For the C64, C128 (in 40-column mode), and VIC-20, the BackBit cartridge is still for sale at

https://www.backbit.io/

See Evie's introduction to the BackBit at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLik3CBZlL5eW3O-LaLSmVX5k3eL0nKWet&v=G3t2_iloGVQ&feature=emb_logo

and how to use the BackBit at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YKruh_DiEY&list=PLik3CBZlL5eW3O-LaLSmVX5k3eL0nKWet&index=2

The big selling point of the cartridge is its compatibility with various disk, tape, and cartridge images, like D64, D81, CRT, PRG, P00, .20, .40, .60, .a0, and more.  Just drop the image(s) onto a microSD card and pop the card into the BackBit.  You see the file(s) on a menu, you select the one you want, and it loads and runs.  No Commodore calisthenics to get the computer to recognize the image type.

As mentioned above, the BackBit cartridge works with the VIC-20 with a special adapter that fits the BackBit into the adapter.  Evie has a video that explains it at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Une9mquKL0w&list=PLik3CBZlL5eW3O-LaLSmVX5k3eL0nKWet&index=7

For an independent review of the BackBit, go to

https://enragedgeeks.blogspot.com/2020/01/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-x-none.html

          Writing from Sydney, Australia, at the moment,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
          April 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show -
          http://www.portcommodore.com/class

P.S. Evie Salomon is tentatively scheduled to appear at the April 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show.

     There may not be a Downtown Los Angeles Maker Faire this year, but there is... (drum roll) the City of STEM Science Festival! The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Festival is happening from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 4, at the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey, California (Los Angeles area). And the Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network will have a hands-on exhibit table showcasing classic Commodore and Amiga computers!  Come join the fun! For more information, see

https://cityofstem.org/april4

     Sincerely,
     Robert Bernardo
     Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network -
     http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

     I have been corrected.  There is a third video at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6hju93bT2Q

     Writing from Sydney, Australia,
     Robert Bernardo
     Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
     April 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

     At the Melbourne Amiga User Group meeting on Thursday night, I was introduced to two videos that I didn't even know existed.  Both of the lengthy videos concentrate on Bill McEwen who talked about Amiga at the Amiga Computer Expo 2000.  The videos were posted in 2012, but only 176 people have seen them so far!

You can see these now historical videos at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4e05Oq5pRE

and at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG4i4rYEIbk

          Writing from Sydney, Australia,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
          April 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

     The geo-block may be gone for now.  So, their regular website should be working.  http://www.saug.org.au

          Writing from Melbourne, VIC, Australia,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
          April 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

(I have taken the liberty to repost the the site of the Sydney Amiga Users Group (Australia). Ordinarily, their site (www.saug.org.au) is geo-blocked to any other web visitors in the world and is only readable to those in Australia. In the interest of complete information, here is the edited site.)

Welcome to the website of the Sydney Amiga Users Group!

SAUG is a meeting point for Amiga, Commodore and other retro computer users in and around Sydney. We aim to provide assistance and better contact between all Amiga and retro computer users within NSW. All are welcome!

We meet once a month, please check the next meeting date at the top of this page.

Next Meeting: Sunday 8th March 2020


The meeting dates for the first half of 2020 are:

8th March

19th April

10th May

14th June


The remaining 2020 meetings will take place on Sundays from 3pm-6pm at the Epping Community Centre, located at 9 Oxford Street Epping NSW. The centre is 150m from Epping railway station. Everyone is welcome to attend!

The Community Centre is also easily reached by bus or car.

There is parking out front in Oxford Street; otherwise, there is plenty of parking behind the community centre in Cambridge Street, which is a one-way street reached via Chester Street.

The meetings are held in one of the rear meeting rooms, accessible from the right hand side of the hall. Please see the pictures below for details.

There is a small entrance charge of $5 to cover the cost of hiring the room and providing refreshments. Toilet facilities are available.

There are no membership fees for SAUG.

Right side entrance to Epping Community Centre

(see attachment below)

Entrance to meeting hall on right side of Epping Community Centre

(see attachment below)


About Us

The Sydney Amiga Users Group (SAUG) was originally started in 2001 by Steve Bowman and Basil Flinter.

The inaugural meeting was held in the Epping School of Arts Main Hall on Sunday 1st July 2001.

The user group was focused on the Classic Commodore Amiga but also newer developments such as the NG (Next Generation) Amigas - which eventually came to be known as the AmigaOne.

A lot has changed since then. The Classic Amiga is now well and truly a "retro" machine. The NG Amigas came and went, and are now mainly a niche product.

The user group is now focused on 1980-1990 era retro computers in general, such as Commodore, Apple and Atari machines. This also includes the Amiga of course!

While initially seen as outdated and often thrown out, "retro" machines from the 1980s-1990s have in the last decade experienced a small resurgence in popularity. This has caused them to increase in value and an increasing amount of people are keen to revive and to relive their past experiences with their old computing hardware.

If you need help repairing, reviving or using your Commodore, Amiga or other retro machine please contact us or come to one of our meetings!

All people are welcome and we are keen to help where possible.

Contact Us

Please send any questions or queries to info(at)saug.org.au

     From an announcement at the Mega65 Retro Computer group on Facebook --

"The agreement has been in place since we first met (and partied) at AMIGA30 and has been verified several times from both sides, however, we never officially announced it until now: Cloanto and the MEGA65 team are happy to clarify that every MEGA65 computer will be bundled with the original C65 ROMs to ensure full C65 compatibility. The picture shows Cloanto CEO Mike Battilana and chief cat herder Detlef 'deft' Hastik at Frankfurt Airport. All that is left to say is that the pre-order pages for the MEGA65 devkits will go live soon!"

     If you have Facebook, you can see the announcement and the following comments at

https://www.facebook.com/MEGA65RetroComputer/photos/a.793738327376689/2693024064114763/?type=3&theater

          Truly,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
          April 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

Happy Valentines' Day, C= and Ami aficionados!
     The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 2:00+ p.m., Sunday, February 16, at

  Panera Bread Restaurant
  3590 W Shaw Ave. (corner of W. Shaw Ave. and Marty Ave.)
  Fresno, CA 93711
  (559) 271-0104
  http://www.dickestel.com/meet_loc.htm

     This month we may have special visitors coming from the Sacramento Amiga Computer Club!  Make sure to give them a friendly Fresno greeting!
     For discussion we'll talk about the April 4 City of STEM science show which is in Los Angeles, the April 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show (CLASS), the Vintage Computer Festival East happening in New Jersey at the same time as CLASS, the June Pacific Commodore Expo in Seattle, the tentative Amiga 35th show for the Bay Area, and the Downtown Los Angeles Maker Faire which is expanding to 2 days this year!
     In software we'll look at the only side-scrolling game for the Commodore 128 in 80-column mode, Cloneimals, the original being released years ago and now the improved 2020 version being released a few days ago!  Also we have the winner of the C128 80-column coding competition, BucketWars!  For the C64/128 we look at 1541 Ultimate II and the 1541 Ultimate II+ cartridges.  Also for the C64, we have another look at the FCUG New Members' Disk and the new Shoot'Em Up Construction Kit game, Spearhead.  In classic Amiga business, we look at the Amiga 3000 which has been upgraded to the latest WHDLoad and with more games installed into it, courtesy of Duncan M. of The Other Group of Amigoids in San Jose.  I'll show how I've been translating the German Pagefox manual into English with the use of the A.L.I.C.E. laptop.  (As of today, 33% of the 69 pages translated!)
    After the meeting, Bernardo Studios opens, and we'll be filming Roger's CAD presentation for CLASS.

          Truly,
          Robert Bernardo
          Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

     The price is roughly the same, and the engine has been ordered!  I've gathered bits to be installed on the engine -- new double-platinum spark plugs, new spark plug cables, new magnetic oil pan drain plugs.  Gotta get a new PCV valve.  I've asked the shop to order a new, heavy-duty water pump for the car.

        Nearing the time to bring in the car,
        Robert Bernardo
        Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
        April 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show - http://www.portcommodore.com/class

     Goal reached!  Now at over 69,000 Euros of the 66,000 required.
     Mega65 developer Paul Gardner-Stephen talks about the new, sudden influx of money (in an article printed just before the crowdfunding goal was reached) and the plans for making the moulds at

http://c65gs.blogspot.com/2020/01/almost-65k-in-65-days.html

           Truly,
           Robert Bernardo
           Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
           April 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show - http://www.portcommodore.com/class