A series of personal computer models originally sold by Commodore,
based on 680x0 processors, custom support chips and an operating
system that combined some of the best features of Macintosh and Unix
with compatibility with neither.
The Amiga was released just as the personal computing world
standardized on IBM-PC clones. This prevented it from gaining serious
market share, despite the fact that the first Amigas had a
substantial technological lead on the IBM XTs of the time. Instead,
it acquired a small but zealous population of enthusiastic hackers
who dreamt of one day unseating the clones (see {Amiga Persecution
Complex}). The traits of this culture are both spoofed and
illuminated in The BLAZE Humor Viewer. The strength of the Amiga
platform seeded a small industry of companies building software and
hardware for the platform, especially in graphics and video
applications (see {video toaster}).
Due to spectacular mismanagement, Commodore did hardly any R&D,
allowing the competition to close Amiga's technological lead. After
Commodore went bankrupt in 1994 the technology passed through several
hands, none of whom did much with it. However, the Amiga is still
being produced in Europe under license and has a substantial number
of fans, which will probably extend the platform's life considerably.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {chicken head}]