The A500 Mini Review in 2024

My late review of The A500 Mini.
A little device to get you started playing old Commodore Amiga games as quickly as possible.
We will be unboxing the device, going though the setup and upgrade to the latest firmware.
Have a quick look at the games list and how it plays. And discuss who this is aim for.
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[@alanhaynes4576]

Great video Mikey. Yes, the gamers should love this, but a real Amiga user may find it a little weird until they get into the Workbench screen. I believe it is relatively simple to access Workbench from the home screen as someone demonstrated it earlier this year, 2024. My first Amiga was the Amiga 2000 and it was my first Home Computer. I still have it. Love your videos.

[@AmigaFanatic1980]

You can't buy default get into workbench on the mini, they couldn't get the licence for that, but it can be added using a USB drive with a special instal version

[@alanhaynes4576]

Perhaps it was via the Amiga Game Selector. I shall get back by next weekend.

[@LordSnoodles]

Pretty bare bones review for 23 minute run time. I was hoping for an up-to-date review on how this unit can be expanded to play all Amiga games. Save time on cutting out unboxing please

[@Bill_Stranix]

I have this, unopened. I also have the snes and megadrive mini (which I wish I also didn't open because the price hike in those these days is astronomical). Amiga 500+ was my childhood. Absolutely incredible machine, incredible games and huge variety. I will probably never even play this, or the snes and megadrive. Hell on my PC desktop I have around 35 games, mostly classics from the golden era, to get through. I guess I just hoard this stuff in my old 40 age self..

[@ChrisJones-pu8gh]

I totally agree with you Mike, The A500 mini is not really a representation of the original Amiga system. However, as you showed in your previous video, it can still emulate an Amiga with the right software. AGS, PiMiga and (more importantly) things like AmiKit, can really offer a true Amiga workbench experience. Re-learning the Amiga OS from your videos has been a marvel for me. I forgot how linux, unix and AmigaOS were so intertwined in their format and structure. I really would condider buying something like the A500 mini for a someone who just wanted to "game" with nostalgia, but anyone wanting to experience the joy of learning all about the OS should choose a different platform. For me, the RPi and Amiberry / Windows and Win-uae (or linux and FS-uae to some extent) are the true winners when it comes to emulation. You can learn so much more about what is happening "under the skin" with these programs, and your videos have helped me so much there. Thank you for all you do.

[@bigd5090]

AMiNIMiga is the Workbench softmod for THEA500 Mini and works very well.

[@mkrleza]

A500 Maxi fund. BTW, Chris Edwards informed us (the patrons) via e-mail that the PiMiga 4 will be released within the next fortnight.

[@MikeyGRetro]

Thank you. Looking forward to both PiMiga4 and A500 Maxi

[@Skeletor611]

What is pimiga

[@mkrleza]

@@Skeletor611 Oh, nothing important. Just a little shareware project of no importance to you. Cheers!

[@AmigaBoingBlog]

The A500 Mini was designed as a Games Console because of the issues surrounding the Kickstart ROMS sadly, where they are only allowed to make a Games Console, as per the KS ROMS Agreement what was signed at the time, provided the Kickstart ROMS were not visible to the user (or that is what I heard) I also run a Blog where users can download a Pre-Configured Games Collection to play on the PC via WinUAE which I am slowly building up each month

[@johnwiesen4440]

Amiga for ever

[@amigaos2823]

great Amiga system

[@bigd5090]

Even with a 2A PSU you may need a powered USB hub if you want to push this with the Pandory softmod as it can't always power all my pads especially a wired PS3 controller during 4-player games (4-player adapter games are supported under Pandory including arcade and MegaDrive too)! Wireless dongles for keyboard/mouse and the 8BitGo (Poo Brown Model) alleviate this somewhat, and non-powered hubs may then be ok. Always make sure that the USB stick is directly attached to the back of the console (no hub connection for that or corruption can happen). For updating firmware only connect one controller and memory stick directly to the ports or you can brick it. A 2A PSU is recommended not 1A like it says on the box.

[@michaelmcpeters8098]

There are a few A500 keyboard kits being made for these to give a working internal keyboard.

[@an8rakoryxos]

Nice review. I wonder if theres the floppy sound somehow when you loading a game, or if you can set it up reading the "adf" at normal speed. (like WinUAE, you know)

[@MikeyGRetro]

It does support ADF after updating to latest firmware. As for the sounds I'm not sure. Maybe there is a way to mod it and add it.

[@rodfrancis9160]

the mouse works on my laptop...nice...

[@spacekusa]

You didnt show the support of PS3 controller... :) Also, there is missing file for v26 in the folder on website.

[@undeadmaster666]

damn i love the amiga, to this day i still think its one of the best systems out there. yes it has flaws such as long load times and often gives you a guru meditation error but it had the best sound, the best visuals and the controls for most games where simple and easy to use. i so want a amiga mini but i still say the price is way too high. also why didnt they put pinball fantasies on there? pinball dreams was the lesser of the pinball games on the system

[@walkero]

Nice video. Remember that Amiga was the easiest platform to start a game. You just had to insert the floppy and it started booting it. Does it support ADF files from the USB drive?

[@Lorfarius]

Yes after an update.

[@stephenwhite506]

Look up AmiCube F1200 for yet another modern Amiga system.

[@samuelbanya]

I wanna 3D print a Mister wedge case and put a spare Orange Pi in there and just have it boot into FS-UAE.

[@MikeyGRetro]

If you do that, share us the pictures I'd like to see that. :-)

[@RhysOlwyn]

but can I get Octamed on it?

[@bigd5090]

That's the USP of the A600GS from AmigaKit! Maybe wait for one of them?

[@lenm2857]

My God!! What happened to that Tank Mouse?!?!

[@MikeyGRetro]

The previous owner, thought it would be cool to paint it camo or green. I was thinking of doing a AMSR video of me cleaning it.

[@doctorsocrates4413]

I am still struggling to see the point of this device.I use fs-uae with amiga game selector on my pc so where is the benefit of this .?..i own 3 real amiga500s too plus a c64c...

[@southsidese18]

It's for people who never owned one and wanted to experience what they might have missed on. And maybe a bit late for them to start messing with floppy disks and acquiring all the games.

[@gelzamangitzaman1482]

really bro dont get me wrong but in 2024?

[@mkrleza]

The point?

[@Lorfarius]

It's always time for Amiga.

[@Zoltrix67]

I have a Few A500 A500+ A600 A1200 so do not need one, they can keep it ;) It is an EMulator not an A500 have fun.

[@vertigoz]

The only thing I would care was if I in a blind test could distinguish between both. If you can't tell why the snobbery?

[@Zoltrix67]

Do you even kn ow the meaning of the word "Snobbery" ? Guessing by your response, I guess not. Huge Difference as the guy said, it is ab EMULATOR and not a COMPUTER. Off you go now, go play with your little emulator ;) NOthing in the box you cannt do with WINUAE See guys videos for more on WHDLOAD and leave real computers to people who do more than just play games. Nuff Said. @@vertigoz

[@SpeccyMan]

Your point being?