The Power of Vintage
MT-32 Midi
Roland MT-32: The Orchestra Inside Your Computer
Launched in 1987 by Roland Corporation, the MT-32 Multi-Timbre Sound Module brought high-quality MIDI music to personal computers. As the de facto standard for PC game audio in the early '90s, the MT-32 was supported by hundreds of games across platforms such as IBM PC, Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Apple Macintosh, Apple IIGS, NEC PC-8800/PC-9800, and Sharp X68000.
- Its cinematic, orchestral-quality sound made it a favorite for titles from Sierra On-Line, Lucasfilm Games, and many others
- In 1987, the MT-32 retailed for $695—around $1,700 in 2023 dollars
Amstrad CPC
Amstrad CPC — The European Home Computer Classic
Launched in 1984 and produced until 1990, the Amstrad CPC (Colour Personal Computer) was a series of Z80-based 8-bit home computers that played a key role in shaping the European computing scene. Competing with the likes of the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64, the CPC line carved out a strong following, especially in France, the UK, and Germany.
- The CPC series, particularly the CPC 464 and CPC 6128, enjoyed significant commercial success, thanks to their all-in-one design, robust software support, and multimedia capabilities.
- In 1990, Amstrad introduced the CPC Plus range with enhanced graphics and stereo sound. However, by then, the 16-bit era had arrived, and the upgrade came too late to make a major impact.
Amiga 3000
Amiga 3000 — The Dream Machine of the Early ’90s
Released in 1990, the Commodore Amiga 3000 was a high-end, 32-bit business-class computer, powered by the Motorola 68030 CPU and 68882 math co-processor. Featuring the Enhanced Chip Set (ECS), AmigaOS 2.0, and a built-in VGA display enhancer, the A3000 represented the pinnacle of the Amiga line before the arrival of the AGA chipset. Fully backward-compatible with earlier Amiga systems, A3000 quickly became the dream system for dedicated users, with the notable exception that it could not run AGA software.
- Initially priced at $3,379 (roughly $7,500 in 2023 money)
- Only around 30,000 desktop units and 8,000 A3000T tower versions were ever produced, making it a relatively rare and sought-after model
Atari STE
"The Artistic Alter Ego of the Atari ST"
Released in late 1989, the Atari STE was a multimedia-enhanced evolution of the popular Atari ST line. While it retained the same Motorola 68000 CPU, the STE introduced significant hardware upgrades, including enhanced graphics, a 4,096-color palette, PCM stereo sound, and a new TOS operating system.
- Priced at $499 at launch (around $1,170 in 2023 money), the STE offered outstanding value
- It’s estimated that 1 million STE units were sold worldwide
Amiga 1200
"A1200 -The AGA Graphics Powerhouse"
Released in October 1992, the Amiga 1200 was a powerful multimedia computer. Priced at £399 in the UK and $599 in the US, it offered 24-bit AGA graphics, a 32-bit architecture, and the new AmigaOS 3.0/3.1 to the mainstream. It was one of the most advanced home computers of its time and remains a favorite among retro computing enthusiasts.
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