pouët.net

Soon my MSX demo is finished, and I've already started thinking about what the next platform I want to try out should be. :)

After seeing insane stuff like this the ZX-81 is one contender. 1kb RAM, no hardware gfx support at all - masochism! :D
Then talking about Sinclair, I'd probably want one of those rubber-keyboard ones as well (Spectrum 48k I think they're called).

Then I've been looking into the Atari 8-bitters, a 130XE would be nice to have, at least to watch some of the very nice demos that are available.

Now, do anyone have any good tips on where to find machines like these (preferably for cheap)?
Sure, there's always eBay, but often you end up in bidding wars with the damn collectors who are willing to pay 2x the price just because the seller has included the original cardboard box or something. :/

Thanks to some tips here on Pouet I could find a MSX-computer at a reasonable price from here.
I also contacted this place regarding a 130XE, but unfortunately they didn't have any in.

Anyway, perhaps someone else has some good links to places where you can get your hands on some 'vintage' computers?

zx80 picture please.

AMSTRAD

=)

eBay?

i got some very cheap consoles (snes + 2 pads + 4 games for 20€; atari 2600jr w/o games for 10€; megadrive + master-system-connector + 2 joysticks + 13 games for 30€) and a pong game from 1977 for free at the local fleamarkets...
people were happy to get rid of the stuff...

You could try http://www.atariage.com/forums/index.php and http://www.atarimania.com/start.php

Looking forward to your MSX demo btw :)

ebay or retro computer forums.
(the only few I frequent are german, so they wouldn't be of much use)

definitely your local old flee-market/second hand shops. also you should try retro community forums. there is an Amiga "community market place" which is anti-eBay price hiking: www.amibay.com If you look there I think they also have a spectrum/c64, etc section, iirc.

anyway, i'm afraid most people sell on eBay nowadays and as you say, the sad "collectors" push prices up beyond reason. There was a time you could grab real retro bargains, not anymore :/

The worst thing is that most of these collector-creeps do not even actually USE the systems they buy. I think they just put them in the loft smelling the wrapping and masturbating over their "collection" or something. to be out bid by these freaks really drives me insane!!!! INSANE I TELL YOU!!!

flea markets/second hand shops usually take a lot of searching until you finally find something.
In fact I've been frequenting flea markets for almost 4 months before I found something ... but in the end it paid out, with me getting 2x C64 and 1x Amiga 600 for 4€ each.

eBay can be cheap as well, especially when you look for common hardware like Amigas, C64s or Atari STs ... otherwise things can get pretty nasty there.

Yeahg...talk about nasty...a KC Compact sold for over 273€...and no even a floppy controller was included....

some french - but really complete - list of 8bits from the 80's
http://www.silicium.org/catalog.htm

I have done some searching at the local flea markets, but haven't found anything remotely computer-related for sale except some crappy PC gamepads and other such crap that really belongs on the dump.

Unfortunately I think the times when you could find nice 80ies hardware at those places are long gone.

Nowadays the 'normal' people who had their old computers left have either already sold or threw them away, or are knowledgeable enough to put them out on auction sites.

@Sdw:
I am selling 2xboxed (like new) Atari 130xe + 4x joystick + 2 x psu...
I am from Europe (Slovakia).

Or I will change 2 x Atari 130xe for 2 x Atari Lynx 2 or 2 x Sega Gamegear in good condition.
I collect handhelds nowadays...

sintech-shop.com is good too...

sintech-shop is overpriced!
At least when it comes to computers ... 80€ for a spectrum +2 is beyond eBay.

tinctu: How much do you want for one of those 130xe:s?

go lucking out in scools! mostly they have some "museum" computer collection :-)

i think even schools completed the sale of all their old 8bit BBC and Acorn computers...at least 7 years ago now :)