The Power of Vintage
Introducing the Amiga
"Amiga -The Multimedia Powerhouse of the 80s"
Amiga is a family of home and business computers manufactured by Commodore between 1985 and 1994.
Based on the Motorola 68K, the Amiga featured many innovations, including 4,096 colors on screen, hardware graphics, PCM stereo sound, a pre-emptive multitasking OS, and a mouse-based GUI. The combination of all these features made Amiga the first affordable multimedia computer in the world. A generation of graphic designers, digital animators, video editors, musicians, and DJs started their careers using an Amiga computer. Nevertheless, the “Killer App” was probably video gaming.
Amiga CD32
Released in September 1993 in Europe, the CD32 is a console based on Amiga 32-bit hardware. The system was also sold in Canada, Australia, and Brazil.
Initially, the CD32 sold well in Europe and even managed to gain a 50% share of the UK’s CD-ROM-based market. Later, 30,000 CD32 units, that were produced to be sold in the US, were seized in the Philippines due to a lawsuit. This was devastating news for Commodore’s fragile cash flows. The console was discontinued in April 1994.
- It is estimated that only 200,000 CD32 units were ever manufactured
Atari Falcon
"Atari Falcon 030.. the Most Talented Home Micro"
Released in 1992, Falcon 030 was Atari's last computer. Falcon was ahead of its time by featuring the 68030 CPU, the powerful 56001 DSP from Motorolla, 24-bit graphics, and 8 stereo PCM channels (50 kHz). Falcon was more expensive than its main competitor Amiga 1200 and sold only a few thousand units.
- In the UK, it was sold for £599 with 1MB RAM and for £999 with 4MB RAM and a 65MB hard disk
- It is estimated that only about 29,000 Falcon 030 and 10,000 C-Lab Falcon units were ever sold
MT-32 Midi
"Roland MT-32.. the Orchestra inside your PC or Home Computer"
Released in 1987 by the Japanese manufacturer Roland Corporation, the MT-32 was the standard MIDI device for PC games in the 80s. Hundreds of video games support the MT-32 on various platforms (IBM PCs, Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, MAC, etc.) Notable mentions include several adventure games from Sierra and Lucasfilm.
- The MT-32 Multi-Timbre Sound Module is a MIDI synthesizer module featuring a preset library of 158 sounds and 9 channels
- Several platforms used the MT32, including PCs, Mac, Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Apple IIGS, PC-8800 series, NEC PC-98, and Sharp X68000
- In 1987, the device cost $695 (equivalent to $1,700 in 2022)
Amstrad CPC
"Amstrad CPC.. the European Classic Home Computer"
Manufactured between 1984 and 1990, the Amstrad CPC is a series of Z80-based home computers. The CPC competed with ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64 for a market share in the promising 8-bit home computing market. The 464/6128 CPC sold very well in Europe, especially in France and the United Kingdom.
- CPC stands for Colour Personal Computer
- In 1990, Amstrad announced the CPC Plus series, featuring improved graphics and stereo sound, however, it was too little too late
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