A600GS From Amiga kit Unboxing And Review

The A600GS is a new Games System and Classic 68K compatible computer, running AmiBench desktop environment.
Install and run your collection of AGA, ECS or OCS games and scene demos¹. Use the new 2024 updated versions of Final Writer, OctaMED and Personal Paint which are pre-installed, ready-to-run.
Features:
Games menu: add, edit & launch ADF games, scene demos and apps (OCS, ECS & AGA).
AmiBench: 1080p screenmode with 32-bit icon set. Run Classic 68k programs.
Dual 9-pin Joystick Ports: accepts Commodore compatible joysticks
HDMI 1080p output: plugs into HDMI television or monitor
Wireless Internet: connects to AmiSphere for system updates
Bluetooth: optionally output audio to Bluetooth speaker
Pre Installed Software:
AmiBench Release V46
Personal Paint (PPaint) V7.4
OctaMED V8
Directory Opus V4
Final Writer V7
JST
Utilities: EaglePlayer, HippoPlayer, Dock, Clock, Calendar
What's Included?:
A600GS computer
A600GS USB joypad
USB C to A Power Cable ²
micro HDMI to HDMI cable
36-page colour User's Guide
Product Options:
The A600GS is compatible with any standard USB mouse. A mouse is necessary for using AmiBench and the bundled applications. A coloured double tick logo USB mouse is available as a product option if required.
A600GS Ports & Connectivity:
USB-C Power In
Ethernet RJ-45
micro HDMI out
3x USB-A ports: accepts mouse, joypad and optional keyboard
3.5mm audio out ³
The A600GS is a small box measuring just 11 x 10.5 x 3.5 cm (approximate).
Total storage on board for system, AmiBench, games and applications is 64GB. System memory is 4GB with 1GB Fast RAM dedicated to AmiBench.
Wiki Information:
A600GS
AmiBench
OctaMED V8

¹ Third party ROM files, HDF, ADF, games and demos are not included- they will need to be supplied and installed by the user. Games compatiblity will vary and cannot be guaranteed.
² USB power socket required or USB 5v / 2A USB power supply (not supplied).
³ MIDI USB adapter cable, speakers and audio cables not included.
here is the link for full explanation by amigakit
www.bing.com/v...
bought from amiga expo kickstart 2024 Nottingham from the Amiga kit stall
here is the link on their website
www.amigakit.c...
here the link on a full explanation from the creators
www.bing.com/v...
thanks to ‪@005AGIMA‬ for an amazing day...
#amiga #amigakit #a600gs

[@ridiculous_gaming]

You looked so happy when you purchased this kit, but as the video went on, your happiness was replaced with frustration. I love to support anything Amiga, but will wait a bit on this one.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

As time has gone on and recent updates in this its now not as frustrating works really well with more games now added

[@bigd5090]

​@tooheystechgaming1977 It didn't seem that easy for the general 'retro loving' public to get to grips with it at Zzap! Live to be honest. The Amiga User Group room's A600GS sat there with a stalled 'Virtual GP' F1 car as a virtual static screen most of the day! No one knew how to switch gears, accelerate and get it going! A keyboard wasn't plugged in but still it's a bundled game so should be fool proof for the pad only! There were reports of crashes and things being just generally a bit janky! THEA500 Minis in residence I think both locked up only once the entire day with the general public leading the way generally. The Pandory loaded machine was switched to Rodland with no bother or input from us organisers! 4-player Dynablasters was a blessing whereas I didn't see any multiplayer demos on the A600GS all day! I also didn't really see any Personal Paint or Octamed in use but mainly just the Super Skidmarks menu or main GS menu! Hopefully someone got a good demo from Amigakit as to what it could actually do?

[@collect-thor8064]

Thanks for the great video - just ordered mine. I would have liked to see a disassembly and a look at the circuit board though.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Currently filming that one Thanks for watching glad you enjoyed it

[@kevinhanley6462]

It's always great to see an Amiga project. Have fun!

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Same here im always up for new amiga things

[@kevinhanley6462]

@@tooheystechgaming1977 Nice one!

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

@kevinhanley6462 thanks kevin

[@paulklasmann1218]

No its not, there are too many junk projects about that'll cost you money when WinUAE can do more and is free and easy to use. Amiga fans are being taken for a ride.

[@thewizard1438]

you can change the time and date through the prefs folder in the system46 hd.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Ill take another look at it with glasses on cheers

[@BimbleWithBruce]

Looks a fun little piece of kit. I have a feeling it'll have a few update in the future. :) I'm tempted to get one

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Its good i like using emulation with a real amiga joystick does need a few uodates imo but really liking it well worth getting one

[@davegrams1438]

Thank you for the video and review. Outside of owning an amiga back in the day, my best experiences is just using winuae or the A500 mini. The mini looks the part and has quality parts and a simple interface. Very good compatability and can also use 9pin joysticks via the right usb adapter, with no system config needed, and lots of pack in games. The mini nailed it all around. This thing would bring me absolutely no joy. Everything looks cumbersome, the unit itself gives off no amiga vibes and the snes gamepad (it is definitely not a cd32 design) looks like the $6 ebay knockoffs. No mouse included by default? If this were the only alternate choice outside of original hardware, that would be fine... but we have much better choices.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

I never said it was a cd32 design i said cd32 style withe the button colours and that The 500 mini yes pretty much nailed it and its good to see another company having a crack at this and for the first unit yes its a bit fiddly there is some setting up in parts but once thats done its not a bad machine Thanks for watching glad you liked the video I must admit no mouse by default is a little bad considering the price of the unit and the mini came with one and having to pay an extra £10 for one is not good

[@dempseydiscus]

just a quick comment - I would blur the serial number on the video - I don't own an A600GS but I have read, that the serial number is tied to your AmiSphere user account, granted I don't know, if you can only make an account from/on the machine and that would take care of that most likely. Great review btw. UPDATE: I can see, that anybody can go to the amisphere website and enter a serial number for updates, wouldn't want anybody to user your number right :-)

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Thanks for watching glad ypu enjpyed the vid I didnt know about that serial number thing ill look into that cheers

[@BambiSelect]

You can do it in studio George​@@tooheystechgaming1977

[@BambiSelect]

You can do it in studio george

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

Its no Pimiga but good start.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Pimiga rules mate this is now the 4th emulation device i own solely dedicated to amiga stuff

[@adammc2]

CD32 style controller? Looks more like a SNES one! Good video

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Cd32 style colour but yeh snes shell

[@jumbosinbad360]

Can’t say I feel compelled to buy one at the moment. Appreciate the video though.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Impluse buy it was but i do quite like the fact you can use zipsticks on it

[@dave4shmups]

Great review! Can you run any classic versions of Amiga Workbench on this device?

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

At the moment i cant seem to find a way to do this but im sure it will be possible

[@RETRONuts]

I decided to buy one now... :) it looks like it can supports HDFs too in its new update ... :) I sometime get confused with Amiga kit, the people who make the OS for PC and Amiga Kit The Amiga Store, maybe the store should be called The Amiga Store now only, would make it easier, I though Amigkit(PC) people made the A600 GS, only relied by the AMIGA.KIT logo, I get stuff off them all the time, got at the beginning of the year a PiStorm from them.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Yeh the HDF one is good but im happy with adfs at the moment

[@JayDee-iy5be]

I think one is AmiKit who do the PC/Mac/Pi OS distro, the other is Amiga-Kit who make Amiga components and this A600GS.

[@67amiga]

It seems like it fits in the same category as the A500 mini with a poorer out of box experience and higher price tag. With cheap Raspberry Pi's and the A500 mini, I really don't see the point of of this thing. The DB9 ports aren't enough of a reason to get this when you can get cheap adapaters to convert old joysticks to USB. If it had been a full size Amiga with working keyboard, like Retro Games is working on, I might be willing to overlook its flaws.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Im a sucker for new emu devices when it comes to amiga and this was very well presentes at the show i bought it from Yes the main selling point was the db9 ports which im very happy with playing emu games with an original zipstik Its not perfect but neither was the A500 mini

[@abstracttim7428]

Great video mate.. shame you didn't show the apps too...

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Thanks glad ypu enjoyed it this was just purely setting up games and joysticks i have done another video which does include the bundled apps

[@CptJonathanArcher]

Very nice and detailed insight, thanks a lot! I am still biased. Currently I wouldn't buy it, I think. To me it has too much disadvantages than advantages (like WHDLoad, clumpsy interface etc.), but most it should be fixable with software updates. Fingers crossed they will do such updates. BTW did you try to connect to that account/AmiSphere thing? Maybe there are some update available already which fixes like the problems of the clock etc.?

[@adammc2]

Surely to change the time/date it's just in the Prefs drawer, like on all Amigas?

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Couldnt find one ill have a closer look tonight

[@channelI748]

Surly if it supports HDF it can use WHDload games and install a browser etc anything you want?

[@plugexpert]

I'm curious about the octamed version in this one, are they planning to add more, new features or is just support for higher bitrates / sound formats?

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Im going to do a little video on the bundled software and octamed was my fave music program from back in the day so ill be looking into this one Im unsure on what updates they have coming amigakit.havent really said anything about that

[@matthewcreelman2736]

It really needs a A600 case with keyboard. Why not re-release the complete unit.

[@ChuckyGang]

It is based on a Orange PI board (NOT Raspberry pi!) Think it is a Orange Pi Zero3

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Cool thanks for the info john

[@LozzoAmiga]

That Bits & Bytes poster you have by your monitor, is that from the shop that was in Old Swan? Looks familiar, and reminds me of C90s and double tape decks....

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

That is an original bag from central station...there is a video linked at the end of this one I put the bag in a frame

[@LozzoAmiga]

@@tooheystechgaming1977 I remember the one at central, but also a bits n bytes that was in the Swan, first a small shop opposite the sally army on prescot road, then in was in the old tram shed. For some reason though I don't recognise that logo on that bag as the one from central though.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

@LozzoAmiga you sure it was bits n bytes they only had 3 shops one was warrington and manchester and liverpool

[@LozzoAmiga]

@@tooheystechgaming1977 Yeah, almost certain that was the name. This was back in '83 or '84 mind you when they first opened, Old Swan in Liverpool. I remember going there when Jet Set Willy came out, took a notepad and a pencil and asking the dude at the counter if I can copy out the colour code protection card for JSW.

[@ScoopexUs]

Thx for showing - rebranded this and that, now you can have an Amiga without having one of those pesky Amigas! I don't mind it although I can already connect a laptop (or an RPi) to a TV. More emu means more real Amigas for me. Or something. :D I think I have the controller which looks decent but the D-pad is too big "for the tilt" to hit diagonals well. It would be nice if right shoulder button was fire1 and left was fire2 or down, for driving games. Nice with CD32 controller support - but are the DB9 ports fully wired? (i.e. button 1,2,3, Vcc for autofire).

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

As much as i like the real hardware i also like the emulation side aswell

[@richiegoldfish]

God what is it with not putting a power button on the device. Vampire did the same with the V4SA no power button

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Yeh bit of a letdown that like a big one

[@stuartp4061]

Does it help if the mouse is plugged into port 1 and the joystick in port 2? If the DB9's emulate the original Amiga configuration that might be what's causing the issues?

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Im unsure but ill give it a go and see if its any better All the joysticks ive tried work well however i only have one mouse to test so hopefully i can get it working

[@andre0000000007]

needs a keyboard, i'll stick with my raspi pi 400 on amikit.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Nice one

[@wskinnyodden]

Dear lord, have you even ever used Amiga Workbench? Prefs, Date/Time for the love of god.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

I have yes dear god you cant change the time on this one though This isnt amiga workbench btw lol

[@wskinnyodden]

@@tooheystechgaming1977 It is based on it, and if is it not updating time correctly it means the emulator is not configured to sync time with the SBC, also that SBC does not have an RTC battery and if I recall correctly it needs an external one. Alternatively you can get it to sync time via NTP over the internet, will still need to change the emulator config to sync time though.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

@@wskinnyodden try as i may i cannot change the time and date on this thing and yes i have used workbench before

[@meecob]

Can't you set time and date in the CLI ?

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Ill take a look later today see if i get any joy

[@hykkmyder]

So, it's really an A300 GS ?

[@ematech]

need octamed test + midi new features

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Working on that

[@broadblues]

@@tooheystechgaming1977 Just plug in a USB midi controller and go......

[@domramsey]

It's worrying that they aren't saying what processor / board they're using, or what emulator. Right off the bat that makes it a 'no' for me personally.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

I believe its a custom.board topped with an orange pi zero 3

[@another3997]

Why would you worry about that? Pretty much any recent SBC is going to emulate a basic Amiga pretty well, as well as adding RTG, networking, USB, fast storage and lots of other goodies. As long as the end result is a reasonable impression of an Amiga, and things work, the hardware details dont matter. Unless you intend to use it as a normal computer too, or want to emulate some ridiculous Amiga PPC hardware, in which case, a full blown PC or Mac would be better.

[@RETRONuts]

Is it ARM..? I am guessing, it like THEA500 basically with added software Amiga Kit has made, what's the real hardware in it?, the Amiga is always emulated nowadays, it cheaper and you could not fit it in a small AIAB and it would be about £600, Amiberry or a custom made FS UAE maybe running on Linux, ARM is the only way to go to make them as cheap as possible. One way of finding out is, I need to see how it boots and I can tell if its Arm of not, Power on, it boots Linux Kernel, then Buildroot then runs its stuff from int_d folder and boots the GUI and thats it should take about 10 seconds to boot its GUI. The Amiga now is just for fun, no one use it now as a main PC, I don't, I do not use original hardware no more, its to expensive to run, because it 30 years old and does brake down, and its too big, to setup most of it, I have it in my cupboard now, I have A1200, A600 and A500 Screen Gems Pack too, I might get it out every now and then... :) I use my THEA500 more now. The A600 GS could be like the ARMIGA that uses a Cubieboard2 inside it, I have the Floppy Version, cheaper way of doing it and do not need to design a new development board for it that way, it was abit weird opening it up and finding it in it... :)

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Arm based yes I have one amiga left sold the rest an A1200 with whdload but the rest it emulation nowadays Thanks for watching

[@RETRONuts]

@@tooheystechgaming1977 The ARMIGA had a Allwinner A20 so like THEC64 Mini, but Amiga runs better on a Allwinner H6 thats what's in THEA500 Mini, I hacked most of them with PCUAE - Project Carousel USB Anniversary Edition... :)

[@iamdkk]

It's just an Orange Pi Zero 3 - with a hefty markup

[@broadblues]

Thanks for the in depth video. I noticed you were using the 'insert disk' option to change disks in multi disk games? You can actually load in all the disks when you import the game, it will do it's best to work out which is the boot disk, or you can overide manually if it gets it wrong. Then you use the diskchanger button to access these disk whilst playing. See this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/jX6pn6aPiZ5-iKM The insert disk option is intended for sabe game disk or installing software from floppy in AmiBench etc.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Thanks for this yes i wasnt quite sure how to do this so thanks for sharing the video i quite like this machine slowly getting to grips with it Thanks for watching glad you enjoyed the video

[@petersavo]

I bought the Armiga. It wasn't great!

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

You bought the gs or a real amiga?

[@777ViNsTeR777]

arm based amiga emu

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

👍

[@PatrickOwens-xb2jn]

I wonder could they release a a600 keyboard to plug into one of those totally pointless joystick ports they could this I think quite easily it would take a little bit of coding, it could connect to a box for use with a wireless keyboard, a official 🎉keyboard with a nice decent sized sensitive drawing pad would be good using the pen stylus instead of a mouse! Similarly a extremely long perhaps extendable printer with the ability to print on the shiny poster paper would surely make it a big hit, hope someone creates a amasing art program called paint deluxe or something! They should target artists with this, you could print full size posters in your room of your painting drawings, the could make money sellingbthe paper with a amiiga water mark added in the corner

[@tonygraydon]

It seems to be a very clunky piece of kit.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Smaller than the A500 mini though

[@QkiZMonsteR]

You want to make review video of Amiga clone computer but you dont know how to setup time 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Exactly because it was fresh out the box And you need to be connected to internet for time adjustment you know?

[@joerhorton]

That looks far too fiddly, best just get a Pi400 with a built in keyboard and run PiMiga.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

I have a pi400 and im a sucker for new amiga emulation Bit fiddly to start off with but once setup i quite like it

[@Stoobers]

It seems a bit finnicky when it comes to controllers doesn't it. Maybe there is some rhyme and reason, but it's not obvious :)

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

I still cant get the mouse working ive tried a few aswell

[@Stoobers]

@@tooheystechgaming1977 bugger. It's gotta be an issue between hardware and software emulation for sure :(

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

@@Stoobers unless they update it the mouse is still not working

[@Stoobers]

@@tooheystechgaming1977 hopefully you're able to give them some constructive feedback, and they will be able to get an update out that'll fix.

[@richiegoldfish]

Built in wifi and ethernet but no browser shocking come AMigakit you need to do better than this

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

That was one of the reasons i bought it and sadly its only for updates

[@danhawkins982]

Additionally Amiga was crap back in the day too. Move on.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Thats youre opinion so no i dont wanna move on

Nah, for the time the AmIga had nice hardware, better than the average IBM PC, it had some crappy ports, but that was fault of the developers

[@garyhart6421]

Not Impressed !

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

You not getting one then?

[@garyhart6421]

@@tooheystechgaming1977 Not even for £50.

[@jamesthompson6557]

Another cheap and nasty emulation box that copies what a $30 Raspberry Pi has been doing for the past 10 years? Pass.

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

I like emulation boxes i have quite a collection

[@jandoor2068]

@@tooheystechgaming1977 I can't stand emulation boxes.... and I have quite a collection too. FPGA is fine, but anything that boots a host OS to run a software emulation has no place in any conversation about Amiga's. Still, for casual retro gamers that do not know any better, I am sure this "stuff" is fine.

[@farkkis]

Hahaa,is this a joke? No multiple disk suport ready 😂 ill rather throw money to garbage

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

You can use the multiple disk support for games quite easy

[@farkkis]

@@tooheystechgaming1977 for high price as this is,all should be ready to plug n play !

[@jozztv1661]

it's a Amiga 600 get over it gee and it looks crap

[@tooheystechgaming1977]

Isnt it "an amiga " not a amiga Not going on the xmas list then?