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SACC - Sacramento Amiga Computer Club

Amiga Picker

What machine do you want to get into? That's one of the first questions I was asked when joining SACC and one that people new to the Amiga scene need to tackle. This page is designed to help with that decision. I think I bring a fresh perspective to this topic. While I was into the C64 in the 80's, I skipped over the Amiga and went into PC for college. In 2017 I decided to check out the Amiga to see what I missed out on. So my Amiga journey really started 5 years ago (from the time of this writing) and I hope my thoughts and notes can help others getting into the hobby. Of course, if you collect machines like Pokemon and have to catch them all, just start buying! -- Jerry Gray - SACC VP

Next Gen Amigas

When I think of Next Gen Amigas, I think of the New PPC powered machines running OS4 that are produced today. Next Gen also includes MorphOS and AROS, but I'm not well versed in those OS requirements other than to say the X5000 and 1222+ are the most powerful NG machines and are well suited for both OS4 and MorphOS.

With that in mind, the choices today for a brand new Amiga appear to be the 1222+, X5000, and the slightly more affordable SAM systems.

Here is one of the retailers for a 1222 system.
This blog post can help you can find an NG reseller.

68000/Classic Amiga Picker flow chart

If you are looking for a classic system, follow the questions below to find out what Classic Amiga setup may be right for you.

Fast Facts

Here are some pros, cons, and options to help you on your journey. I don't think there is any wrong choice here! All these options make a great place to get started. I came in for gaming, but have developed a great respect for all the Amiga has to offer. I now own almost every option below. My go to machine is a MiSTer. But I also tend to keep my Amiga 500/1200 readily available as well. I also keep all the emulation options loaded on my Windows PC! Most recently, I added an A600 GS device to my setup which performs admirably and overcomes many cons of emulation due to the professional setup and tuning from the manufacturer.

Real Hardware Emulation Reimplementation
Pros
  • Best Authentic experience
  • It's like being a kid again
  • Real Keyboard with all the Amiga keys
  • Tinker with Hardware
  • Add and expand
  • Fastest machine
  • Cheap (Free - $150)
  • Current Hardware - PC, Raspberry Pi, more!
  • Portable
  • Emulate multiple machines
  • Easily jump between different setups/configurations
  • New Hardware
  • Authentic experience
  • 100% compatibility
  • Minimal setup and configuration issues
  • No input lag
  • Portable
  • Can reproduce multiple systems
Cons
  • Prone to failure
  • Need CRT or converter
  • Can get Expensive ($300 - $4000)
  • Can be difficult to dial in the settings
  • Can have "laggy" inputs on games
  • Incorrect KB layout due to using a modern keyboard
  • No Expansion
  • Incorrect keyboard layout
  • Moderately expensive ($250 - $600)
Options
  • Amiga 1000
  • Amiga 500
  • Amiga 600
  • Amiga 1200
  • Amiga 2000
  • Amiga 3000
  • Amiga 4000
  • CDTV
  • CD32