Amstrad newbie questions

[LaFey]

Greetings!

I'm an 8 bits enthusiast and recently I decided to add Amstrad CPC machines to my collection. I went and bought a 464 and a 6128. Please notice that these both haven't arrived yet so I'm conjecturing questions derived from my other systems (MSX,Spectrum, C64) I am familiar with.

Ok here we go:
-The CPC power supply is inside the monitor - so a CPC without one is useless isn't this right? (not a very clever move from Amstrad if it is so... ). In my case this problem is non-existent since in the bundle came two monitors (one b&w other colour). Is the plugin power cable the curled one we see in 6128 pictures?
-Suppose I want to use an external tape recorder to read tapes in the 6128 - do I need a specific model (say like the specific C64 recorder)? And if not what kind of cable interface do I need (fell free to compare with the familiar computers I mentioned earlier)?
-I suppose the 6128 3" disk drive is the same that came mounted in the Spectrum +3 machines right? So, how exactly reliable are these disk drives - are they prone to malfunctions?
-The built in tape recorder in the 464 looks like the one used in the Spectrum +2 series - isn't this right? And again are these sturdy recorders?

Thanks for your time and patience. Any help would be quite welcome!

[ollerichwebde]

Hi LaFey!

As for you questions I think I can give you some hints (but it's a couple of years since I actually worked with CPCs, so there's no guarantee

Yes, the power supply is inside the monitor, but there were different ways to supply a cpc with power (while there's no real use for a cpc without any displaying unit) e.g. those tv-modulators (mp-2, mp-3 ??). I don't remind for sure which cable on the 6128 has which meaning, but I am sure it will all clear up as soon as you see it in front of you.

You don't need to use a specific tape recorder, it only has to have a external connector (which not all type of recorders had, I guess) to input/output signals and you need, of course, a proper cable (in germany it was like those DIN-Cables (named after the german industrial standards organisation) usually used for 6128s with 5 pins IIRC.

The 3" drive is identically to the +3 machines and they are quite reliable except from the drive belts which use to go out of shape after a couple of years. But as they are of standard size it's still possible to get a replacement if necessary.

Don't know the +2 tape recorders, but the ones built into the 464 seem to be indestructible. I was able to load a tape on my 1984 built cpc 464 without any problems after some years of not using it )

Have fun with your cpcs!

Ollerich

[wwwerkekkedicom]

Hi

Well if you think it this way, after years the new concept in Mac design brought the designers to a point : iMac, which is an Amstrad if you look closer (and ignore the previous Mac models as well ). So i think it actually "is" clever, or "was" clever, that it is still used as a solution.

Take care )

[Satchman2000]

Hi LaFey

To answer your questions:
The CPC power supply is indeed inside the monitor. Ths wasn't a flaw in Amstrads design, as unlike Commodore etc, you couldn't buy an Amstrad without a monitor. Anyways, the curly lead is the video lead, and the thin lead is the power part. You can also power the unit by modulator, allowing you to plug your CPC into your TV. I've even seen special Scart leads built to do the same.

As for tape decks, you can use any standard tape deck as long as it has an earphone socket. There is a special lead that connects the deck to the 6128.

The 3" drives are as reliable as any other. You can get spare drive belts (which is the most common cause of malfunction) from here: www.pcwking.freeserve.co.uk/cpc.html

Hope this helps