The Amiga 128: A Promising Upgrade That Never Was


The Amiga 128 is a computer that was never actually released. It was a proposed upgrade to the Amiga 1000, which was the first model in the Amiga line of computers produced by Commodore International.

The Amiga 1000 was released in 1985 and quickly gained popularity for its advanced graphics and sound capabilities, as well as its multitasking operating system. However, it had some limitations that Commodore hoped to address with the Amiga 128.

The proposed upgrade would have increased the memory capacity from 256 kilobytes to 512 kilobytes, as well as added support for up to 8 megabytes of RAM. It also would have included a new version of the operating system, called AmigaDOS 2.0, which would have added features such as directory caching and file locking.

In addition to these technical improvements, the Amiga 128 was also going to include a new case design with a built-in keyboard and improved ventilation. The original design of the Amiga 1000 had been criticized for its large size and lack of proper cooling.

Unfortunately, the Amiga 128 never made it into production. Commodore encountered financial difficulties in the late 1980s and early 1990s, which led to a series of management changes and delays in product development. By the time Commodore was able to focus on developing an upgraded version of the Amiga, other companies had already begun producing competing products with similar capabilities.

Despite this setback, the legacy of the Amiga lives on. The original models are still popular among retro computing enthusiasts, and many modern games and applications have been developed for them. The advanced graphics and sound capabilities that made the Amiga so popular in its heyday continue to inspire developers today.

While we may never see an actual Amiga 128 computer, its proposed upgrades serve as a reminder of what could have been and what might still be possible with this groundbreaking technology.

 

Frequently Asked Questions About the Commodore 128

  1. How many Commodore 128 were sold?
  2. What replaced the Commodore 64?
  3. What year did the Commodore 128 come out?
  4. What language did Commodore 128 use?

How many Commodore 128 were sold?

The exact number of Commodore 128 computers sold is not known. However, it is estimated that approximately 4 million units were sold worldwide between its release in 1985 and the end of production in 1989.

The Commodore 128 was a popular computer, particularly in Europe and North America, due to its compatibility with both the Commodore 64 and CP/M operating systems. It also had advanced features such as a built-in floppy disk drive, expandable memory, and improved graphics capabilities.

Despite its popularity, the Commodore 128 was eventually overshadowed by newer computers from competitors such as IBM and Apple. However, it remains a beloved piece of computing history for many enthusiasts and collectors today.

What replaced the Commodore 64?

The Commodore 64, which was released in 1982, was an incredibly popular home computer that dominated the market for several years. However, as technology advanced and new competitors entered the market, its popularity began to wane.

Commodore International attempted to release several successors to the Commodore 64, but none of them were able to replicate its success. Here are a few of the models that were released in an attempt to replace the Commodore 64:

Commodore 128: Released in 1985, this model was designed to be a more advanced version of the Commodore 64. It had more memory and a faster processor, as well as a built-in CP/M mode for running business software.

Amiga: The Amiga line of computers was introduced by Commodore in 1985 as a high-end alternative to the Commodore 64. The Amiga had advanced graphics and sound capabilities, as well as a multitasking operating system.

Commodore Plus/4: Released in 1984, this model was intended to be a replacement for both the Commodore 64 and the VIC-20. It had more memory and better graphics than its predecessors but lacked compatibility with many popular software titles.

Despite these efforts, none of these models were able to replicate the success of the Commodore

By the early 1990s, competition from other companies such as IBM-compatible PCs and Apple Macintosh computers had taken over much of the market share that had previously belonged to Commodore computers.

Ultimately, financial difficulties led to the downfall of Commodore International in 1994. While its legacy lives on among retro computing enthusiasts today, no single model was ever able to fully replace the iconic Commodore 64.

What year did the Commodore 128 come out?

The Commodore 128 was first released in January 1985.

What language did Commodore 128 use?

The Commodore 128 computer, which was released in 1985, used a few different programming languages.

The built-in BASIC programming language in the Commodore 128 was an extended version of the BASIC language used in earlier Commodore computers such as the VIC-20 and Commodore 64. The C128’s BASIC included additional commands that took advantage of the computer’s increased memory and processing power.

In addition to BASIC, the Commodore 128 also supported other programming languages such as assembly language and Forth. Assembly language is a low-level programming language that allows programmers to write code that directly interacts with the hardware of the computer. Forth is a high-level programming language that is known for its simplicity and efficiency.

The Commodore 128 also had an optional CP/M operating system, which allowed it to run software written in other languages such as Pascal, COBOL, and FORTRAN.

Overall, the Commodore 128 had a versatile set of programming options that allowed users to write software in a variety of languages depending on their needs and preferences.