Most liked posts in thread: Anyone here got an XL psu spare..

Thank you for the video Andy...

Related, I also realised I had a spare C64 git from a deal with your mate Andy, mr Non Talker (not a dig at you Andy, he just vanished)

Anyway, it came with no PSU so there I thought, maybe there's the same sort of fix for it so hit EbleedUdry, sorry Ebay. First off were pretty over priced self made PSU's and then REALLY over priced old genuine ones but the ones they have are the C64 version of the ingot. Like the ingot its in epoxy and suffers from the 5V line going way over after time..

So off to YT and there's people making them up for cheap with video's and that's when I discovered how stupid some sellers are on Ebay, the psu has 5V DC and 9V AC, so you put in 9V AC PSU and you get hundreds, problem is that they are 9V DC but list AC because of the mains power side..

Takes a while to actually find an AC all around one and the price unless via ALiexpress isn't wonderful and with Aliexpress you could get caught out the same way because of their dire descriptions.

So, basically you get a 9V AC psu, a 5V DC both around the 2 - 3 amps and strap them together on to one din plug.

Bloody life, neither easy or cheap..Not a huge job, some soldering and heat shrinking but why oh why does someone not just do a ready made sensible price one..There coin to be had..

 

Your flexo disk is all wrapped and ready to go, it's one thing ebay has done, made me more post efficient. There's even a card (very small) in it

 

With me all the expanding wasn't a thing I was in to unless it helped me tinker with the code or make the games better, as you can imagine that meant Action Replays for all (well OmnimonXL for the Atari). I only added a HD to the 1200 to store games on. Had a C128 but found it clunky compared to others computers, plus the CPM etc again were of no interest, as long as there were games for 128 mode I was in but utils apart from copiers were wasted on me..

But there's the joy of computers, they fit the persons wants, if you want to expand and add stuff on then it can be done, if you just want to game then it can be done, if you want to run a business only then it can be done.

Good times those days, seeing home computing from the birth and evolve..Good good times..

 

By the throat would be more fun Al...

 

The idiots at uni are talking about not taking the vaccine because they think its a government hoax and will be loaded with nano bots etc etc..

One bloke wrote on their forum in response to this, he wrote "its amazing, you will buy dodgy ket (ketamine) from your dodgy dealers and stick that in your body but ignore a vaccine that could save your lives..."

Also, seems that some of the visiting dealers are lacing the weed packets with glass to show more weight..Glass FFS????

But that's preferred to a vaccine.....

How the hell do you educate that sort of moron..

Yes, Serena is sensible, we have long whatsapp chats about what is going on there and she's as flabbergasted as me re the antics..

 

Thanks Andy, it's appreciated

 

Please gents, don't be going to so much trouble. I was just hoping someone had a spare PSU that they would let go at a sane price

 

Alternatively, I have the din lead from an old ingot so if you send me the circuit for this mod I can make it up here..No cost involved. I think I have some 5V DC psu's here and as almost all are centre pin positive in my spares box I should be good to go....

 

That's really kind of you, what do I owe you?

 

Exactly nowt, Paul.

I will post it out to you later this week, mate.

Afraid you'll have to suffer the 1st pre-festive/emptive launch and arrival of Baz's retro-retarded micro Christmas Card for 2020.

All I ask is you open that part of the parcel - with your wee gift - nearer the "Big Day" so as not to "spoil it" (LOL!) for the other guys as theirs will probably be sent out early the week after.

 

Andy if its not a problem could you send the lead, the reason is, I say I have the lead which I'm I'm quite sure I have but I've been wrong about a few things recently so doubting myself a bit.

If I do have the lead then I'll happily send it back to you but I'm having a bit of a strangle old time of things so want to make sure I'm covered...

Hopefully your lil old record should be with you asap, it, like Elvis, has left the building...

And thank you again..

 

Cheers me old mate...

Will return if I find my one, I'm pretty sure I do have one......

Must try and muster a video group chin wag at Xmas...Before the booze!

Although after could be more of a laugh

 

Ha ha...Ahead of the game on that...I don't really drink spirits but I do love those, its my one intake of choccy as well..

Meet my fridge

 

And yes, as a festive thing a group meet up on line would be nice, a bit of post (or depending on how we react, pre lockdown) jollyness would be great...

Re the sweets above, 6 bleeding quid for the long one..Over 50p a tiny tiny slurp...

Rip off Britain!!

Thank you for the parcel Andy, yours must have turned up by now..

 

Hey'up Andy,

The eagle has landed, I repeat, the eagle has landed..

You have my word on the card and pressie..

Many many thanks again and I'll unpack the wardrobe and check for that lead, and send yours back if its in there..




HELP!!!!!!!

 

LOL!

There are distinct similarities with my retro "heap", fella:


ABOVE: If this lot ever collapsed then half of 'ull would disappear
under a mountain of micro molecules.

Glad to hear your parcel arrived in an orderly manner/on time as several lately due here (and sent from here) have just vanished off the radar and are now weeks late. Must be the season to get lost(?!)

The rest of you dudes should expect something silly... soon.

Nice one, Paul - I just hope it comes in useful and don't worry about spending hours looking for any lead.

You know, as well as me, that anything you INTENTIONALLY look for cannot be found but will at last be located (eventually) looking for something...ELSE!

Bev's top tip on our retro reserve - sling in a grenade to tidy it up!

 

Does seem that was baz, the first second I see a set of zombies then I'm necking my tramadol collection

Feeling half dead is one thing but becoming the undead just isn't on my agenda

Seriously, the day of the high street shop is nearing its end, such a shame, if I wanted a new sofa I want to see the blooming thing first hand, not some pimped up picture. The way its going the only shops doing a roaring trade will be the offies as people get more distraught.

Now Harrods going bust, that I can live with

Oddly, some of Serena's flat mates fresh over from China, South Korea and India will only shop at two places, Waitrose and Harrods...Seriously, even their take away is top dollar...

Poor Serena is watering down her shampoo to make it last...(don't worry, we will look after her)

As for the bits I have left, the Amiga is next and when checked the two drives..Don't expect the expanded A500 to do that well, its got a sheen of Donald Trump orange on the keys but its fully working, never been opened, will be adding a 2nd drive with one of those digital displays and an Action replay to try and entice the punters...Oh, a joystick from the pile..

Blooming post to Italy taking ages, won't release the funds till its arrived..Since its 75 smackers I need that bugger to land..

Anyway, hope there's some movement at Castle Barr, keep working that moggy, treat you and Bev to a fish supper, it may be the only shop open

 

My three are easy choices

Atari 800 / XL
Commodore 64 Breadbin
Amiga A1200

All have been epic fun, all still are, all of them and myself have huge backstories on both sides of the border. And with all of them I've made great friends back in the day and now.

Can't say better than that...

 

An A500 even with a Judith Charmers permatan will still sell but hopefully to a Amiga fan and not a reseller. I did have a Amiga A1200 back in the 90's but the A500 bypassed me as I had a 1040ST and didn't feel the need to change.
If I had to pick 3 computers over the years it would be a tricky one but at a push..

ZX Spectrum 48K - it was the first one I saw running and was given as a birthday present.

Commodore 128 - Probably, for me, the best 8-Bit computer produced - very expandable - C128,CPM & C64 Modes - fantastic BASIC and built in Sprite editor and Machine Code monitor. Plus you can play most C64 software as well.

Amiga A1200 - My favourite 16 Bit computer and the AGA chipset and built in IDE interface were real added bonuses.

Probably not the most popular picks ... I would have liked to have my 800XL and Sam Coupe but I picked three.

 

I've just been on an 'Out Run' down to the covid test site, both of us just done, Cindy feeling unwell, no taste or smell and awkward tum plus a swelling around the eye's. I'm better with a loss of taste to a degree and flu symptoms but I feel ok. Hoping its just a bad case of the flu hitting us and not that bloody thing..

Could not be at a worse time as we were preparing for Serena to return for Xmas on the 18th..

On a brighter note, loving the chat re the old machines, nice to see how much pleasure they give.

 

I was a SWOS man, Sensible just felt perfectly fun, ok there was an arcade element but I found that just right. I did try kick Off a few times but I always struggled with the controls and holding on to the ball.

Its all personal...

The second choice could not be more perfect, I loved Miner 2049'er so to see a super charged version was just AMAZING. Went to play it the other day to find its not compatible with the Ultimate 1MB, the player can't move..THANFULLY there's a fixed one , phew..

Can't comment on the Oric stuff but looks nice..

One Amiga game I played a lot was Hostages, bit of an odd one but great fun..Loved the music as well.

 

Hi fellas

Late to the party, but my favourite 3 retro computers

ATARI 800XL - my first ever computer and still the closest to my heart. Favourite games are Arkanoid, Pole Position, Bosconian. So many great titles but those are my goto titles.

AMIGA 600 - perhaps a controversial Commodore choice but I just prefer the neat form factor to either the A500 or A1200. Funny thing was I was always an ST guy first growing up but if I had to choose only one 16 bit machine now it would probably be the 600... Games I love to play are Arcade Pool, Sensible Soccer and Kick Off 2. I'm a sucker for sports games!

AMSTRAD CPC - my best mate got his 464 the same Christmas I got my 800XL so we where always playing on one or the other. I like the all-in-one solution and it's got a charm of it's own. Like a Spectrum without colour clash I could play 3D Deathchase, 180 Darts or Oh Mummy for hours. Now looking forward to getting hooked again when I receive a 6128 from our very own Richie.

Talking of high street stores I really miss Lasky's, Comet, Dixons and anywhere that had a line up of computers to get your hands on. Not to mention all the independent computer shops. Sigh. I have a mate who has just opened a retro based store near Glasgow. He has old arcade machines, thousands of import games and consoles and is now building up a sizeable PAL collection as well. He even has some 8bit tapes and big box 16bit games. Totally awesome, it's like a mini Play Expo all on its own.

Anyway, hope you and Cindy test negative Paul.

I'm also up for a Christmas get together round a tinsel framed monitor. We can talk old machines while eating mince pies and and a glass of mulled wine or two

 

Al,

Spot on - top marks there, mate - you echo all our sentiments and the golden glow from the picture you paint of those once glorious 80s UK high street computer stores and your mate's new exciting venture - plus the other treat for our senses: your mince pies (and generous measures of Glenfiddich, I'll be bound), I can taste from here!

Great choices and once more another different platform - the A600 used to remind me of a sawn-off A500/1200 but by god it was damn neat and still packed a punch and of course the 800XL and Ammy CPC are also wonderful weapons of choice...

Guys, I'm getting all nostalgic again considering Paul's SWOS (not my cuppa tea but a great footie game all the same), 3D Death Chase (I'm sure that got a mention in dispatches on the old Atari Sector - did Matt find an Atari conversion or was it you, Rich?), 180 - a great darts sim and other fab titles too (ie. Bosconian, Pole Position, plus I'm recalling Ballblazer, The Eidolon and even Baja Buggies on the A8 Classic) that are all just making my family of chins shudder in appreciation and contemplation of recreating all those golden memories once more by having another retro blast and good old chinwag on the webcam this Christmas with you purveyors of video game flashbacks once more.

So, put another RAM pack on the fire, tune in and let the good times roll again.

Let's get as many "old heads" together as we can for a damn good yarn, yeah, reet soon.



Classic arcade action...

 

I'm with you Al, I also miss laskeys etc I used to walk up and down Kingsland Road in Dalston (East london) and we had all the good old shops like Budgen, The Green Shield stamp place, Laskeys as said, and a shop my mum worked in, Wavy Line. The good old sports / fishing tackle shop where you could buy a gat gun or an air rifle. All gone, replaced with silly vape shops etc. Back then those wonderful shops were the texture of the high street, I'd always get a big smile from the lady in Rumbellows although we never rented a TV from them but they were more friendly times for the most part.

Now it looks like most shops will be a thing of the past, such a shame but online is swift, lower overheads for the business and great selection for the punters but the magic of browsing through the records in Virgin was just great, now we click a picture and sit and wait, not quite as comforting but it will have to do.

The only thing that became old for me was that I'd so much software choice, software just became these plastic squares I had in loads of boxes, took the fun out of it and the bit I regret.

Enough of my retro rose tinted nonsense...

Back to awaiting a text message with dread...

 

Re the shops, I'm not religious but I give a BIG Amen to that..

I'm sat here feeling fine, cindy not so, Serena has flu (we hope) that I may have passed on..

The phones made me laugh, I remember the first time I saw / head a trim phone, twas like sommit of U.F.O in Ed Strakers office..

Us poor as church mice people didn't have a phone, far too fancy for the likes of us but I did get a phone installed when I left home for my mum.

All electrickery....

At least we had running water and toilets, unlike Scotland