Commodore C16 Repair

But out of all the computers and consoles, do you have a clear fave in each, or even overall?

I have always had a love of the Snes, was playing Axelay this morning. There's tons of fun on it. Fave computer, well the old Amiga 1200 covers that. Spent so much time on it, adopted the Internet early on it, I used it as much launcher for everything, just as I do on this mini PC.

 

I know the C64 is a way more popular machine than the C16 range but I have a major soft spot for it as apart from my 800XL, the Plus/4 was the only other 8-bit computer I owned while growing up.

 

That's a great question Paul and one I was thinking about the other day. My favourite 8bit console is the 7800, Megadrive for 16-bits, but overall console would have to be the PS/2 I think just for the sheer variety of racing games on it.

Computer wise it's alwasy going to be the 800XL as it was my first home computer and I still get a lot of enjoyment from it. The ST is my favourite 16-bit computer but If I had to choose one machine between it and the Amiga, then I'd keep the Amiga as I use that for Playing Sensi, Kick Off and Arcade Pool.

Handheld it has to be the PSP. A great machine with some excellent games and some of my favourite racers like Sega Rally, Ridge Racer and Outrun.

Of course, like yourself, thanks to the wonders of the PC I can emulate the majority of systems

 

I should say that I am prone to straying from my faves, might be the Snes one week and then the PSX the next, not so much with the computers. I owe the 800XL a LOT, it paid me and gave me many legs up in the industry. The Amiga too

 

I think my favourite console is a split between the PC Engine and Sega Dreamcast overall. Computers are trickier, all the computers I own have something going for them. If I was put on the spot I would go for my C128. It plays C64 software, has a great version of BASIC, built-in sprite designer and machine code monitor.
I will always have a soft spot for my Oric’s as well.

 

Great choices console wise, think they both are a brilliant machine. The arcade of the time ports on the PCE are a pleasure to play, almost perfect. The shooters are my cup of tea, and the PCE just had so many. The poor old Dreamcast never got the love it deserved, but there are games on that machine that still shine today. Not every person is a big fan of Crazy Taxi, it just got splashed everywhere, but in terms of a port, it's brill. Jet Set Radio, genius. And of course the arcady shooters are also damn fun (bar the 'bullet hell' ones). Yeah, top machines..

I did have a C128, lost it when they cleared out my mums flat along with most of my accumulated gear. Trouble is, I never used the 128 as a 128, the built-in CPM was of no interest to me, I knew of the MCM, but had no clue it had a sprite editor

I also have a soft spot for Oric's, it's a small hole in the garden...(crap old joke)

 

How could I have forgotten about the PC Engine? Brilliant little console with some of the best arcade conversions available.

Back on track, Forgotten Worlds still have a Commodore 16 for sale with datacorder and a few cassettes for £100. Talk about tempting but Richie's (mega)C16 is much nicer looking!

 

Hi fellas.
As you know, I have zero knowledge of the console market but enjoy hearing all your anecdotes, reports and recommendations.
Because of this my fave console must seem a joke but my mate Kiddy's Atari 2600 Woody - and his VIC-20 3.5K micro got me started, as did Meds' 16K ZX81 so they get honorary mentions from me cos without experiencing the sheer joy of those early addictive, but blocky, arcade games on the 2600, the colour and sound of the VIC and the expandability and sheer joy of learning to program on the Sinclair wee monochrome beast, I would not be here today and instead would probably be stuck in me bunker collecting stamps, retro crisp packets or Dinky toys
Oh, and did I mention previously I also have a soft spot for ORICs??
NO?!
YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!

 

Bringing this topic back full circle, I managed to prise the C16 from Richie on my recent trip across the border. It's a lovely machine and today an SD2IEC drive arrived for it Already tried it out and loaded up a couple of games, enjoying it so far.

Thanks again for giving me first dibs on the C16 Richie, you can be assured it is now in a loving new home and will get plenty of usage!

 

Swear I saw it on ebay this morning

 

Impossible. I only advertised it on Facebook

Have it plugged into an LCD tv at the moment but going to bring a 14" crt out of storage tonight and set it up for that.

The SD2IEC is a nice little SD drive solution as well. Only cost £25 off EBay and I was up and running in minutes with it.

 

Nice one...At the mo I have machines and real games all over the bedroom, might be passing on some of the games as they are taking up so much space. Tis the joy of those cheap little SD type devices that make for so much free space.

There's game's I'll always hold on to, but there's a lot of so so stuff that others might find fun.

 

My physical games space is pretty much at capacity too Paul. Luckily I have a hall cupboard to keep most of them in or I would be in deep doo-dah.

The book and magazine collection is just about bursting at the edges, I need to do some shuffling there!

 

I have a bedroom cupboard with comics from the 70's and 80's, been in there and moved in house changes for years, really need to sort them and sell or swap for credit at a comic store. Blooming loads of 'em.

 

Spent more time tonight playing with the C16. Plugged in a 9pin joystick adaptor and hooked it up to a 14" crt. Was like being a kid again, sitting on the floor playing classics like POD for over an hour. I've now put around 25 games on the SD card for my next session.

Up until this point I would have always said the CPC 464 was my second favourite 8bit micro after the 800XL but now I think the C16 has taken its place. Loving it so far

Going to get the Amstrad re-advertised and hopefully find it a new home next.

 

Best of luck Al...

 

Vyper68, I didn't read all this thread but I will in the next few hours - I was attracted by it because I do have a C16 with an expansion kit which used to work fine a few times after my dear friend Carlo made the 64K RAM expansion. The last time I turned it on, it gave me the opening screen for 2 seconds and then the monitor went black. My next attempts to turn it on again were all useless. The screen remained black.

The RAM expansion kit is the same as the one Vyper68 mounted in his C16. I tried to check a few things on the original Commodore PSU and used a brand-new PSU with an inverted polarity. Next weekend I will check the fuse and the RAM chips. I only hope the problem is not the CPU as I hear they are not so common to find/buy these days.

If I don't succeed (which is very likely to happen) at fixing the C16 on my own, I will probably ask a friend to take a look. Please let me know if you have any suggestions on what to check first. Thanks.