Chronology of
Amiga Computers

Copyright © 2001-2008 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: kpolsson@islandnet.com
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URL: http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/amigahis/

This document is an attempt to bring various published sources together to present a timeline about Amiga Computers. Note: company and product names are the property of their respective owners. Such names are used for identification purposes only. This site is solely the work of Ken Polsson, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of the companies listed herein.

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References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2008 July 18.


1982-1987 1988 1989 1990-end

1982

September
  • David Morse and Jay Miner found Amiga Corporation. [1352.D1]

1984

March
  • Amiga signs an agreement with Atari to develop graphics chips for Atari. [1352.D16]
June 3
  • At the Summer CES, Amiga demonstrates a new computer, code-named "Lorraine". [341.6] [804.18] [241.112] [1352.D1]
June
  • Amiga returns money it received from Atari to develop graphics chips, claiming they would not work. [1352.D16]
August 14
  • Atari files a lawsuit against Amiga, claiming graphics chips used by Amiga were developed under contract for Atari. [1352.D16]
August
  • Commodore purchases Amiga Corporation. [6] [9] [341.6] [713.297] [804.18] [1352.D1]

1985

June
  • At the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago, an Amiga shows the "Boing" 3D checkered ball bouncing, with stereo sound. [1145.31]
July 23
  • At the Vivian Beaumont Theater in the Lincoln Center in New York, Commodore International unveils the new Amiga 1000. It features a multitasking, windowing operating system, color graphics with a 4096-color palette, stereo sound, Motorola 68000 CPU, 256 kB RAM, and 880 kB 3.5-inch disk drive, for US$1295. [16] [187] [1145.52] [1381.D1] [1382.D5] (US$1200 [190.81]) (Fall 1985 [814.30])
August
  • Commodore previews the Amiga computer at the SIGGRAPH conference in San Francisco. [1068.58]
(month unknown)
  • Micro-Systems Software introduces the Scribble word processor for the Amiga. [668.44]
November
  • MaxiSoft ships MaxiComm, the first commercially available dumb terminal emulation/communications program for the Amiga. [1167]
(month unknown)
  • Quantum Computer Services begins operations of QuantumLink, a modem-accessed Commodore-specific telecommunications network. (The company is later renamed America Online.) [805.28] [1280.46]
December
  • Electronic Arts releases the DeluxePaint image editor software for the Amiga. DeluxePaint was a rewrite of Prism for the IBM PC, which was an enhanced port of Doodle, created on a Xerox system. [448.27] [243.78] [241.112]

1986

January
  • Robert and Phyllis Jacob start the Cinemaware company, to create adult-oriented software for the Amiga. [892.66]
  • Eric Graham shows his "Juggler" demo animation on the Amiga, showing the Amiga's capabilities of ray-traced animation merged with digitized sound. (This program is the foundation of the Sculpt 3-D software later released by Byte by Byte.) [442.31] [1145.31] (December [705.57])
  • MaxiSoft ships MaxiDesk, the first desktop organizer for the Amiga. [1167]
February
  • The first issue of Amazing Computing magazine for users of the Commodore Amiga is published. [2011.180]
(month unknown)
  • Commodore Business Machines releases Transformer software for the Amiga, which, along with the Commodore 1020 5 1/4-inch disk drive, provides limited MS-DOS compatibility. [2010.32]
  • Electronic Arts releases Deluxe Video desktop video software for the Amiga. [441.57]
July
  • Byte by Byte releases Sculpt 3-D for the Amiga, the first 3-D modelling program to ship for the Amiga. [442.35] [1145.35]
August
  • MaxiSoft ships MaxiPlan, the first Excel-class GUI spreadsheet program for the Amiga. [1167]
(month unknown)
  • Access Software releases the Leader Board golf game for the Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, and Atari 800. Price is US$39.95. [154.66]
  • Electronic Arts releases the DeluxePaint II software for the Amiga. [448.27]
October
  • The first AmiEXPO trade show is held, in New York City. [442.37] [1145.37]
  • At the AmiEXPO, Impulse releases the Turbo Silver 1.0 graphics software for the Amiga. [442.37] [1145.37]
(month unknown)
  • Activision releases the Shanghai card game. Price is US$44.95 for the Amiga. [222.32]
November
  • In Monterey, California, the second Amiga Developers Conference is held, over three days. MaxiSoft receives an award for the best Spreadsheet product. [222.32] (First conference [1167])

1987

January
  • At the Winter CES, Commodore announces the Amiga 500. It features a 68000 processor, 512 kB RAM, floppy disk drive, and custom chips for animation, video, and audio. [16] [442.40] [804.19] [814.22]
  • At the Winter CES, Commodore International announces the Amiga 2000. [16] [804.19] [814.22]
  • Byte by Byte releases the Animate 3-D software for the Amiga. [442.35] [1145.35]
March
  • Aegis Development releases the VideoScape 3D animation creation software for the Amiga. [442.35] [1145.35]
(month unknown)
  • Brown-Wagh Publishing releases the Publisher 1000 desktop publishing software for the Amiga. [705.34]
  • Intuitive Technologies releases MaxiPlan 500 and MaxiPlan 2000 for the Amiga. [1167]
  • Andrew Tanenbaum releases the Minix operating system for the Amiga. It is a free version of Unix with complete source code. [835.169]
July
  • WordPerfect creates an Amiga/Atari division within the company. [330.107]
  • WordPerfect ships WordPerfect for the Amiga for US$400. [330.109]
November
  • At COMDEX, NewTek shows a prototype Video Toaster for the Amiga. [857.64]
  • Impulse ships Turbo Silver 2.0 for the Amiga. [442.37] [1145.37]

End of 1982-1987. Next: 1988.
The complete timeline can be purchased in a PDF file for US$10 from the author.

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1982-1987 1988 1989 1990-end


A list of references to all source material is available.

Other web pages of interest:

  • Chronology of Personal Computers
  • Personal Computer References in Pop Culture
  • Ken P's Today in History
  • Last updated: 2008 July 18.
    Copyright © 2001-2008 Ken Polsson (email: kpolsson@islandnet.com).
    URL: http://www.islandnet.com/~kpolsson/amigahis/
    Link to Ken P's home page.


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