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Item #1004: Commodore Amiga 1000


The Commodore Amiga 1000 (A1000) was introduced in the spring of 1985
as the world's first 32-bit, multi-tasking personal computer.  At the time of it's release, it was
truly was a ground-breaking system.  Many of it's key features, such as 4,096 simultaneous colors, four
channel stereo sound and the multi-tasking operating system were literally years ahead of their time;
however the high retail price - around $1,300 without a monitor - and the "game machine"
company from which it sprang - were major hurdles that it never really cleared.

Around the time that Jack Tramiel, Commodore's President, left the company (later to buy Atari),
Commodore had been expressing an interest in a small firm called Amiga.  Previously known for manufacturing
high-quality joysticks, Amiga had aquired a true hardware genious named Jay Miner.  Jay Miner had designed
everything from pacemakers to Atari computers.  Huh?  Atari computers, you ask?  That's right!  Jay had
designed the original custom chipset that controlled the Atari 8-bit systems sound and graphics!

Amiga originally wanted Jay to design a new 16 bit game machine, however in the mid 80's, the gaming market
crashed and left Amiga with a nearly completed game machine on their hands.  Fortunately, Jay had secretly
included computer necessities such as keyboard, I/O and disk controllers.  They presented the Amiga
computer prototype to Commodore who expressed a desire to market such a machine.

Meanwhile, Jack Tramiel and sons had purchased Atari from Warner Brothers and immediately set their sights
on Amiga as well.  A lawsuit erupted, with Mr. Tramiel claiming that He, not Commodore had expressed the
desire to purchase Amiga, therefore He and Atari should get first option.  He lost the lawsuit (rightfully, in my
opinion) and Atari went on to design the ST line of computers (in record time, by the way).

Jay Miner has since passed away and I will always treasure my Amiga 1000.  A couple of "really neat" features
on the Amiga 1000: 1. The keyboard is stored beneath the computer in a "garage".  2. All of the designers - both
hardware and software - signed the original casting mold.  You can see them by removing the top case and
turning it over!