#A500 Powerlessness!
9 messages in this thread
This is really ridiculous!
My A500 power supply went south last week and guess what? You CAN'T GET a
replacement supply, at least not within a week or two. I'm in Milwaukee, a cit
a metro area of 1.6 million, and the Commodore dealers either don't carry A500
replacement supplies or have none in stock. Plus which, they're $99 new. Plus
which, they're underpowered, which is probably why mine died after only a year
and a half. Hey, no problem, I thought to myself, I'll just buy a third-party
power supply. Wrong. Phoenix made one (CPS-500) that turned out to be shoddy.
Now the new Phoenix supply is temporarily unavailable because Phoenix got
bought out by someone (tried several mail-order firms and all said, in effect,
"we won't be able to get any for awhile.")
One of the mail-order houses actually advised me to cut off the power cord
on my A500 OEM supply and splice it into an IBM power supply, making sure the
voltages were correct! HUH?! This is a computer that's supposed to turn on
business people?
Oh, yeah: the local authorized Commodore repair shop, usually very helpful,
said flatly it wouldn't repair a power supply, but would take a dead one in
trade for a new OEM supply for the meager price of $96. Such a deal. I wanna
puke. You either have to know a solder jockey or have the patience of Job.
Ron,
Please don't take this message wrong…I'm not trying to be "smart",
but when you buy an A500…you get what you pay for. That is, an inexpensive
computer with inexpensive parts. That includes a small power supply (40w) that
is only designed to run the A500 itself, the A501 512K memory expansion unit
and a single external floppy.
The A500 supply isn't designed, and will burn out, if you attempt to
add any more load that the above. I don't know your configuration so don't
know if you did or didn't have more than that attached.
The lack of local spares isn't CBM's problem either…it's your
dealer's problem for not keeping them in stock. As to repairing the power
supply, most brick type supplies can't be repaired since you have to destroy
them just to open them up (they're welded shut and/or potted in epoxy). If the
A500 supply isn't that type (I haven't looked at an A500 supply in a long
time…so forget what type it is), then any electronics repair tech should be
able to fix it if they have the pinouts and voltages.
The A500 isn't designed to "turn on business people", that's what the
A2000 series is for. The A500 is designed to turn on the home user by giving
them quite a bit of computing power for a low price. To achieve that CBM make
the machine inexpensive (but not "cheap") by only providing minimal systems.
That is, single unit styling, low wattage power supply, inexpensive floppy,
etc.
I realize that you're currently stuck with a pile of plastic that isn't
of much use until you get a new power supply…and understand how that is
upsetting (I've had the same thing happen to me with another computer), but try
to understand where the problem lies and the reasons for it.
Don
Don: I take your comments in good spirits. Mainly I was frustrated. However, a
few observations:
1. It may be my dealer's problem that he doesn't carry replacement power
supplies, but it's Commodore's problem that they're not readily available in
large metro areas. IBM wouldn't let that sort of thing happen, you can be
sure.
2. The power supply comes unscrewed, so it's repairable. But try to find
someone who'll repair it, short of a friendly solder jockey. It's the American
Way: When it breaks, toss it. I don't think there are many dollars in
repairing power supplies. I'd do it myself, if I understood my Ohmmeter
better.
3. The A500 isn't meant for the businessplace? Well, rather, the Commodore
marketing people didn't INTEND to sell the A500 to businesses. But look: I'm a
business and I'm buying an A500 in addition to a A2500. Why? It makes sense
for the operation, in cost-benefit terms. But you can bet I'll now buy a
backup power supply in advance.
My other concern is this: Would a power supply for the A2XXX series
machines be any more available? Not here in Milwaukee, and if not here, then
not in many places. Will a businessman want to wait a few days or a week for a
replacement supply (yeah, I know, the 2000 supplies won't break down so easily;
but what if the prospective buyer asks?).
Actually, my first computer was a PCjr, a marvelous little machine that IBM
deliberately crippled (to save market for its bigger PCs and to save production
costs). Yet many owners quickly got around the small power supply, lack of
expansion space, etc. The A500 strikes me as a very similar though more
powerful design. You won't stop A500 owners from wanting to upgrade their
boxes past what Commodore intended. But even when they don't, even when
they're running 512K or 1 meg with an external floppy, they risk losing the
machine because of a marginal power supply, not marginal just in terms of
amperage but also in terms of quality construction. In the end, also know
that, had there not been an A500, I wouldn't be an Amiga user now.
Files busy, code 5-0 …
have files (20 sec)
Ron,
I basically agree with your sentiments. Commodore should make dealers
stock a certain level of parts, and that should include spare power supplies
for both computers.
As to the repair, we use MS-DOS machines at work, either AT&T's or
IBM's…both power supplies are easily obtained, but no one will fix them, if
they break…we replace them. Its not worth the hassle trying to find someone
willing to fix them.
I had the same problem on the Atari ST when I had one, I ended up
making the repair myself since it was practically impossible to get a
replacement (or repair) literaly for 6 weeks.
While certainly there are business applications for the A500, just as
there are business applications for the C=64 or VIC-20, but that doesn't make
it a "business computer" or one that is aimed at the business market. If it
works out for your particular business, with or without the A2000, that is a
plus for you…and a good thing. However, the majority of businesses (large
and small) would tend towards the A2000 style of computer simply because of the
internal expansion. Most businesses need hard drives with their computers, and
while the A500 certainly has HD's available for them….they're cumbersome due
to the physical configuration of the machine.
Please don't get me wrong…I'm not putting the A500 down. I'm just
saying that it has a certain target audience. While it has uses outside that
audience, it's not ideal for those outside uses.
Don
Don:
The A500 is a cost-effective platform. I agree the 2000 series is what a
business will want. But the A500 fills some niches. Classroom networks are a
possibility. A new video arcade space simulator uses A500s to drive the
system; my TV studio will employ the platform in a similar way, as a
space-efficient, cheap way to drive stuff we've developed on a 2500. (We're
going to try to rack-mount the sucker!). But all things are relative. The
A500 is a very powerful computer by present and past standards, and it's just
inevitable that small businesses or other folks on a tight budget (one-person
home offices, e.g.) will opt for an A500 versus nothing, if the Amiga first can
be made to turn them on. Looking forward to those George Lucas ads! Last
point (not in sequence!): Even given Atari's troubles, the Mega ST series was a
smart move. Packaging a desktop turnkey system in a Mega ST at a low-end price
is the sort of marketing Commodore ought to try. Thinking they'll lose revenue
by not steering someone to a 2000 is the IBM mentality. Get'em hooked, then
get'em to upgrade. Think of it as a loss-leader until the system is
standardized. The Macintosh approach (no discounts, except in mass quantities)
won't work.
Ron, I had the PCjr as my previous computer. It served me well even
though it cost tons of money to expand. I got a Racore expansion back in the
good old days when a disk drive and 384K cost $1000!
Did you call Commodore to ask for a local repair shop? Often the dealers
don't carry any supplies relating to repair whereas there are stores that only
repair which do. My A500 keyboard went bad. NO ONE I usually go to carries a
spare keyboard. I called CBM, they gave me an address and phone number and the
place had them in stock! Its worth looking for. Many dealers don't care about
you after you give in the first bucks.
As to IBM, most people who buy IBMs are professionals as other people
usually buy compatibles (IMHOs spread throughout). Most professionals buy from
professional stores which make a point of giving you service for a very high
price. Most Amiga owners are not in the moneyed catagory and don't enjoy the
same support.
By the way, Commodore does I believe warn that the A500 is not meant for
more than 1 meg and two drives. Some machines will work with more while others
won't. Check mail order companies for higher-power power supplies.
— Ethan
Ethan: Have a solder jockey trying to fix the supply, but will go for a new
supply and keep the CBM unit as a backup. The local authorized repair service
wouldn't touch the thing. Probably no margin of profit for them. I'm not mad
anymore (but still a tad frustrated!).
Ron:
Thought I'd jump in. Computer Shopper had an article in their Amiga section a
couple of months ago about Phoenix power supplies for the 500. They didn't
sound very impressive and downright dangerous when used with a UPS, so do your
homework and buyer beware if you're considering Phoenix.
George