—
The Amiga family of personal computers was developed starting in 1982 by Amiga Corporation (originally Hi-Toro), initially as a next-generation game console codenamed “Lorraine.” It featured advanced custom hardware for graphics, sound, and multitasking, based on Motorola 68000-series processors.
Facing financial issues, Amiga Corporation was acquired by Commodore International in 1984 for $24 million, after initial funding and a licensing deal with Atari.
The first model, the Amiga 1000, launched in 1985, but production delays pushed widespread availability to 1986. Under Commodore, the Amiga became popular as a home computer for gaming, multimedia, and creative software, with niches in video production (e.g., Video Toaster) and applications like LightWave 3D.
Success peaked with models like the Amiga 500, but internal struggles, including power conflicts between CEO Thomas Rattigan and shareholder Irving Gould, contributed to decline.
Commodore filed for bankruptcy in 1994, having sold about 4.91 million units. Assets were acquired by Escom AG in 1995, which re-released some models before its own bankruptcy in 1996. Subsequent owners included Gateway 2000 (1997) and Amiga, Inc. (2000), with limited hardware licensing and spiritual successors continuing into the 2000s.
The Amiga’s legacy lies in its influence on multimedia computing and creative industries
—
Key People Involved
Several individuals played pivotal roles in the Amiga’s development, management, and history:
Jay Miner: Often called the “Father Of The Amiga” he was the lead hardware designer who spearheaded the custom chipset development at Amiga Corporation after leaving Atari, where he worked on the Atari 2600, 400, and 800
Larry Kaplan: Founder of Amiga Corporation (originally Hi-Toro) in 1982, who recruited Jay Miner to develop the new platform
RJ Mical: Key contributor to hardware and software design, particularly the operating system and intuition library
Dale Luck: Involved in software and graphics development during the early “Lorraine” phase
Dave Morse: Co-founder and early leader at Amiga Corporation, with a role comparable to Jay Miner’s in some accounts; he helped manage the company before the Commodore acquisition
Harold Lee: Recruited Jay Miner and assisted in early integrated circuit development
Thomas Rattigan: Commodore CEO from 1986, who implemented revitalization strategies but was ousted due to internal conflicts
Irving Gould: Major Commodore shareholder whose decisions contributed to management turmoil and the company’s decline
Colin Proudfoot: Involved in Commodore UK operations, handling post-bankruptcy dealings
Other team members contributed to design meetings and specifics, but these were the most prominent figures
—
Amiga Models and Release Dates
The following table lists major Amiga models released under Commodore (and briefly post-Commodore re-releases), with their production periods and key notes. Dates reflect manufacturing runs rather than single launch days where ranges apply.
| Amiga Model and Number | Release Period / Dates | Key Features and Notes |
| Amiga 1000 | 1985–1987 | First model; 68000 CPU, 256 KB RAM (later 512 KB); bundled with AmigaOS 1.0–1.1; supported up to OS 3.2 |
| Amiga 2000 (A-Model) | 1987 | Expandable desktop; 68000 CPU, 1 MB RAM (512 KB Chip + 512 KB Fast); Zorro II slots; used A1000 chipset |
| Amiga 500 | 1987-1991 | Bestselling low-end model; 68000 CPU, 512 KB RAM (later 1 MB); targeted home users for games |
| Amiga 2000 | 1987-1992 | Revised version; 68000 CPU, 1 MB RAM; HD variants available; bundled OS up to 2.04 |
| Amiga 2500 | 1989-1990 | Based on A2000; 68020/68030 CPU, 1 MB RAM; often HD-equipped. |
| Amiga 1500 | 1990-1991 | UK-only A2000 variant; 68000 CPU, 1 MB RAM, dual floppies, no HDD |
| Amiga CDTV | 1991-1992 | Multimedia console; 68000 CPU, 1 MB RAM; CD-ROM focused |
| Amiga 3000 | 1990-1992 | High-end; 68030 CPU, 1–2 MB Chip RAM + 1–4 MB Fast; Zorro III; bundled OS up to 2.04 |
| Amiga 3000T | 1991–1992 | Tower version; 68030/68040 CPU, similar RAM; first towerized Amiga |
| Amiga 3000UX | 1990 | UNIX variant; 68030 CPU; aimed at professional users |
| Amiga 500+ | 1991–1992 | Enhanced A500; ECS chipset, 1 MB RAM standard |
| Amiga 600 | 1992 | Compact low-end; 68000 CPU, 1 MB RAM; ECS chipset |
| Amiga 600 HD | 1992 | A600 with a HDD included, either 20MB or 40MB |
| Amiga 1200 | 1992-1996 | Entry-level; 68020 CPU, 2 MB RAM; AGA chipset; re-released by Escom in 1995–1996 |
| Amiga 4000 | 1992–1994 | High-end desktop; 68030/68040 CPU, up to 2 MB Chip + 16 MB Fast; AGA chipset |
| Amiga CD32 | 1993 | Game console; 68020 CPU, 2 MB RAM; CD-ROM based; was part of the reason Commodore went bankrupt after a court case in the USA with Cad-Track |
| Amiga 4000T | 1994–1996 | Tower version of A4000; re-released by Escom |