The age of Aquarius

[rubber_jonnie]

Its "more evolved" sister, the Alice 90, was from far better looking but still red.


Alice90.jpg


I was considering getting one, but once you see how games on this retro computer looked and performed, you do not feel any more like in the mood...

And when you see how much they ask for its unsuccessful successor, you are entering the twilight zone.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284460032493 ... BM0NqsvMZf

:dizzy:

That's even worse than Falcon prices, plus you'd probably need to write your own games!!! BTW, Did you know that Matra are a large engineering company who also build missiles?

[HigashiJun]

Its "more evolved" sister, the Alice 90, was from far better looking but still red.


Alice90.jpg


I was considering getting one, but once you see how games on this retro computer looked and performed, you do not feel any more like in the mood...

And when you see how much they ask for its unsuccessful successor, you are entering the twilight zone.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284460032493 ... BM0NqsvMZf

:dizzy:

That's even worse than Falcon prices, plus you'd probably need to write your own games!!! BTW, Did you know that Matra are a large engineering company who also build missiles?

Yes, but the missile business was quite recent.

Matra was a French automobile company founded in 1941.

As for its computer games, you can have a look at the following YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HTPIW6H-Fo

The computer division went bankrupt as they were trying to sell their "conputers" while the Commodore 64 and Atari 800XL were becoming the standard.

[rubber_jonnie]

Yes, but the missile business was quite recent.

Matra was a French automobile company founded in 1941.

As for its computer games, you can have a look at the following YouTube video:

The computer division went bankrupt as they were trying to sell their "conputers" while the Commodore 64 and Atari 800XL were becoming the standard.

The missile business was merged with BAE relatively recently, Making Matra Marconi, which is still going today AFAIK, however it does go back much earlier in the history of Matra, as does their defence and other aerospace activity, and of course the cars. Matra went defunct in 2003 from what I can see. I'm sure somebody owns the name and plans to resurrect it at some point!!

I remember the Matra Bagheera, but then also the weird and wonderful Matra Simca Rancho, which was so far away from the Bagheera you couldn't believe there was a connection! There were a surprising amount of Ranchos on the road in the UK, they were really shoddy cars!!

As for competing with the C64 and 800XL, the Matra computers just never stood a chance, and LBH, the 800XL failed against the C64 despite being (IMHO) equally good if not better. Atari could have done a much better job of it.

[HigashiJun]

Yes, but the missile business was quite recent.

Matra was a French automobile company founded in 1941.

As for its computer games, you can have a look at the following YouTube video:

The computer division went bankrupt as they were trying to sell their "conputers" while the Commodore 64 and Atari 800XL were becoming the standard.

The missile business was merged with BAE relatively recently, Making Matra Marconi, which is still going today AFAIK, however it does go back much earlier in the history of Matra, as does their defence and other aerospace activity, and of course the cars. Matra went defunct in 2003 from what I can see. I'm sure somebody owns the name and plans to resurrect it at some point!!

I remember the Matra Bagheera, but then also the weird and wonderful Matra Simca Rancho, which was so far away from the Bagheera you couldn't believe there was a connection! There were a surprising amount of Ranchos on the road in the UK, they were really shoddy cars!!

As for competing with the C64 and 800XL, the Matra computers just never stood a chance, and LBH, the 800XL failed against the C64 despite being (IMHO) equally good if not better. Atari could have done a much better job of it.

Ah, the Bagheera... A really nice car for its time.

The Rancho was not my cup of tea, even if it was a quite common car in France.

And as you wrote, I agree Atari could have done much better to compete against the C64.

[rubber_jonnie]

Ah, the Bagheera... A really nice car for its time.

The Rancho was not my cup of tea, even if it was a quite common car in France.

And as you wrote, I agree Atari could have done much better to compete against the C64.

It was a lovely looking car for the time :)

I never had a C64 when I was younger, it was too expensive, however the 800XL had some really aggressive pricing, hence why I went that direction. Later I got a 65XE (I still have it) for under £100 new.

It's a shame, but I do like my A8s, I have a 600XL on the way now.

As for the Aquarius, I'm going to build this: http://www.bhabbott.net.nz/micro_expander.html as I already have the PCBs

[HigashiJun]

@rubber_jonnie

I was always an Atari fan and I did not like the earlier Commodores very much.

I am currently thinking of buying new retro machines but I am also thinking twice because of two main reasons: my wife and the lack of space.

The micro expander you plan to build looks really good. Have fun building it !

I really love these nice little gadgets enhancing our old machines, but I even love them more when you can fit everything under the hood, leaving the original external looks.

[rubber_jonnie]

@rubber_jonnie

I was always an Atari fan and I did not like the earlier Commodores very much.

I am currently thinking of buying new retro machines but I am also thinking twice because of two main reasons: my wife and the lack of space.

The micro expander you plan to build looks really good. Have fun building it !

I really love these nice little gadgets enhancing our old machines, but I even love them more when you can fit everything under the hood, leaving the original external looks.

Me too, as witnessed by the fact I have more Ataris (Probably 20+) than anything else. I have a couple of retro machines I want, an MSX and an Enterprise, but I too have a wife! Thankfully space isn't an issue since moving house.

I'm going to get a list of parts together for the Micro Expander today I think, should be a fun build!

Also, like you, I love the amazing range of stuff you can get for retro machines these days, it just boggles the mind and I just wouldn't have believed it if you'd told me what would be around 40 years later.

[HigashiJun]

@rubber_jonnie

I was always an Atari fan and I did not like the earlier Commodores very much.

I am currently thinking of buying new retro machines but I am also thinking twice because of two main reasons: my wife and the lack of space.

The micro expander you plan to build looks really good. Have fun building it !

I really love these nice little gadgets enhancing our old machines, but I even love them more when you can fit everything under the hood, leaving the original external looks.

Me too, as witnessed by the fact I have more Ataris (Probably 20+) than anything else. I have a couple of retro machines I want, an MSX and an Enterprise, but I too have a wife! Thankfully space isn't an issue since moving house.

I'm going to get a list of parts together for the Micro Expander today I think, should be a fun build!

Also, like you, I love the amazing range of stuff you can get for retro machines these days, it just boggles the mind and I just wouldn't have believed it if you'd told me what would be around 40 years later.

We have a lot of cheap (compared to prices on Ebay) MSX computers here on the Japanese Yahoo! auctions website.

Here are some prices for one of my favourite, the MSX2 Hit Bit HB-F1XD:

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/search/sea ... XD&x=0&y=0

I am still hesitating to buy one for the reasons you know...

[rubber_jonnie]

We have a lot of cheap (compared to prices on Ebay) MSX computers here on the Japanese Yahoo! auctions website.

Here are some prices for one of my favourite, the MSX2 Hit Bit HB-F1XD:

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/search/sea ... XD&x=0&y=0

I am still hesitating to buy one for the reasons you know...

I just looked at your link, and they are yery good prices, but I understand your reasoning!!!

Trouble is there is always that nagging sound in your head 'just one more computer wouldn't hurt, would it?' :lol:

[HigashiJun]

We have a lot of cheap (compared to prices on Ebay) MSX computers here on the Japanese Yahoo! auctions website.

Here are some prices for one of my favourite, the MSX2 Hit Bit HB-F1XD:

https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp/search/sea ... XD&x=0&y=0

I am still hesitating to buy one for the reasons you know...

I just looked at your link, and they are yery good prices, but I understand your reasoning!!!

Trouble is there is always that nagging sound in your head 'just one more computer wouldn't hurt, would it?' :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol:

That's so true !