Amiga Mini Teased

[Sardine]

http://www.indieretronews.com/2021/08/thea500-mini-has-been-announced-via.html


I hope they make a maxi version with the ability for 030 / ram and boot workbench.

https://retrogames.biz/thea500-mini

size wise I would except an "A600" maxi as the A500 is a HUGE amount of plastic just for the keyboard and a tiny PCB although I would still want one

Maybe an A1200 version with workbench mode and options for more ram / speed increases ??

 

[Templar]

Still no functional keyboard like C64 Mini?

 

[Sardine]

not yet.... I guess they have to sell a certain amount before a "maxi" might be on the cards,

It does mention you can plug in a keyboard

I like the pad and the mouse ( hope it has some weight )

 

[Templar]

Indeed, the joypad looks really nice, hope that its construction will be as good as its appearance.

 

[salaxi54]

I find these mini-series non-functional-keyboard "machines" useless. That's a personal opinion of course, but my guess is that there's probably a Pi or something similar in there doing the job. Best purchase a nice condition A500 case and stick a Pi yourself in it. I would justify the retail price if it weren't for just a pretty (but useless) plastic case..

 

[miggymad]

Just buy a Pi 400 and install one of those ready made retropie setup's from somewhere like arcadepunks

 

[Timtheloon]

Or Just get an Amiga 500 and put a PiStorm in it

I do like the look of the joypad will it work in my normal amiga????

 

[RED IMPACT]

Just buy a Pi 400 and install one of those ready made retropie setup's from somewhere like arcadepunks

Thanks for introducing me to this. Looks ace!

 

[Harrison]

These mini systems work for consoles because you still have the same controls as the original and it functions pretty much the same. But I've never seen the point for computer systems purely because of the keyboard. I might be tempted if a Maxi version appeared, depending on price, but for now a RPi4 or Pi400 is a better option.

 

[User30436]

I like the idea of a small plug and play system like the Amiga Mini no configuring or messing around with roms.

Hopefully they bring out a Maxi version would be a good replacement for my A600 HD.

 

[Sardine]

This mini is not aimed at us, the semi / professional experienced amiga user

this is aimed at the average parent who can simply plug it in with NO setup or pc / sdcard images or downloading and say “hey kids come look at what i used to play when i your age”

anyone here who says why not just get a raspberry pi or install an emulator just doesn’t get it. That is an Olympic event if you don’t know how you then simply avoid completely.

plug and play at its best and hopefully will get some new people who are afraid of real hardware, emulation or fpga to start having fun the easy way

 

[Frederic_Freakazoid]

this is aimed at the average parent

Who are you calling average!??!!? I jest of course.

It makes me think that those among us who prefer to not let their kids mess with their ancient computers will now have an option. "Here kid, play with this instead." "But daaaaad... it doesn't have Deluxe Paint!..."

 

[miggymad]

If all your kids want to do is play the games then that's fine, there's nothing wrong with that. It's when they actually want to know how it's done and to try making the games for themselves. So if you take the games away and there's nothing else, see how far your console will get you. We all know it will fast end up either in the cupboard gathering dust or on Fleabay.

The real skill is writing and designing the games in the first place, not just in playing them. This is why some schools teach the kids how to program using a cheap Pi setup. It's something that helps to grow and nurture their curiosity, hone their skills on a keyboard and makes their brains tick.

One of the schools in my area for example, even encourages the kids to do all their homework on them or on a tablet then email it back to the teachers for marking.

Yes, these consoles and mini C64's FPGAs etc etc are great. But at the end of the day you still need somebody with the abilities to program the damn thing to begin with

 

[StrongARM]

Maybe an A1200 version with workbench mode and options for more ram / speed increases ??

Actually it's an a500 toyed which comes with AGA already. Not to forget the HDMI output. The WHDload access should make it even more successful!
So I'm sure they will release a kinda bigger version when this A500mini became a success.....

 

[Marien]

I'm planning on buying an A500 mini for my son's birthday. He's constantly playing minecraft, so it's high time he got to know other amazing retro games. Perhaps in time he will become an Amiga fan with heart and soul, like his father