The Amiga 500 Mini is coming! (Discussion)

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Retro Games LTD, the makers of the C64 Mini and Maxi consoles, just announced their upcoming TheA500 Mini! Here's everything we know so far!
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[@RetroTechToys]

I'd love to hear your thoughts about THEA500 Mini! Let's talk about it! Are you getting one?

[@st4849]

I'm thinking of getting one, but I'm not sure this will emulate better than a Pi400. I mean a C64 is much harder to emulate because of the SID (which has analog filters). So I'm guessing the Pi400 is already doing the Amiga 500 very well - no need for an improvement of any sort. So then the only extra thing I'd be getting is the Amiga looks.

[@danaeckel5523]

Well, Amiga is probably one of very few retro machines I have never played or owned. Since I never actually owned one I never felt the need to emulate one. I have been thinking of getting a Pi400 and if I do I one of my plans is to make a bare metal amiga emulator on SD card. If I do that and enjoy it, I may take it to the next level. I'll be watching for this mini though.

[@RetroTechToys]

@@danaeckel5523 I'm in the same camp as you, never having played one myself. I'm curious to learn more about THEA500 as it gets closer to launch.

[@RetroTechToys]

@@st4849 I can understand that for sure. I still haven't grabbed a Pi400, but I think I'll be changing that soon. Cheers!

[@joefish6091]

@@st4849 analog filters, everything can be reduced to an algorithm, mp3 is a good example.

[@AdamsOlympia]

Hi Adam. I'm also Adam, also originally from K-Town! Cool channel!

[@kman190]

I used the Amiga and it was ahead of it's time. A student engineer I knew expressed how he was really impressed with the hardware design and fell in love with it.

[@joefish6091]

Beautiful hsrdware, excellent designers, flawed business model. A new improved model every year that alienates previous years buyers, the PC industry allows for upgrades, Commodore should have run a trade in system, old +cash for new, then refubish the old for the third world. Commodore saturated the market, then wondered why existing owners dudn't throw away their expensive systems and buy new every year,

[@darranparker3930]

Loved the Amiga 500 as a kid, definitely my favourite gaming years. I've pre ordered the mini. I just hope games are easy enough to add

[@firelightyear]

Can you actually install workbench OS on the A500 mini?

[@RetroTechToys]

As far as I can tell, this is still up in the air. I'm not sure, but it would be odd if we couldn't, especially considering the statement they made about the A500 Mini making other minis look like toys. You can use GEOS on THEC64 mini and Maxi, so I've got my fingers crossed. I'll probably e-mail them later and see if they get back to me with more details, but I'm not sure that they will. Cheers!

[@youreallyplaythat]

Looking forward to this one. Got in early on an order. Very exciting

[@ysteinmrk6016]

I had an Amiga 500 when I was younger. I made music, played games and drew on it. The music, demos and overall feel of that period was awesome! I am planning to get this one and hopefully the one with the full keyboard later on. I have both of the C64’s as it was the machine I started on (did all of the creative stuff on that thing too), but it´s more off than on right now. I think I will use the Amiga a lot more. I just have to try to make music on it again!

[@RetroTechToys]

I agree with you. My Mini and full-sized THEC64 haven't seen a lot of use recently (within the last month. I've just been so busy lately), but I think THEA500 models would. Even though I didn't grow up with an Amiga, it looks like a retro machine that I'd have a lot of fun with. Cheers!

[@sveinarildtjemsland705]

Question about the C64. Is the keyboard working differently from the Commodore 64? (obviously it does).. I had C64 back in 1986. I loved programming in basic. I just bought the C64 and the keybindings etc. was still in my fingers 37 years later. But something is not the same (or I remember wrongly). If you type lines and then list them. Before Im sure you could put the cursor on a line number, and if pressing Enter it would make a space between the lines. There was actually a key that could trigger either make space or move without making space...

[@RetroTechToys]

You know, I'm actually not sure. I think it's time for me to plug in a real C64 and a Maxi to compare and see for myself. Cheers!

[@goldrush5764]

I preordered one today! I had a A600 got in 1991 when I was 11 years old. That was my first computer! .. :D Today I have a real A600, but to be honest it's not so fun with all the loading times so I actually prefer to have it emulated on a raspberrypi. Also I hate the old joystick and ball mouse. There is a reason why they stopped producing these. Today I have a laser mouse and a gamepad instead of an old joystick. It makes the experience so much better. I also have alot of mods on my A600 like SD-card hardrive, upgraded memory, etc. However, emulation is not ideal either since some games lag and you have graphical errors. So it's a tough call, I don't think any of the solutions are 100% perfect, that's the problem I have. So what I do is to run emulation mostly, but if I can't get a specific game to work good then I start up the real thing as a backup.. :D Also the real deal is such a nice shelf queen!

[@RetroTechToys]

Very cool! I finally pre-ordered mine a few days ago. I'd love to buy a real Amiga at some point, but they're pretty hard to come by for what I can afford at the moment. Cheers!

[@retrogametech1626]

I got the c64 maxi I am gonna grab the c64 mini and the a500mini cause I want a a500 maxi

[@robertoZX64]

I will likely get one and preorder it soon but, said this, I would have much preferred a maxi version already (I love THEC64!) and do think the price is a bit expensive - it would have been fine for a Maxi with a working keyboard: computers are not consoles and do need keyboards to be used properly. To me, this is more of a CD32 mini in an A500 shell ;)

[@RetroTechToys]

You make a good point. It kind of does seem more like a CD32 Mini in several ways.

[@metoyvideos8683]

I will get it

[@Siming7681]

Hi everybody. Well, maybe it could be interested if we don't have to configure anything when we add our own ROMs, or whdload. If it can be detected/recognized automatically (or quite automatically) by the system, then why not purchase the Amiga 500 Mini. Otherwise, I will continue to use emulators or Raspberry.

[@1960ARC]

Most minis were not computers. I don't like to waste money and did not buy the c64 mini, but I did buy the c64 maxi which I love. So if it's not too expensive it's the maxi for me. Until then just use my shield to continue emulation!

[@RetroTechToys]

I'm definitely excited about the possibility of an A500 Maxi. I think it'll be one of the better retro remakes. Cheers!

[@WowplayerMe]

I'm not sure what to do. pre-order this or wait for a Maxi. Money is sort of a factor at this point (because of the global situation that we are in the middle of right now.)

[@RetroTechToys]

That really is a problem. Things are still pretty rough for a lot of folks. If money was the main issue (and it kind of is for me as well), I'd think about what I can do without. If you can deal with a USB keyboard, the mini might be your best bet. If you'd prefer to save for a while and go for the full experience, wait because I'm pretty sure we'll see a Maxi. The main reason I'm not waiting for the Maxi myself is because I absolutely want to review both versions for everyone. Cheers!

[@lassekarlsson6659]

think its better to go for a MiSTer FPGA

[@RetroTechToys]

I need to get a hold of one. I've heard such good things about them!