Commodore 128 Computer System (Worldwide)

[Blacklord]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Commodore-128-Computer-System_W0QQitemZ190078527022QQihZ009QQcategoryZ140076QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[nikoniko]

I've more been looking for a 128D, but this happens to be close enough to me that I'm tempted to get it just because I could drive there. It's still a few hours away, but a friend of mine lives in the same town and I could get in some visiting if the seller is willing to let me do a personal pickup.

Plus, it comes with my favorite joystick! Yes, I am the only person in the world who loved the Epyx 500XJ.

[Blacklord]

I've more been looking for a 128D, but this happens to be close enough to me that I'm tempted to get it just because I could drive there. It's still a few hours away, but a friend of mine lives in the same town and I could get in some visiting if the seller is willing to let me do a personal pickup.

Plus, it comes with my favorite joystick! Yes, I am the only person in the world who loved the Epyx 500XJ.

Nope - I have several - so there's two of us - wanna start a fan club ? :cool:

Lance

[nikoniko]

Definitely! Most of the time I've seen them mentioned it's been in a critical manner, but mine was a beloved addition to my 128. The incessant clicking drove Mom crazy, but from the very first click it felt like it was made for me. With the 500XJ, I quickly demolished all my old highscores, and never picked up my mushy Atari joystick again.

[Mangelore]

The one I had was branded as a Konix Speedking... looks the same as the Epyx 500XJ... unbreakable!

[Guest]

The Epyx 500XJ is the best Atari-style joystick ever.  I simply do not understand people who like that monstrosity that the DTV was put into.

[Golan Klinger]

I'm not a big fan of the Epyx 500XJ myself. I don't like the clicking which is the same reason I didn't like the TAC-2. I also had a left handed friend who didn't like that it was molded to fit a his non-dominant hand. Wico also put out a version of the same joystick except that theirs was gray and covered in a rubber-like material which provided a fantastic gripping surface.  One last thing, if you ever want/need a replacement 500XJ, check out JPPBM who have them brand new in the box with and without autofire for $7.50 and $10 respectively.

[Guest]

I had never found that site before.  They have prices below what a couple of items usually sell for on eBay.

[nikoniko]

There was a version of the 500XJ made for left-handed players, but it typically couldn't be found in stores. My friend Bryan had one, and I believe he got it by mailing his right-handed version to Epyx and doing a trade. Don't think they reimbursed him the shipping costs, so unfortunately he ended up paying a few dollars more that way.

The Wico version sounds great; I'll have to hunt one down someday. The one serious play issue I had was the joystick getting slippery after a long period of heated play. Mainly I took it as a sign that I ought to take a break.

Thanks for the link to JPPBM! Nice to know there's still a retail source.

I simply do not understand people who like that monstrosity that the DTV was put into.

Is that a Competition Pro? CPs seem to have quite a following.

[Golan Klinger]

I had never found that site before.  They have prices below what a couple of items usually sell for on eBay.

If you see 1581 kits for sale anywhere, they probably came from JPPBM originally because he bought all of Commodore's stock around the time they went belly-up and has been selling to other retailers. A wall in his basement has boxes of 1581s stacked from floor to ceiling. I understand he has about 1000 or so left. He also owns the right to the Super Snapshot so there are plenty of those around and as for the joysticks, he has cartons of them. It's very impressive. I should take some pictures next time I visit him.

Joe is a nice guy. A little slow with the responses to email but he's honest and does ship when you order stuff.