, but it is completely functional. Plus you need to put a book/board/shim under it on the 1000 because the slot is a little higher up. > ...Also, >there are several commercial and home-made "kludges" for making the >A1000 work as well as the newer models; I'm not familiar with them. The Lucas is a 68020 board + Frances (32 bit memory) designed to fit into the 1000. It is a pretty slick board for a "kludge"; when it came out everyone was asking $2000 for the commercial boards. Lucas opened the door for you to have an '020 for ~$200, and I think this helped bring the commercial prices out of the stratosphere. You should try to add the 256K module in the front; you can probably find one pretty cheap now, and most software today will assume you have at least 512K in your machine (although it may work fine in your machine, then again, it might not). I bought my 256K module new 5 years ago (with my Amiga) for about $100. You should be able to get a used one a lot cheaper. -- _. --Steve ._||__ DISCLAIMER: All opinions are my own. Warren v\ *| ---------------------------------------------- V {uunet,sun}!convex!swarren; swarren@convex.COM
rick@ameristar (Rick Spanbauer) (07/11/90)
In article <2697404b-25ffcomp.sys.amiga@vpnet.chi.il.us> topgun@vpnet.chi.il.us (robert white) writes: >I have the original Amiga,I believe it's called the 1000 model. > I haven't used it in years. I thought that even though the >new models use much more memory and this first model is largely >outmoded there still ought to be some usefulness left in it. > I went to my local AMIGA store and asked them what I would need to >do in order to use the computer to communicate with online services >and so forth. They told me that there is so little memory on this model >that it's useless. They suggested I dump it since it would cost way >too much to try and upgrade it. > Are they accurate? What would I neeed to do to be able to use it >to get services such as Compuserve and various BBS. > Thanks.... I have a suggestion along these lines. Let me say first that this is not a solution to everyones problem, so no flames please. One way you can help both yourself and the cause of the Amiga is to donate your old iron as it becomes excessed. I gave my A1000 to my brother in law; the result is that he is now tuned into the Amiga and is out buying software/hardware from "brother" developers. So far, he has purchased $1K worth of stuff - thus, giving up a machine that would have otherwise gathered dust instead generated sales for others in the Amiga community. And perhaps a sale down the line for CBM if things follow their natural course. When the time comes I plan to give up my A2?00 gear to the pre-school my kid attends that is (believe it or not) still using PETs. That way I get a tax writeoff as well as giving Amiga exposure to many potential customers. If you're a student living on a stipend checks, my suggestion probably isn't for you. If you're a developer who leverages purchases off business income, consider the strategy. Its better than hanging onto your machine on the off chance it will wind up on Captain Kirks desk in the year 2200 ;-). I used to keep old computers as trophys, but with a new model every two years and being sixteen years into the field it gets a bit ridiculous to keep them all. Rick Spanbauer Ameristar PS. The one machine I do hang onto is my Altair 8800. If I had a copy of the original RE 8008 machine I would keep that too :-)
new@udel.EDU (Darren New) (07/11/90)
In article <25802@usc.edu> papa@pollux.usc.edu (Marco Papa) writes: >>want to ask Marco whether his ATermIII will run under the amount of >The name is A-Talk III, Darren :-) Anyway, A-Talk III will run in a 512K Sorry, Marco. I stand corrected. A-Talk III is the name. -- Darren
saify@cbnewsl.att.com (saify.lanewala) (07/11/90)
In article <2697404b-25ffcomp.sys.amiga@vpnet.chi.il.us>, topgun@vpnet.chi.il.us (robert white) writes: > I have the original Amiga,I believe it's called the 1000 model. > I went to my local AMIGA store and asked them what I would need to > do in order to use the computer to communicate with online services > and so forth. They told me that there is so little memory on this model > that it's useless. They suggested I dump it since it would cost way > too much to try and upgrade it. > Are they accurate? What would I neeed to do to be able to use it > to get services such as Compuserve and various BBS. > Thanks.... I still have my trusty old A1000. I have a 16 MHz 68020 accelarator courtesy LUCAS, and I also have an additional 2MB RAM courtesy FRANCES. There are hard disk interfaces available, there's lots of software (I guess that's a judgement call 8-)). It is fundamentally limiting, since it's original design was not open-ended. From that perspective, if it's going to cost you a couple of thousand dollars to buy the additional memory, hard disks and whatnot, then it makes more sense to upgrade to a 2000/3000. I have essentially relegated the 1000 for use by my kids. My kids are 6 and 8, and do not need any supervision on the Amiga -- I guess that's a testament to its usability; I would not feel as comfortable allowing my 6-year-old to play around with my MSDOS machine!); Hope this helps. Saify Lanewala'
teece@uvicctr.UVic.CA.UUCP (teece) (07/12/90)
> I have the original Amiga,I believe it's called the 1000 model. > I went to my local AMIGA store... > ...They told me... >...that it's useless. > Are they accurate? What would I neeed to do to be able to use it > to get services such as Compuserve and various BBS. > Thanks.... The first thing to do is to dump that AMIGA store you went to and tell all your friends to do the same. Since you have been out of touch for awhile, let me tell you that the A1000 is as useful as the day it was released (actually much more so now) and has a following of dedicated users that prefer it over the newer models. Commodore just had a very generous buy-back offer to let A1000owners trade up, and many of us chose to keep what we have, thank you! For the purpose you have described, all you need is the stock A1000 and one of many good public domain terminal emulators that are available through any user group, bulletin board or GOOD dealer. Of course you need a modem too, but the modem and software requirement are the same even if you buy the newest model of Amiga (the 3000). If you do eventually need more memory it can be easily be added with an external memory board such as the Starboard II or others (yes, it might cost a bit more than adding memory to a 2000 or 3000 but not to the extent it would pay to trade up for that reason alone.) Your machine is still very useful and unless your store knows something you haven't mentioned (like the motherboard is destroyed or something) they are fools and cheats who just want your money!
rick@tmiuv0.uucp (07/12/90)
In article <2697404b-25ffcomp.sys.amiga@vpnet.chi.il.us>, topgun@vpnet.chi.il.us (robert white) writes: > I have the original Amiga,I believe it's called the 1000 model. Yup, that's correct. I have one here on my desk which I use to debug HUGE programs before they go onto a Unix system. > I went to my local AMIGA store and asked them what I would need to > do in order to use the computer to communicate with online services > and so forth. They told me that there is so little memory on this model > that it's useless. They suggested I dump it since it would cost way > too much to try and upgrade it. > Are they accurate? What would I neeed to do to be able to use it > to get services such as Compuserve and various BBS. No, they're not accurate. The stock A1000 came with 256K of memory. You could plug another 256K into a socket on the front of the system, giving you a total of 512K. There's a socket on the right hand side called the expansion connector that allows you to stick all kinds of stuff on it. My machine has 2M of memory in there, and a SCSI disk interface. So, my 1000 has 2.5MB of memory, and 80MB of hard disk. Not bad for an "outmoded" machine, eh? The "cheap" Amiga (the Amiga 500) which is being sold now is really merely a repackaged A1000 -- it has the same stuff in it (for the most part) as it's older brother. In fact, expansion boards for the A500 will work on the A1000, except for the fact that they'll look weird. The A500's expansion connector is on the left. To use A500 devices, you have to plug them in "backward" on the A1000 (just move the device clockwise to the right of the A1000, raise it up off the table and plug it in). Like I said, it'll look weird, but it works. There are still A1000 peripherals available. The memory I have on my 1000 is a MicroBotics StarBoard 2. It's still being made. The SCSI disk is a StarDrive module (plugs into an expansion connector on the StarBoard) and an el cheapo Mac hard disk. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- [- O] Rick Stevens ? EMail: uunet!zardoz!tmiuv0!rick -or- uunet!zardoz!xyclone!sysop V CIS: 75006,1355 (75006.1355@compuserve.com from Internet) "I'm tellin' ya, Valiant! Da whole ting stinks like yesterday's diapers!" - Baby Herman in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------