Collecting for a computer

[thecellartroll]

From your poll selection I'm voting C64. And if I could only have one 8 bit machine it would be a C64.

Easy connection to modern screens
Very active demoscene on standard machines
Very easy, widely available and cheap MMC/SD adapters
Loads of cheap add ons to build or buy and play with
Meeelions of games, new and old
Easy to fix or get another one if it dies
SID!

Some of the other machines meet some of these. But none meet all...

 

[woodycool]

I'd say the Amstrad CPC 6128.
I'm a it of a fanboi to be honest, but definitely a nice system to collect for.
There's a really active scene and the quality of the games ranges from lazy Speccy port to really nice 8-bit wonders.
I'd avoid the Plus range though, although they have extra hardware features they are absolutely not utilized by nearly any of the games (only a couple of 'cartridge' games use Plus features)

 

[Merlin]

Get a C64 and an SD2IEC and you'll never be short of games to play.

 

[sir_beaker]

I'd say the Amstrad CPC 6128.
I'd avoid the Plus range though, although they have extra hardware features they are absolutely not utilized by nearly any of the games (only a couple of 'cartridge' games use Plus features)

You're right, the original ones are probably the ones to go for (compatibility wise and the original 6128 has a tape port which the removed from the 6128 Plus) but I wouldn't discount the Plus completely if you can get one for a good price. You have a few tape/disk games like Stryker and the Crypts of Trojan, Fluff and Prehistorik 2 that use the extra hardware. There's also homebrew games like Rick Dangerous 128 and Frogger. Some cartridge games you alluded to are exclusives like Burnin' Rubber and Robocop 2.

I'm quite happy owning both the original 6128 and the 6128 Plus.

 

[tin]

Having the (un-) luxury of being completely skint when I was little, I was able to enviously eye up everyone's 8-bit computers for a long time before deciding which to go for, and that was definitely the C64. It's a whole generation ahead of all it's contemporaries IMHO. The only one with decent sound, and graphics - while usually blocky as hell (although not on your TV over RF ) - that were actually able to depict stuff other than neon things in space.

However that said I voted for save your money. I assume "collecting for" means games? With the bitrot of tapes and disks that old I don't really see the point of collecting, much as I love the tapes and boxes I have and won't get rid, I don't add to them.

Get a SD2IEC instead. Spend money on a nice old breadbin, retr0bright if needs be, some disk drives perhaps, jiffydos, maybe even a chameleon, but not on games. I don't think, anyway!