LGR - Amstrad CPC 464 Computer System Review
Added 2014-03-13 15:18:41 +0000 UTCHaven't done one of these since 2012, but thanks to the support on Patreon I've finally made another one! These videos are some of the most labor-intensive I do (approaching 50 hours for this one), and because I was worrying about ad revenue it didn't really make much sense to do them often when I could just make simpler videos that would get more views. But due to the support I now feel driven to create things like this again, and I was also able to get some fantastic equipment to do these shots using the money from here. So thank you so much once again! An overview of the history, hardware, and software of the CPC464 from the perspective of a vintage computer collector. How do the pros and cons stack up, what games can you play on it, and is it worth getting a 464 over others like the 6128?
Comments
I'm just glad to see the Red Baron pizza box in the background.
Justin Dotson
2014-03-23 02:55:37 +0000 UTCI guess I am a US computer person. Never heard about this computer before. I own a Commodore pet and 2 Commodore 64's
2014-03-17 02:05:37 +0000 UTCIt's 1pm on a Saturday in Melbourne Australia. I am at work. I am considering pulling a sicky for the rest of the day just to get home and watch this. Clint I Love Odd ware and Retro PC reviews!! I now understand why u haven't made any for a while! Not everyone would be as interested. But that's why we are patreons!
Jono Cornell
2014-03-15 01:40:21 +0000 UTCIt's because they were mostly spectrum ports. Because the hardware was pretty similar they usually added a splash of extra colour to the screens and let them roll. Early spectrum games lacked music because the sound chip only had one channel.
Nostalgia Nerd
2014-03-14 20:52:45 +0000 UTCIf only developers had spent more time on the Speccy ports - the games could have been immense. Good to see the Red Baron pizza box at the end
Nostalgia Nerd
2014-03-14 20:51:18 +0000 UTCGreat to see an in depth hardware review again. The pre-IBM compatibles of the 80's have so much quirky personality and it always amuses me that each machine has a slightly different keyboard. It's certainly brought down prices and increased compatibility having the PC standard today, but it's not quite as fun! :)
Peter Bridger
2014-03-14 19:46:17 +0000 UTCYeah, a shame really! I cringe at the thought of how much I paid to have my Mattel Aquarius (ahem) posted over from the US! Oh, incidentally, the first 464 version had much better, taller and prettier keys. Definitely one to prefer!
Themistocles
2014-03-14 17:56:35 +0000 UTCAye, it doesn't seem to be a common problem, but then I was looking at the very cheapest machines I could get my hands on since the shipping costs made collecting prohibitive otherwise.
LGR
2014-03-14 17:53:48 +0000 UTCAh, sure then. Mind you, I'm running cpcwiki.eu and in our community I think I've only seen two non-working tape decks and two or three busted monitors (stored in damp attics), so I'd say you've been pretty unlucky :D I think I have 8 CPCs (not Pluses) and I've never come across a bad one :)
Themistocles
2014-03-14 17:51:40 +0000 UTCConsidering when trying to get one of these I ran across both problems with machines I was looking at, I simply had to mention it. Remember, this video is aimed at modern collectors, and that's an issue to keep in mind when buying :)
LGR
2014-03-14 17:46:26 +0000 UTCA great review! Regarding the comments about stuff breaking down or the reliability of the tape recorder - those were non-issues back in the day. Amstrad had, surprisingly, the best quality when it came to home computers, so a monitor blowing up was pretty much out of the question... The tape recorder, too - never saw one breaking down until thirty years later...
Themistocles
2014-03-14 17:44:37 +0000 UTCAnother great episode.
Steven Friar
2014-03-14 02:17:30 +0000 UTCAs the guy who hit behind the tree would say "Very Interesting"
2014-03-13 23:54:01 +0000 UTCNice dude! This is more my kind of thing, the micro computer! :) All in one home computers like this, the Acorn, C64 etc were very popular here. It wasn't until the mid 90's that these started to be phased out & people started using PC's & consoles more frequently. Good stuff!
a3HeadedMonkey
2014-03-13 23:42:17 +0000 UTCI love how this video was shot. I really enjoyed this hardware review too since I wasn't familiar with this system. The return of these videos makes it totally worth it to be a Patron. I really enjoy stuff like this, and it's so sweet that you don't have to deal with the pressure of obtaining the highest possible viewcount anymore like you used to. I'm hoping your pledge count keeps going up!
Mark Bradley
2014-03-13 21:29:31 +0000 UTCFantastic, dude. I used to go over to a mate's house all the time when we were kids to play with his CPC 464, there were some great games and we used to sit for hours using basic to program our own, it was great fun. Really nice to see an Amstrad CPC again after so long even if it is a video. Great work.
Smgzilla
2014-03-13 18:25:14 +0000 UTCHardware review! My favorite! All those sexy closeups~!
ksen
2014-03-13 17:15:18 +0000 UTCAwesome to see more hardware reviews!
Alyxx the Rat
2014-03-13 17:09:44 +0000 UTCInteresting little machine. I never owned one, but it looks like it would have been fun to play with, similar to the C64.
2014-03-13 16:52:33 +0000 UTCI never had a CPC, but watching reviews in magazines back then, and also todays youtube shows , it seems to have similiar (more colofrull) graphics to C64/ Atari 800 and much better then ZX. Question is why games almost always comes without the music? some Ram limitations?
Łukasz Łątkowski
2014-03-13 16:18:46 +0000 UTCCoincidentally, I got one of these through the post this morning. Love it
Nostalgia Nerd
2014-03-13 15:53:02 +0000 UTCWow, that system looks pretty cool. Great video, always great seeing these hardware reviews! :)
ReeseRiverson
2014-03-13 15:51:19 +0000 UTC
