A place to reminisce about past Amstrad products and what they meant to you.
My late wife (Dr Janet West) and I relied on the Amstrad PCW machines in the 1980s and long afterwards.
Enclosed is a photograph of her, taken in 2008. Even then she was using, as a matter of preference, a PCW8256 and Locoscript for writing her articles, chapters and other contributions to her speciality: maritime history, and maritime matters in general.
In the mid 1980s several academic friends of ours were beginning to acquire word processors. The BBC Micro seemed popular. In early 1984 we noticed the Amstrad PCW machines, bundled with Locoscript (and other software) for sale in the Cambridge branch of Dixons. It seemed such good value that we bought one then, and Janet continued to use it for as long as her health permitted. At times she suffered painful neuritis and at these times she was unable to sit in a chair so she worked while lying on her bed, as in the photograph.
Janet was a Research Associate at the Scott Polar Research Institute, part of the university of Cambridge, from 1984 until 2024. She was helping to teach a small group (usually 4) of post-graduates who were on the SPRI course of Polar Studies. She persuaded the Institute to buy four PCW machines for the students to use in writing their course essays, and final thesis.
At the end of my first year at the University of Durham in 1974 I managed to get a job during the summer holidays and I earned enough to save up for my first HiFi system. My first system was an Amstrad system, as it had good reviews at the time and was reasonably priced for a student's pocket.
I thought that you might like to know that fifty years on, whilst the amplifier 'died' some years ago, my Amstrad Acousta speakers are still going strong and are still in use today. Now that is what I call an achievement, as well as a bargain !
I would just like to thank you for all the many years of pleasure the music they produce has given me.
I've always been a fan of sky ever since we had the srx200 installed in December 1989. This came with (it shouldn't of really but the installer was generous) the decoder. As time went on, the SRD400 was released and I convinced my mother to buy it had 48 channels and not just 16 and had the decoder built in. Fast forward to now and feeling nostalgic, I tried to look for the boxes but look like they were thrown so found this on ebay. Had a slight fault to which I fixed but now placed where I can see it and bring back memories. As an engineer myself, I am thinking of retro fitting and up to date freesat box inside and let the legacy live on.
I was 10 when I discovered and got my first Amstrad CPC-6128. This computer was magical and I still remember all the games I used to play with back then. This computer reminds my childhood, the best times of my life with my friends around games, magical moments and thrills when you finally finish a game, which you played on and on anyway and knew every little single details of it. You have made the best times of my childhood, happy times, innocent ones where everything was new and magical. I will never forget the first time I have unboxed my CPC-6128 and played on and on. I would give anything to travel through time and go back in 1986. Thank you for having being the companion of the best and most innocent times of my life.
The Amstrad 464 was the most perfect computer. It lead to me wanting to work in the games industry, and I did. I used to play Roland on the Ropes all the time alongside every game I could lay my hands on from OCEAN and Mastertronic. It was a machine I would spend all my time playing on, something that inspired me and eventually I would find my way into the games industry working for GT Interactive on games such as UNREAL and DRIVER. Without the Amstrad 464 I wouldn't have dreamt about working on games and eventually my career lead me through marketing at GT Interactive, Infogrames, ATARI and Bandai Namco. To me the 464 for special and it's a computer I will never forget about.
Back in the late 80's, I worked as a sales engineer for a small computer dealer, Kyle Micros in Glasgow. Based in the West end, surrounded by solicitors, lawyers, small businesses, it was ripe territory for word processors. We literally could not keep up demand for the PCW9512. I remember receiving deliveries of 100's of the units , humping them up two flights of stairs, setting them up the. Jumping in black taxis to deliver, install and train. I vaguely remember a very senior Amstrad guy visiting us. He couldn't believe how many we were buying and probably came to check us out. Pretty sure we were on of the biggest Amstrad dealers in Scotland. It really was a game changer of a product and I have fond memories of my time at Kyle Micros. Then followed the Amstrad PC's, video cameras, integrated TV/VHS player & the HI-FI's. Really a great time in tech.
Hi , since 1977 ive had amstrad stereos .the one stereo which stands out was the one where the turntable came out from the bottom. It was state of the art at the time . I was nine years of age at the time and was given a brand new one for Xmas . I've followed lord sugars Businesses since that young age . And I've been in business 39 years myself and followed lord sugars work and business ethic
I resold so much of your gear! Still have Amstrads & I was careful with the hinge! I met Prince Charles, chat & shake hands when his trust started me out in business! His team made it possible for me to get the correct test equipment like the HM604 Oscilloscope which I still use!
As a TV/audio engineer, my experience of the service dept was second to none, ring up , get technical help or parts quickly and cheaply... There were times when a small part or circuit diagram was sent out straight away and free of charge , personally I never had a problem servicing and repairing Amstrad products .
In the early 80's myself and a couple of friends bought Amstrad power boosters for our cars , they connected to the radio/cassette output and boosted the output. Basically a simple audio amplifier with bass and treble control and on off switch . They did exactly what it said on the tin and worked well , nearer had a problem , were also supplied with half decent co axial speakers ... Never seen a unit since the 3 we bought back then from I think " Comet" [model CH30] I loved it !
Hi, Buying an Amstrad 8512 word processor when they first came out transformed our surveying and architectural design business. The huge increase in productivity and the ability to copy detailed specifications, change the client name and save and re-issue hugely increased our client service and profitability. We continued to buy further Amstrad products as they became available. A HUGE thanks to Sir Alan.
Way back in the early 80s my best friend's mum bought an Amstrad stereo system. As young teenagers we were obsessed with music.....we spent every bit of our free time in her front room listening to all our latest music on the Amstrad. It was so upmarket. I thought she was so posh having one…..I lost my best friend 7 years ago at 48 but I never hear the name Amstrad without memories of those days flooding back.
We have always been passionate, in the photo we are 14 and 15 years old with my childhood friend, I had a 464 and my friend a 6128, at the time we had formed a small group called Micro Escape to become AMSTRADGGP for 10 years we have since released two years ago on Amstrad 6128 a game Toki. In the photo there is my 464 + monitor, as well as many floppy disks. We can say that the Amstrad changed my life forever, I made it my job and my passion. A big thank you to you
Oh too many wonderful memories - back when I was growing up and more recently with my lad who loved Amstrad computers.
Had great fun on CB radio the forerunner to all the social media of today and met my now husband on the CB airwaves , I was contact lens and he was fleetmaster ….. been married 41 years 👍❤️
Homework time 1991 (A secondhand machine bought from Labour Party HQ Wales)
After losing my job at Rumbelows I was struggling to find a job. I have always wanted to work outdoors and being my own boss so I bought a van and started my own satellite & TV specialist company. We looked about for a good supplier and decided on Amstrad as a brand to use, I believe making that decision was the reason our business did so well and expanded to the point it did. I now own several businesses and its all down to using Amstrad Satellite boxes.
My entire programming career started because of my love for my first Amstrad CPC 464! I copied VHS films at the time & rented them out at school for 50p a night! I made a crude "database" program to log who had what film & for how long! Eventually upgraded to a 6128!
