That’s where we come in. This guide will show you the ins and outs of collecting microcomputers and the best options for your first microcomputer and game purchases.
Microcomputers to Start Your Collection With
There are a lot of great microcomputers out there, but not all make for great starter machines. Most microcomputers thrived because of their game libraries, but getting those games to run nowadays may be costly. There’s also the factor of availability, a problem you could run into depending on your budget and region. With that in mind, here are a few top selections.
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is a great starting option for microcomputer collecting, for several reasons. First, it was pretty popular globally, so it’s quite easy to find a working machine almost anywhere in the world. Second, the Commodore 64 has a huge library of games to buy, and most of them are inexpensive.
The only real downside to the Commodore 64 is the need for peripherals. When you buy a Commodore 64, without any add-ons you won’t be able to play a huge chunk of the games. That’s because, by default, the only way to get software onto a C64 is through the cartridge slot on the back. But a lot of software came on tape cassettes or floppy disks. Plus, you’ll need a joystick to play some of the games, and few second-hand systems will come with one.
Fortunately, some of these drawbacks are offset by the system’s huge community. You can buy products that emulate hard-to-find floppy disk drives and get advice on repairs. You might even find 3D-printed cases to replace broken or missing parts.
ZX Spectrum
The Spectrum is another decent choice, but it has some major drawbacks depending on where you live. In mainland Europe or the UK, it’s pretty easy to find a ZX Spectrum because they were very popular in these regions back in the 80s. They’re a little harder to get in America, but they’re not impossible to find.
It gets better because, once you have a machine, you just need an audio device and an audio cable, and you have access to the entire library of software. The ZX Spectrum uses a standard 3.5mm audio jack as a data input source. This means you can download audio files from the internet, put them on an audio device, and get them running.
Being able to easily use software on the device is a big advantage but there are plenty of reasons to consider another system first.
The ZX Spectrum keyboard is, frankly, awful to use by modern standards. As with many computers, you’ll have to read up about how to use the damn thing online if you want to get anywhere. On the plus side, the Spectrum and its various clones and editions are some of the smallest microcomputers that you can get. If you’re limited on space, bear that in mind.
Atari 8-Bit Family
As well as producing some of the most popular home consoles of the day, Atari released home microcomputers as well. The most common variants seem to be the Atari 400 and Atari 800 computers, neither of which is a great machine to start with. While these machines had some great software, they’re quite expensive to get these days, no matter where in the world you are.
On top of that, less popularity also means it’s harder to get support or fan-made modifications for these systems over others.
Apple II / Apple Macintosh
As iconic as the Apple II and Apple Macintosh have been, they are some of the worst microcomputers for a collecter to start with. For one thing, they’re quite rare and expensive nowadays as serious collecters dominate the market. They also have unique issues that can make them hard to use or keep working over long periods.
While the Apple II is quite compact, the Apple Macintosh is huge, heavy, and comes with a CRT screen built-in. CRTs can be dangerous to work with if you don’t know what you’re doing, so it’s not a great plan to buy a broken Macintosh, intending to repair it yourself.
The Best Microcomputer for Beginners Is the Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is readily available almost anywhere, with a huge library of games for you to choose from. It also comes with a large community of other users who can share advice, instructions, and modification ideas.
As they are quite simple machines, they’re also much easier to repair, something you have to get used to with many old microcomputers anyway. Even better, more than almost any other microcomputer out there, a lot of modern games and demos are being produced for the Commodore 64. Game developers like David Murray and Achim Volkers have put new games out for the system. In some cases, they’ve released brand new peripherals alongside them.
Where to Buy Your First Microcomputer
The best place to start hunting for your microcomputer will probably be online unless you happen to live close to a lot of yard sales or flea markets. eBay tends to be the best place when it comes to finding specific machines.
Other places to look are certainly some of the larger thrift stores or charity shops. They’ll often have the more popular machines, but you’ll struggle to find an Apple II or an Atari 800 that an enterprising collector hasn’t already snapped up.
If you’re very lucky, you may be able to find a warehouse liquidator that specializes in old tech. These places aren’t super common, but they’re great for getting started with old microcomputers for a decent price.
That’s How to Get Started Collecting Microcomputers
You should know exactly what to do when it comes to collecting your first microcomputer. Whether you go for the easiest option or the one that you’ve always wanted, you should probably think about trying out some of the games before you invest.
