After getting a few requests for a quick and easy place to get some live support or questions for those not wanting to use Facebook messenger and wait for email I have decided to setup a IRC channel for the site here. Its located on Freenode and is at #acillclassics so come on in and chat it up!
Continuing on with repairs and servicing boards over the last week and a half I just completed this fantastic looking CD32! They have a massive amount of caps for such a tiny board, but they sure look great when you get them done right!
I’ve been quite busy getting boards fixed, recaps done and restoring systems back to like new. I’ve you have things in and are waiting you should be getting a new message soon with info on its status.
I’ve also started trying out a new software queue that will allow me to updates status, generate clear invoices and receipts with updates going out live as I enter them. Keep an eye out for it and let me know what you think of it.
Here are a few of the awesome boards that went out over the last week.
Unfortunately the current job I’m away on has took an unexpected delay and I’ve been working over the last two weekends. I’ve just been told I will be working over this next full weekend as well. I apologise for this delay and sincerely hope those with work in for me will understand. I will be home no later than June 15th and will be taking two weeks of vacation time to catch up in things I’ve missed.
I will also be reaching out to those with work in as I complete things to work out some sort of deal with you in hopes of making the wait a bit more worth it. Thaks for understanding.
A lot of people have been asking about the Mister FPGA and what it can do. I was surprised to see just how few Amiga owners know about this and the capability it has to turn itself into a fully featured Amiga with AGA. I also go over a few of the other cores like the Atari ST, PCEngine CD and the Neo Geo. Check it out and enjoy!
Helping out John Hertell with adding the 2nd SIMM socket to this Apollo 1260 he did a board swap on for one of his customers. Did it so it wouldn’t need to go back to Sweden and the owner lives here in California. This is how our community should be done. Enjoy!
I’ve decided to try out selling some merch with the new logo. Help me get supplies and keep things going by picking out some shirts, stickers, mouse pads and more! Its a Cafe Press shop so its safe and easy. You can find the link to the shop right here: https://www.cafepress.com/acillclassics
I often get questions on how I decide what boards to take in, how long it will take, what the cost is and how I decide what boards are done in the order I do them in. These are all great questions that deserve a straight answer. The answer to that is, I don’t know.
I’ve been doing repairs and upgrades for a long time. Before I went public and offered my services I did a lot for personal friends and people I knew through them. That allowed me to take the time I needed to do the job at my own pace and ensure that the quality of it was one I’m known for. Now being public I have boards come in with issues and in a condition I won’t know until I open the box and out it on my bench.
This puts me in a position to make some hard but realistic decisions. Do I take hours and days to fix a board that came in with no hope of being an easy fix before others that came in after only needed new capacitors and some obvious clean up and replacement parts? Putting it bluntly, no I don’t. The easier boards are going to get done first, because they worked before arriving and just need some preventative maintenance done on them and some preservation to keep them going.
I try to be up front about this when I get emails about an inquiry for repairs. If I get a board in that’s in worse condition as described I will let you know my initial thought of it. I also don’t take any payments up front because I don’t do this as a primary source of income and it’s a hobby and a service to the retro community I enjoy being able to provide. That is why my prices, for a US based repair at least, is so low in comparison to a real full fledged electronics repair shop.
All this being said I just want to let anyone new to the site or to myself know what to expect when thinking about or sending something in. It can take time. In some cases LOTS of time. If you ever feel it’s been excessive, let me know. I’ll make it right for you as best I can. If I can’t fix it, I am not ashamed to admit it’s beyond my capabilities and refer to another technician. If I can’t fix it, I don’t charge anything in most cases unless money was spend in parts, and I won’t do that before talking with you first. My rates are mostly whatever seems fair. I don’t charge a set labor rate. I charge a bit over cost and enough to cover them. I make no real profit, and I’m fine with that. I have several people that pay extra and make donations to allow for this, and as long as I get donations and support outside of repairs I can continue with things as they are.
The last thing is contact and updates. Yes I can be slow on it, but I try. My normal job takes me out of state and the country quite regularly. This puts everything on hold while I’m gone. If you send something and only have the email or message sent as a point of reference I will have a hard time reaching you. I’ve got several things done or at a point I can’t continue with because of no way to contact the owner easily. This can be easily avoided if you put a note in the box describing your service and include your contact information such as email and phone number.
I love doing this and the trust you all have for me. Thanks for being so understanding and your continued support. I look forward to what the future brings in!
What a trip that was, but now I am back and at home. Things are crazy here in California, and all over the world. As a result of that things have gotten a lot slower. What does this mean for doing repairs and getting things back out? I cant answer that just yet unfortunately. I am currently on a mandated quarantine for the next 14 days. I am stuck indoors and working from home. Thats good for the things I have here, but not good for things like getting parts and going to the post office. I plan to get all I can done and things will go out, but I just ask that you all understand and dont ask for the impossible during this crazy time were are all currently in. Stay safe, be smart and keep healthy!
This is the event here in the US we’ve all been waiting for!
Amiga 35th represents the second major Amiga event in Silicon Valley. The first event celebrated the 30th anniversary of the launch of the Amiga 1000 while focusing on the history of the Amiga. That conference drew over 400 attendees across two days and attracted a who’s who of pioneers and innovators from throughout the lifetime of the Amiga both past and present.
The Amiga 35th event will have a different focus. We are going to be celebrating the Amiga community. We will offer exhibits, Amiga personalities, and on Saturday a big birthday bash.
Amiga 35th will be held at the Biltmore Hotel & Suites in Santa Clara, Calfornia. The hotel features superior accommodations and executive-style amenities and is located just minutes from Levi’s Stadium, leading downtown San Jose businesses, the Santa Clara Convention Center, SAP Center and California’s Great America. The perfect address for business and pleasure, we invite you to enjoy the signature style of unsurpassed luxury and value during your visit to Amiga 35th.
READY TO ATTEND?
When: Saturday, June 6th and Sunday, June 7th, 2020
Where: Biltmore Hotel & Suites in beautiful Santa Clara, California.
Who: All who want to celebrate the Amiga computer in all its forms are welcome to attend the event to join in the celebration and fellowship.
How: Get your tickets on Eventbrite and book your hotel room
