A new arrival - Amstrad PPC512

[rubber_jonnie]

So it arrived as expected:

IMG20250312130336.jpg

IMG20250312130321.jpg

All in one piece, so no case damage or anything. Needs a damn good clean though. Need to figure out a suitable PSU next.

[alexh]

A rather unusual beast. What drew you to this? Did you see them as a kid? The name AMSTRAD? The strange shape? What's the plan? Can you replace the LCD screen if it doesn't work?

The only Amstrad outside the CPC range that I desire to own would be a MegaPC which was a 386/486 with an integrated Sega Megadrive however since about 2010 when a guy called Keropi started talking about them on his blog and making upgrades for them they have been systematically snapped up everywhere and are now about the same price as Atari TT, Falcon, Amiga A4000, A3000 etc. etc. (e.g. outside my price range)

(Although I might look twice at an Amstrad PC20 / Sinclair PC200)

[stephen_usher]

Even if the screen works it's hardly readable.

[rubber_jonnie]

A rather unusual beast. What drew you to this? Did you see them as a kid? The name AMSTRAD? The strange shape? What's the plan? Can you replace the LCD screen if it doesn't work?

The only Amstrad outside the CPC range that I desire to own would be a MegaPC which was a 386/486 with an integrated Sega Megadrive however since about 2010 when a guy called Keropi started talking about them on his blog and making upgrades for them they have been systematically snapped up everywhere and are now about the same price as Atari TT, Falcon, Amiga A4000, A3000 etc. etc. (e.g. outside my price range)

(Although I might look twice at an Amstrad PC20 / Sinclair PC200)

I've always been kind of fascinated by them TBH, they are quite unusual and I have a thing for early portables. Not that I have many (The PPC512, Amstrad Alt-386, Amstrad Notepad NC100 & NC200, Dolch L-PAC486 and the Epsom HX-20), and the ones I'd like, such as the Kaypro & Osbourne are a bit on the expensive side.

Also, it was very cheap at under £50 including delivery.

Boots up fine and the screen works, contrast is adjustable and screen is readable. I'd like to replace the display with a backlit one, but we'll see. I'd also like to see if I can shoehorn an XT-IDE in if possible.

I remember the MegaPC, but didn't have any interest in one. I think by the time I got to PCs it was post my MegaDrive time, so it didn't make sense.

[rubber_jonnie]

Even if the screen works it's hardly readable.

It's poor, but not as bad as I expected.

[alexh]

But from what I can tell by googling they have CGA/EGA/VGA (cross out whatever) output as there are pictures of them connected to monitors.

[rubber_jonnie]

But from what I can tell by googling they have CGA/EGA/VGA (cross out whatever) output as there are pictures of them connected to monitors.

This has CGA/EGA out. There are also some interesting expansion connectors

[alexh]

I have seen you can buy ISA IDE cards with CF slots for them.

[rubber_jonnie]

I have seen you can buy ISA IDE cards with CF slots for them.

I have an ISA XT-IDE card I'd like to use, just not sure yet how I can make it work.

Starting to do the necessary investigation work.

[danboid]

There can't be many home computers left now that that you don't own. Do you have a bucket (thimble) list?