Commodore Amiga A500

[Vin63]

The Amiga 500 was a groundbreaking home computer released by Commodore in 1987, renowned for its advanced graphics and sound capabilities, powered by custom chips (Agnus, Denise, Paula) and a true preemptive multitasking operating system, features far ahead of most contemporaries. Its claim to fame was its popularity as a gaming and multimedia platform, offering rich audio-visual experiences and supporting a vast library of games and creative software, which helped it become the best-selling Amiga model with over 2.5 million units sold worldwide. The Amiga 500 played a pivotal role in making home computing accessible and fun, influencing later multimedia computing and gaming, and it has enduring cultural significance among retro enthusiasts.

Manufacturer: Commodore
Released: Oct. 1987
Type: Personal Computer
Cost at release: USD $699 (CAD ~$2,200 adjusted for inflation)
MIPS: 0.73 (730 KIPS)

Hardware Specifications

Processor: please list the important hardware specs in point form. Also include its weight.
Memory: 512 KB chip RAM standard, expandable to 1 MB (A500+ models up to 2 MB chip RAM).
Graphics: Original Chip Set (OCS), up to 4096 colors (12-bit palette), maximum resolutions up to 640×512 (PAL) or 640×400 (NTSC); supports advanced modes like Extra HalfBrite and Hold-And-Modify (HAM) for up to 4096 colors on screen.
Sound: 4-channel, 8-bit stereo PCM audio, up to 28 kHz sample rate.
Storage: Built-in 3.5″ double-density floppy disk drive (880 KB standard Amiga format).
Operating System: AmigaOS 1.2 or 1.3 (upgradeable with more RAM).
Expansion: Trapdoor slot for RAM/RTC expansion, side expansion slot for peripherals (hard drives, memory, CPU upgrades).
Ports: Two DE9 joystick/mouse ports, RS-232 serial port, Centronics parallel port, analog RGB video out, RF modulator (TV out), stereo RCA audio out.
Keyboard: Integrated, 94 or 96 keys with numeric keypad.
Weight: Approximately 3.1 kg

Operating System & Programming Languages

Operating System: The Amiga 500 ran AmigaOS, a proprietary, preemptive multitasking operating system developed by Commodore International. AmigaOS consisted of two main components: Kickstart (firmware in ROM) and Workbench (the graphical desktop environment), with versions 1.2 and 1.3 being standard for the A500.
Programming Languages:
- Assembly Language (68k/68000 Assembly) was widely used for games and demos due to its speed and direct hardware access.
- C (various compilers including Aztec C, Lattice C, DICE C, SAS/C, VBCC, and GCC) was commonly used for utilities, applications, and some games.
- BASIC Dialects: AmigaBASIC (by Microsoft), ABasic, GFA BASIC, HiSoft Basic, AMOS BASIC, Blitz BASIC.
- Pascal: Amiga Pascal, Kick-Pascal, High Speed Pascal, Free Pascal.
- Other Languages: Forth (JForth), FORTRAN, Logo, Oberon, Perl, Ruby, Amiga E, Python (AmigaPython), ARexx (Amiga’s own scripting language), Scheme, Modula-2, C++, Java (JAmiga), Draco, ML, and more.
- Scripting: ARexx was built-in for scripting and automation

Notables

The Amiga 500’s custom chips: Agnus, Denise, and Paula were given female names to disguise their functions and thwart industrial espionage, and its codename during development was “Rock Lobster,” a nod to the B-52’s song.
Its graphics and sound capabilities were so advanced that it was used in TV production and video effects for shows like Clarissa Explains It All and Unsolved Mysteries.
The A500 redefined the home computer market, making multitasking and color graphics standard features before Microsoft or Apple did.
It was Commodore’s best-selling Amiga model and outsold its main rival, the Atari ST, especially in Europe