{"id":21482,"date":"2025-07-02T13:27:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T17:27:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=21482"},"modified":"2026-06-19T15:16:43","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T19:16:43","slug":"vin63","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin63\/","title":{"rendered":"Commodore Amiga A500"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Commodore Amiga A500\n <\/h1>\n \n \n <\/header>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Commodore Amiga A500<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

[Vin63]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Commodore<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Manufacturer<\/strong>: Commodore<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Released<\/strong>: Oct. 1987<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Type<\/strong>: Personal Computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Cost at release<\/strong>: USD $699 (CAD ~$2,200 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • MIPS<\/strong>: 0.73 (730 KIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Hardware Specifications<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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    • Processor<\/strong>: please list the important hardware specs in point form. Also include its weight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Memory<\/strong>: 512 KB chip RAM standard, expandable to 1 MB (A500+ models up to 2 MB chip RAM).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Graphics<\/strong>: Original Chip Set (OCS), up to 4096 colors (12-bit palette), maximum resolutions up to 640\u00d7512 (PAL) or 640\u00d7400 (NTSC); supports advanced modes like Extra HalfBrite and Hold-And-Modify (HAM) for up to 4096 colors on screen.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Sound<\/strong>: 4-channel, 8-bit stereo PCM audio, up to 28 kHz sample rate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Storage<\/strong>: Built-in 3.5″ double-density floppy disk drive (880 KB standard Amiga format).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Operating System<\/strong>: AmigaOS 1.2 or 1.3 (upgradeable with more RAM).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Expansion<\/strong>: Trapdoor slot for RAM\/RTC expansion, side expansion slot for peripherals (hard drives, memory, CPU upgrades).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Ports<\/strong>: Two DE9 joystick\/mouse ports, RS-232 serial port, Centronics parallel port, analog RGB video out, RF modulator (TV out), stereo RCA audio out.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Keyboard<\/strong>: Integrated, 94 or 96 keys with numeric keypad.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Weight<\/strong>: Approximately 3.1 kg<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

       <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Operating System & Programming Languages<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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      • Operating System<\/strong>: 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Programming Languages<\/strong>:\n
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        • Assembly Language (68k\/68000 Assembly) was widely used for games and demos due to its speed and direct hardware access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • C (various compilers including Aztec C, Lattice C, DICE C, SAS\/C, VBCC, and GCC) was commonly used for utilities, applications, and some games.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • BASIC Dialects: AmigaBASIC (by Microsoft), ABasic, GFA BASIC, HiSoft Basic, AMOS BASIC, Blitz BASIC.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Pascal: Amiga Pascal, Kick-Pascal, High Speed Pascal, Free Pascal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Other Languages: Forth (JForth), FORTRAN, Logo, Oberon, Perl, Ruby, Amiga E, Python (AmigaPython), ARexx (Amiga\u2019s own scripting language), Scheme, Modula-2, C++, Java (JAmiga), Draco, ML, and more.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Scripting: ARexx was built-in for scripting and automation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Notables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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          • The Amiga 500\u2019s custom chips: Agnus, Denise, and Paula were given female names to disguise their functions and thwart industrial espionage, and its codename during development was \u201cRock Lobster,\u201d a nod to the B-52\u2019s song.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • 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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • The A500 redefined the home computer market, making multitasking and color graphics standard features before Microsoft or Apple did.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • It was Commodore\u2019s best-selling Amiga model and outsold its main rival, the Atari ST, especially in Europe<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

            Media<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

            A notable TV ad, the \u201cCartoon Classics\u201d commercial, captured the excitement of the era and is fondly remembered by retro fans<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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