[AQUARIUS] Aquarius Collecting List

[Intymike]

So, the one I'm going to enter is left sided.

 

 

[EdgeOfPortal]

Just now, Intymike said:

So, the one I'm going to enter is left sided.

 

 

Correct! Sorry for the confusion, I’m not sure else how to define that on the sheet.

[Intymike]

4 minutes ago, EdgeOfPortal said:

Correct! Sorry for the confusion, I’m not sure else how to define that on the sheet.

It's no clarified. Never knew this detail. I assumed that there could be a version where the logo is completely on the left side of the case. 

 

...aaaand submitted

Edited December 14, 2022 by Intymike

[Intymike]

I also never realized how close together the serial numbers of my both German Aquarius' were.

[EdgeOfPortal]

35 minutes ago, Intymike said:

I also never realized how close together the serial numbers of my both German Aquarius' were.

Neat! Hoping to find more patterns like that. Thanks for inputting your serials, I’ll have them added to the spreadsheet in a bit.

[MattPilz]

On 12/12/2022 at 7:03 PM, EdgeOfPortal said:

The old Aquarius serial number database at GeekVintage has long since been shutdown

It's always so frustrating to come across 404 pages that once housed databases. I see that so often in vintage collecting, even on Atari Age I'll find systems that had serial number databases and I go to input mine only to find it's gone or has been years since anyone contributed.

 

Here is the last archived copy of the original Aquarius database. It would be valuable to add all of these to your new spreadsheet.

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20190904082426/http://www.geekvintage.com/mattel-aquarius-serial-number-db.php

 

I'll see about getting mine added this week, though I don't much collect, I do have a few variants.

[EdgeOfPortal]

6 hours ago, Intymike said:

It's no clarified. Never knew this detail. I assumed that there could be a version where the logo is completely on the left side of the case. 

 

...aaaand submitted

Added your entries to the sheet. Thanks!

1 hour ago, MattPilz said:

It's always so frustrating to come across 404 pages that once housed databases. I see that so often in vintage collecting, even on Atari Age I'll find systems that had serial number databases and I go to input mine only to find it's gone or has been years since anyone contributed.

 

Here is the last archived copy of the original Aquarius database. It would be valuable to add all of these to your new spreadsheet.

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20190904082426/http://www.geekvintage.com/mattel-aquarius-serial-number-db.php

 

I'll see about getting mine added this week, though I don't much collect, I do have a few variants.

Thanks for the link! For now, I'm just going to accept entries through the google form. Eventually, however, once submissions slow down, I will probably add these. Looking forward to seeing your serials!

Agreed on the 404 serial number databases, it's so frustrating. That's part of why I chose google sheets. The likelihood it ever goes down is slim to none.

[EdgeOfPortal]

Bump! Reminder to all that the Aquarius serial number database is up and accepting submissions! If you’ve got a minute, feel free to contribute your serial numbers!

 

Form:

https://forms.gle/BExXHTuuybzYpTY58
Sheet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1suxtWmP6a0InPC74ZCPC7keyDvXlE88b70H_0DTbg1o/edit?usp=sharing

[CatPix]

Not sure where this belongs but I figured this may interest you. I was browsing scans of the French magazine "Tilt" to find computer prices and randomly came across this page :

Here's a close-up :

The hardware is real cheap here. For comparison, a ZX spectrum 48K sold for 990F too, and a basic Amstrad CPC (with black-and-white display) sold for 2 500FF.

But damn, look at the price of ANY expansion module, or even the price of the "game tapes" (I assume they are game carts given the price, but they use "cassette" which could, back then, meant both cartridge and tape)

 

I went to look for "Vectron" but that name is too generic. With the adress, it brought me a second,different advert for the Aquarius.

 

"Enter easily in the world of informatique thanks to the Aquarius, his Microsoft BASIC, his home organizer programs, his game programs and his numerous expansion capabilites. In addition, his CP/M compatibility allow you to access the largest library of programs"

 

Mini Expander, expansion that includes 2 controllers, one additional sound animation and allow to connect one memory-cart and one game cassette" (so, cassettes are carts.)

Those cartridges 4K and 16K allow to directly expand the RAM and plugs directly in the Aquarius or in the Mini Expander"

 

[EdgeOfPortal]

4 hours ago, CatPix said:

Not sure where this belongs but I figured this may interest you. I was browsing scans of the French magazine "Tilt" to find computer prices and randomly came across this page :

The hardware is real cheap here. For comparison, a ZX spectrum 48K sold for 990F too, and a basic Amstrad CPC (with black-and-white display) sold for 2 500FF.

But damn, look at the price of ANY expansion module, or even the price of the "game tapes" (I assume they are game carts given the price, but they use "cassette" which could, back then, meant both cartridge and tape)

I went to look for "Vectron" but that name is too generic. With the adress, it brought me a second,different advert for the Aquarius.

"Enter easily in the world of informatique thanks to the Aquarius, his Microsoft BASIC, his home organizer programs, his game programs and his numerous expansion capabilites. In addition, his CP/M compatibility allow you to access the largest library of programs"

Mini Expander, expansion that includes 2 controllers, one additional sound animation and allow to connect one memory-cart and one game cassette" (so, cassettes are carts.)

Those cartridges 4K and 16K allow to directly expand the RAM and plugs directly in the Aquarius or in the Mini Expander"

 

Neat! Always love to see Aquarius promotional material. Thanks for showing us!

[EdgeOfPortal]

Reminder to all that the serial number database is active! Submit and view serial numbers for all Aquarius hardware and select cartridges at the below links:

 

Form: https://forms.gle/BExXHTuuybzYpTY58

 

Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1suxtWmP6a0InPC74ZCPC7keyDvXlE88b70H_0DTbg1o/edit?usp=sharing

Edited January 6, 2023 by EdgeOfPortal

[EdgeOfPortal]

Bump! The serial number database and form are open and accepting submissions! Every serial number we collect helps identify patterns in the Aquarius’s lifespan. Submit your hardware and Radofin carts today!

Additionally, the discord server is always open to new members.
 

Database Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1suxtWmP6a0InPC74ZCPC7keyDvXlE88b70H_0DTbg1o/edit?usp=sharing

 

Database Form:

https://forms.gle/BExXHTuuybzYpTY58

 

Discord:

https://discord.gg/TjCZZZ8HZQ

[EdgeOfPortal]

A new topic has been created to document the contents of Aquarius cartridges and their variants.

 

 

[EdgeOfPortal]

I'm doing some research for future posts on the thread mentioned in the previous reply. If anyone owns Radofin variants of Aquarius cartridges, could you please check what Quality Check number is shown on the blue sticker on the back of the cart shell? Note that I am not looking for the QC numbers associated with Radofin-exclusives such as Melody Chase and Space Speller. I've made a form for this purpose:

 

https://forms.gle/63xWERuexZNWNbc38

 

This data will go towards improving our knowledge of Radofin variants, and will eventually be used in a future post on that thread. Thank you!

[EdgeOfPortal]

Been getting some more serial numbers in lately, let's keep it going!

The serial number database and form are open and accepting submissions! Every serial number we collect helps identify patterns in the Aquarius’s lifespan. Submit your hardware and Radofin carts today!

Additionally, the discord server is always open to new members.
 

Database Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1suxtWmP6a0InPC74ZCPC7keyDvXlE88b70H_0DTbg1o/edit?usp=sharing

 

Database Form:

https://forms.gle/BExXHTuuybzYpTY58

 

Discord:

https://discord.gg/TjCZZZ8HZQ

[gferluga]

Brochure from the official distributor in Florence, Italy

 

Aquarius Home Computer System.pdf

[MattPilz]

Last year or so I had posted some snapshots here of a handwritten cassette that came with an overseas bundle, called Venedig by Said A Abouelhassan. It felt to be in prototype stage on the tape. I never really knew any more history about it, but today on the Aquarius FB group a user posted this image of an Arabic aquarius that included both a 4K (?) and 16K build of Venedig on actual Aquarius-branded cassette tapes. I'd be very interested in seeing if they are more polished versions than the one I have. Hopefully we will see digiitalizations of these in time, now knowing that it was an apparently official title released overseas.

 

 

 

 

Edited December 2, 2023 by MattPilz

[Bodhi]

I recently typed in a listing for the Aquarius and saved it as .bas. Is that the correct ending for Basic programs on that computer?

 

It was "Invader" from Peter Goode´s book from 1983.

Peter Goode - The Aquarius Program Book (1983).pdf