top of page

Commodore Amiga 500

Commodore Amiga 500

Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Bill Bertram

The Amiga 500, an iconic home computer version developed by the Commodore International company in the late 1980s, remains a significant chapter in the history of computer technology decades later. This report provides an overview of its key features, influence and Heir to the Amiga 500.

​

1. Introduction
The Amiga 500 was released by Commodore International in 1987 and quickly became one of the most popular home computers of its time. With its 16/32-bit architecture, a variety of graphics and sound capabilities, and a wide range of software applications, the Amiga 500 set new standards for home computing.

​

2. Technical specifications
Processor: Motorola 68000 with a clock frequency of 7.16 MHz
Graphics: Agnus chip with up to 4096 colors and a resolution of up to 640x512 pixels
Sound: Paula chip with four independent channels for digital stereo sound output
Memory: 512KB RAM, expandable up to 1MB or more
Storage media: 3.5-inch floppy drive (880 KB storage capacity per floppy disk)

​

3. Software and games
The Amiga 500 came with a variety of applications depending on the offering, including a word processor, a painting program and a music sequencer. In addition, the Amiga 500 was known for its outstanding games. Game developers took advantage of the Amiga 500's powerful hardware to create games with impressive graphics and sound. Classics like The Secret of Monkey Island, Lemmings and Another World are just a few examples of the legendary games released on the Amiga 500.

​

4. Influence and legacy
The Amiga 500 had a significant impact on the computer and video game industries. His advanced graphics and sound capabilities ushered in a new era in computer game design. Additionally, the availability of inexpensive developer tools and the Amiga 500's relatively open architecture helped create a vibrant developer community.

Although Commodore International struggled with financial problems in the 1990s and ceased production of the Amiga 500, its legacy remains to this day. The Amiga platform has a loyal fan base that continues to develop new software, create emulators and keep the memory of this groundbreaking home computer alive.

​

5. Conclusion
The Amiga 500 was a groundbreaking home computer that shaped the computing landscape of the late 1980s and early 1990s. With its impressive technical specifications, wide range of applications and outstanding game library, the Amiga 500 left a lasting mark on the history of computer technology. Even today it is valued by enthusiasts and nostalgics and is seen as a symbol of an era in which computers were still in their infancy but already showing enormous potential.

Nice To Know

The Amiga demo scene was known for its creative and often absurd demos that pushed the limits of the Amiga 500's hardware. These demos were often visually stunning and unexpected, resulting in a vibrant subculture celebrating the Amiga 500's technical capabilities.

​

The Amiga 500 was one of the first home computers to offer multitasking capabilities, meaning users could run multiple programs at the same time without the system slowing down.

​

The Amiga 500 was ahead of its time in terms of graphics and sound capabilities. Its ability to display up to 4,096 colors and produce digital stereo sounds was revolutionary for a home computer of its time and helped set new standards for graphic and sound design in computer games and other applications.

bottom of page