Checkmate 1500

[eroom]

HI all, was moving my collection around today and came across my Checkmate 1500 I acquired a while ago and realized that I had never had the cover off .
I mainly wanted to have a nosey because I didnt know if it was a 500 or a 500+, if it was a 500+ what was the battery like after all the years ?.

As it turned out it is a 500 so no worries there but look at the board that was in the expansion slot .















Luckily it looks like none of that mess has got to the 500 board, ill have to try powering it on some time.

Hope you all enjoyed looking at something a bit rare

[johnim]

hi that looks nice

i wouldnt mind 1 for the 1200

[davideo]

Anybody thought about using one of these?

It looks a neat solution for a Miggy mod

 
300W power supply fitted
1x Free 5.25” external bay
1x Free 3.5” external bay
2x Free 3.5” internal bays
Power and reset switches
2x 50mm exhaust fans via air duct
2x Front USB, audio out and mic sockets
Dimensions (HxWxD): 90x335x430mm
Contents: Case, PSU, mains lead and hardware

Dave G

[Hell_Labs]

I really, really want a Checkmate.

Slap in the "A590 kit" (turns the expansion slot into an internal one), shove a hard disk in there with some fast ram, and with the second floppy drive you've got the mid-range machine commodore should have built.

It's a better A1000 than the A1000.

[eroom]

I really, really want a Checkmate.

Slap in the "A590 kit" (turns the expansion slot into an internal one), shove a hard disk in there with some fast ram, and with the second floppy drive you've got the mid-range machine commodore should have built.

It's a better A1000 than the A1000.

Something tells me that the a590 kit is as rare as the checkmate. Would love to find one though, sounds ideal.
Just been finding out some info about the checkmate, apparently when new it was £200 for an empty case + keyboard or nearly £600 for a complete unit.

[chiark]

Steve, the chap who now is the brains behind iMica, was the brains behind the checkmate 1500 - he's cluster_uk on here if I recall correctly!

You have no idea how much I lusted after one of these when they came out: to me, it turned by amateur machine into a proper, grown up computer.

Lovely to see it, and these are as rare as hen's teeth now: even Steve doesn't have one any more. More photos, please!

Have you got a picture of the keyboard?

And perhaps some measurements... I'm wondering how hard it would be to recreate one of these...

Thank you so much for sharing!

[Hell_Labs]

I've done something similar with an ST twice. First completely on the cheap with chipboard and then again with some proper MDF and timber.

I suppose when I get some cash lying around...

Something tells me that the a590 kit is as rare as the checkmate. Would love to find one though, sounds ideal.

Probably not too hard to make one if you're good with a soldering iron. Cut the edge connector off a dead 500, get another connector from somewhere else, connect them up with some rippon cable and you're pretty much done.

[eroom]

Steve, the chap who now is the brains behind iMica, was the brains behind the checkmate 1500 - he's cluster_uk on here if I recall correctly!

You have no idea how much I lusted after one of these when they came out: to me, it turned by amateur machine into a proper, grown up computer.

Lovely to see it, and these are as rare as hen's teeth now: even Steve doesn't have one any more. More photos, please!

Have you got a picture of the keyboard?

And perhaps some measurements... I'm wondering how hard it would be to recreate one of these...

Thank you so much for sharing!

Thanks for all the comments.
Ill try and get some more photos on this afternoon and some measurements.
Ive got the adverts for the checkmate but it would be great if cluster_uk has some more info on them .

---------- Post added at 13:27 ---------- Previous post was at 13:23 ----------

Probably not too hard to make one if you're good with a soldering iron. Cut the edge connector off a dead 500, get another connector from somewhere else, connect them up with some rippon cable and you're pretty much done.

I was thinking along the same lines last night. Will have to look in my spares to see if theres something i can sacrifice.

---------- Post added at 13:45 ---------- Previous post was at 13:27 ----------

Heres a few more quick photos, didnt have time to take measurements, will probably have to be tomorrow. Enjoy







Paul.

[AndyLandy]

That is all.

(In other words, I really do love these conversion kits. The A1500 and Bodega Bay are amazing contraptions! Thanks for sharing your lovely pics!)

[chiark]

Thanks Paul. What I love about these is they're proper hack jobs in the very best positive use of the word.

For the 590 adapter, I guess you've seen the photo
http://www.amiga-hardware.com/downlo...ka1500_big.jpg

Looks like it plugs into the side slot, with a passthru, then links into a board which turns the card 90 degrees.