Arnuphis

I thought this threat was being 'filibusted' by some Tandy fanatics for a moment there (MC-10 are you kidding me? lol) so glad to see normality being resumed. So to sum up it's C64/Atari 800xl/Apple II (or Spectrum if you are in Europe) as the best choice for someone looking for their first foray into retro computing based on the OP parameters. You can argue all day about the merits of this or that but it has to be one of the 'big three' as the gateway drug. End of discussion. Now if they get bitten by the bug and are looking for a second machine then of course any of the others suggested could be a candidate depending on what they are looking for.

Well it's hard to get unbiased opinions when someone is passionate about whatever machine they have the strongest nostalgia for. I still think C64 is the best choice. Yes I am biased because I had one. But it ticks all the boxes. However I do see the Atari 8 bit as a good alternative and to a lesser extent the Apple II because they can be a little more expensive. You will never convince me to ever get another machine first ahead of one of those three if I could only have 1 retro machine. That's the advice I would give to someone asking.

It was a good reply video. I still have a real problem with the lack of respect for someone else's property. Unless of course they said 'feel free to wreck it'. I don't agree with his politics. But I really don't agree with them being dragged into the discussion especially when they have never entered his 8-bit channel at any time. As for the racism claim... not worthy of any kind of a response. But at the end of the day it's his future content that will be the judge of the channel and it's future. I am glad to say the next video posted with the Petscii game was back to the quality I have enjoyed so I will be sticking around for now. Just don't loan him any IBM stuff!

Well it makes sense to buy Spectrum or CPC machines if you live in the UK as they have PAL displays and the PSUs are 220v so if you buy them in a region where that is not the standard then you have an extra hurdle to overcome. I am sure the MSX is a great machine but I suspect blind favoritism in the continued championing of it above a more objective view in what would would be a good choice for a person new to retro computing who wanted something to see what all the fuss was about. "Hi, I am of the generation that never had these retro computers. I want to get one to play with and see what they were like". So which of the following is the answer that they would want to hear? "Sure, there are these ones here (Apple/Atari/Commodore) that were popular and you can pick one up for next to nothing . They have tons of software and large communities. Plus there are many modern devices that allow you to access lots of software and modern TVs. All the popular games were made for them and its easy to get parts or repairs." Or "Well there are these computers that were popular in Japan mainly that tried to establish a common platform of compatibility and failed. Most people have never heard of them but I am sure they are tons of fun. You can probably get one of you hunt around and expect to pay a bunch of money for them. If they don't work I hear there is a guy who can fix them."

Exactly. As much as I thought my C64, Disk Drive, MPS 801 Printer and Mini Office II were 'The Shizz' back in the day for word processing there is no way I would go back to that method. Not even for some misguided nostalgia. Retro is for fun and games.

At the end of the day you can spin permutations round and round but the best bang for your buck and best bet for an easy life will be a Commodore, Atari or Apple. It's the path of least resistance. Plus you will have access to modern solutions, technical support and the chat room won't be just you and some other guy. If you are in the UK then add ZX Spectrum to the list, maybe Amstrad.

Ouch. that was bad. Looking at the color of the cables running up to the monitor they looked like AC power based on UK coding (brown/blue and green/yellow) So I guess he just shorted out his entire mains with that paperclip. Not a good look. Those were beautiful machines in great condition. Deserve better. I was a big fan but if this is the direction his site is going then I think I'm done.

Bah. Missed out on this one. Grats to the lucky buyer.

I got an Apple 1. Looking for a Speak and Spell. Any offers? It's as legit as any offer on this thread ?

Simply put, consider the following... Wasteland, Bard's Tale, Sid Meier's Pirates!, Pool of Radiance, Wizball, Zork, Last ninja, Ultima IV, Elite, Times of Lore, Commando, Skate or Die, California Games, Psi-5 Trading Company, Tau Ceti, Bubble Bobble, Maniac Mansion, Paradroid, Lode Runner, Impossible Mission, Sentinel, Airbone Ranger. If your retro computer cannot play all of these then you chose the wrong retro computer!

Yep the Atari 800 xl is a decent choice too. And inexpensive. I still prefer the OG 800 though due to its better build but obviously its not as easily upgradable.

There's one on eBay for $1850.00. So probably not a good recommendation for someone looking to get into the hobby. They look nice though. I stand by my choice of C64. Especially now since someone can buy a TheC64 and plug it into their modern TV to get a taste of retro computing before taking the plunge and getting original equipment. As for the Atari. I remember seeing the 400/800 on sale in some stores in the UK back when I lived there. Never saw an XL anywhere. I liked the look of the 800 but remember it being too expensive compared to the others (VIC-20, Sinclair etc.) . Never saw an Apple computer. I saw Colour Genies, Newbrains, Orics, TI-99, Dragon 32, Amstrads, TRS-80s,Sharp Mz-80/700 and even Tatung Einsteins. But not Apple II in sight anywhere.

My answer would be: Go with what you had back in the day. Most people get into retro computers for the nostalgia angle. You don't really meet people born after 1999 who want to go play with a 8-bit computer. If I had to choose one from an Apple II, C64, TI-99/4a, Dragon 32, Sinclair Spectrum, Oric, BBC Micro, Atari 400/800 or TRS-80 I would pick the C64 every time as its the one I had back in the 80's and it takes me back to a happy place. So my answer to the categories would be: 1. Price. C64 - no shortage of them and you can get one easily at next to no cost. 2. Game library. C64. Had pretty much everything. usually the best version as well. Plus loads of new game titles coming out as we speak. 3. Ease of file transfers to/from modern devices. C64. So many devices to choose from to get this done. Some cheap. Some expensive but very powerful. 4. Powerfulness(or whatever you call it) of the computer. C64. Very expandable at not much cost to do so. 5. Ease of use. C64. Switch in on and there you go. No loading of anything needed. 6. Reliability. C64c as long as you ditch that power supply. 7. Video output. C64. Plenty of cable options and other things to get a good output. 8. BASIC. C64. Full screen editor is big. Yes, the basic has a lot of POKE and PEEK commands but that is a good stepping stone to understanding assembly language, which is what you really need on any machine if you want to write games. Yep, I'm biased. But if I had grown up with one of the others then I'd probably put that. Although I did have a VIC-20, TI-99/4a, C16 and Plus/4 during the 80s and eschew all those for the C64. But at the end of the day, If I met someone who wanted to enjoy retro computing and was not a child of the era I would probably steer them towards a 'TheC64' first since they can just plug that into their modern TV and see what they think and not spend too much money.

My first software (of my own) was on Vic-20. I had played games on my friends' ZX81s ( I loved 3D Monster Maze and 3D Ant Attack!)but I finally had my own computer. With the Datasette came a cassette with several programs on it such as Biorhythms, some statistical stuff and this... my very first game, Blue Meanies from outer space! Lost hours to this for several weeks. Then I bought Blitz and then so much more. But Blue Meanies from Outer Space was my gateway gaming drug.

This was a tough one for me. Was never much a fan of the Spectrum back in the day. Always a CBM fan. Thought Sinclair was junk. Got into a few playground scraps with Sinclair boys over different points of view haha. But after the disappointment over the Atari VCS I wanted to help send a signal that a well thought out project for retro computing deserves some respect so I backed it. I think the price was a bit steep but then look at the price of that Atari! Plus, if I don't get along with it there is always Ebay. Who knows maybe I might actually fall in love with the Speccy this time around. At least its got a decent keyboard this time.

For me the most fun is collecting for machines I grew up with owning because of the nostalgia value. But on occasion I do like to collect for something I never owned back in the day but it has to be cheap. I mean collecting Amigas can get very expensive as people ask crazy prices for the hardware. I am also never going to get an Atari Falcon for the same reason. I did get a Sharp MZ-80b the other day which I am restoring. I'm very excited about that as I always wanted one. I think the TI-99/4a is a fun system to collect for because there is a lot you can get very for very little money and it has that nice uniform look to it (software boxes and carts). Plus there are some fun rarities to hunt down and some new hardware items to obtain to keep your interest. But being a CBM head I will always covet Commodore stuff first. However the exception is Atari stuff since I never had it in it's day and I think the Atari 800 is just a beast of a machine.

Look after yourself and when you are better, put me down for one too please!

Ahh. My first computer. Yes it's a 're-badged' TheC64 but I will be excited to get one. Shame they couldn't get the carts like Scott Adams' stuff and Jelly Monsters included though. Amok and Cosmiads too please!

Sadly not. My first computer was a Vic 20 which I sold to a friend. I used the money to buy a TI-99/4a which I then swapped for a bass guitar. I eventually sold the bass too. I wish I'd kept them all but money was always an issue in my teens.

I ended up working at a UK computer games company based on my Amiga background and they phased out Amiga games in favor of the growing PC game scene. Once I played some of the titles in house that was it for me. I ended up ditching the Amiga and getting a 486 DX2-66. Then Doom came out and the rest is history..

Went over to my friends house who just got an Amiga 500. Saw Populous running. Went home and looked at my C64. Felt sad. Talked Mum into ordering Amiga 500 from her catalogue the next day with a promise to help with payments.

Sid Meier's Pirates!, Elite, Pool of Radiance or Wasteland for me. I'd probably go with the first one for its replay ability and open world design.

All I know is that my 30 year old cheap C64 breadbins are still going strong whereas my $3000 crApple iMac I bought back in '08 died one day after its warranty ran out. Those power supplies though...

Necessity forced me to unload a few of my items but it did get me thinking about what I really wanted to hang on to. So much stuff just sat there. I lost interest in the Amiga too and sold all my Amiga stuff. Ended up getting a MiST which scratches that itch if I ever get one since all I did was play games on it. Not interested in the modern 'Amiga' at all either. Got rid of my Pet, Apple stuff etc. I'm now just down to my C64s/Sx64/128/Vic, Atari 800 and BBC Master. My hobby room is still full but it's not 'hoarder' full like it was before. Plus I work in there so I needed to clear some space. Like most I enjoy seeing people talk about these old machines and see some of the cool things that are being produced but I don't want to get anything else any more. The machines I have will be the last things I hang on to I expect. Retro collecting and restoration is so popular know I no longer feel any of these older machines are in any danger of becoming extinct. Plus the emulators are getting so good these days. Saying that, I always wanted a Sharp MZ-80B back in the day so if ever one of those crosses my path.....