Amiga computers are tougher than others

[Xanxi]

Hello there.

I have been acquiring or reacquiring lately some machines to extend my range of exotic retrocomputers along my main Amiga business.

Unfortunately, they seem to always break during transportation, while i never ever had an Amiga breaking en route.

Look at this poor Philips MSX2 which frontplate has broken into bits (the seller has been very optimistic about the light packaging).
On the contrary, the seller of this Apple IIGS has made a bulletproof packaging and yet some case parts have broken once again. Another Apple IIGS had already broken on its way to me before, worst than this one, even with good packaging.

Amiga seems to be more transport proof. This prove that i made the right choice 35 years ago, when one could choose amongst several type of computers on the market.
The distant cousin, the C128D, also made it fine to my place just before.

What do you think?

 

[Boing-ball]

Hello there.

I have been acquiring or reacquiring lately some machines to extend my range of exotic retrocomputers along my main Amiga business.

Unfortunately, they seem to always break during transportation, while i never ever had an Amiga breaking en route.

Look at this poor Philips MSX2 which frontplate has broken into bits (the seller has been very optimistic about the light packaging).
On the contrary, the seller of this Apple IIGS has made a bulletproof packaging and yet some case parts have broken once again. Another Apple IIGS had already broken on its way to me before, worst than this one, even with good packaging.

Amiga seems to be more transport proof. This prove that i made the right choice 35 years ago, when one could choose amongst several type of computers on the market.
The distant cousin, the C128D, also made it fine to my place just before.

What do you think?

All I can say is “Only the Amiga Makes it possible”

 

[darefail]

I think it’s a matter of packaging and handling by the couriers.
Even if it had 10 layers of regular bubble wrap and fell from one meter on its corner, the breakage was inevitable.

 

[btp]

I don't think the Amiga is exempt of shipping damage, you are just being lucky so far!
The wedge shaped Amigas are definitely not the heaviest of computers and that might help, though.

The "fall" of a heavy parcel on one of it's corners usually has devastating consequences for it's content. Extreme packaging and well thought use of specialized materials can provide protection buts it can be quite costly to acquire and still you need to have the skills for using it properly. A good practice is that the item should not have even the slightest possibility of movement while inside the box.

 

[darefail]

A good practice is that the item should not have even the slightest possibility of movement while inside the box.

Imagine you are protecting something with polystyrene only. No movement at all. Of course death
The packaging must be shockproof in a way to absorb the impacts.
Of course a good packaging costs more and the buyers usually want the cheapest good packaging.

 

[darefail]

I believe one of the most successful combinations is a lot of bubble wrap and packing peanuts.

Edit: i think the thread is going to be a bit off-topic now.
Maybe Xanxi is right and Amigas were designed with durability in mind.

 

[Xanxi]

Don't worry, packaging quality is perfectly on topic.

I think wedges Amiga don't usually break because they are rather light and very well balanced.
A2000 is made of heavy steel to resist bombing. Even it's frontplate seems really sturdy.
A4000 is almost as good than the A2000.
I have shipped an A3000 from France to USA with no issue.

Actually, every computer brand is shipping their production worldwide to resellers with no problem.

I still have another Philips MSX2 in transit right now and hope that won't be the same again.

It would be best to be able to collect in person of course.

 

[Xanxi]

Actually, i can't leave this stuff broken like that.
Any advice about how to restore it with glue or something?
Are they people specialized in restoration of computer cases?

 

[darefail]

It looks impossible to have an acceptable appearance, unless there are specialised people that I have not heard about.
Maybe you best chance is to place every piece together with some glue to the inside only but I don't know after that if the cracks can be fixed n cannot be shown on the front side.

 

[polarstar]

The front plates in pizza-box Philips MSX computers are infamous for breaking very easily. It is expected that no matter how well packaging is done, there's high chances of them crumbling into pieces during shipping.

I remembered seeing some thread in the msx.org forum about 3D-printing, and lo and behold, here's the blog of the person who made the model: https://tinnedtrace.wordpress.com/2024/10/30/nms8250-a-thousand-shards-and-a-3d-printed-facelift/ — including a Thingiverse link at the bottom for those who may want to print a replacement front bezel.

 

[darefail]

@Xanxi you know...

 

[Xanxi]

Yes, thanks, i am aware of these 3D printable facefronts.
I am in touch with the author of the model and see what i can do.
Won't be the same without a lot of work though. I may also ask Badgeman to make some badge and stickers to retrieve more of the original feeling.