Micro Machines: Amiga 500

Amiga 500 was the third in Commodore International's line of Amiga computers. It was also their first budget-conscious 16-bit computer after the more expensive desktop models 1000 (1985) and 2000 (1987). 

Amiga 500, or A500, became a massive hit for Commodore. It is still arguably their most beloved computer along Commodore C64 – one that so many think of nostalgically, and one many still use frequently. A500 was the direct competitor for Atari and its ST line of computers, which had launched two years earlier in 1985.

Amiga's tech specs were inarguably more impressive than ST's; especially the graphics and sound capabilities were more advanced. This, however, did not mean ST fans were going to give up and switch sides.
 

German flyer. With its fascinating chip architecture, multi-media features and game compatibility, the system quickly became popular with young people.

The introduction of the Amiga started the 16-bit flame wars of the late 1980s and early 1990s, with the key players being the Atari ST and Amiga 500. During this time young enthusiasts would champion their computers as vehemently as they would a local sports team. This has led, for example, to endless debates about which system had the most beautiful version of a particular video game, the fastest vector routines, or which system was the most future-proof.

Young demo coders, on the other hand, would do their best to show how much more capable their computer was compared to their rivals. In the end, this kind of competition would benefit everyone as completely new coding exploits were invented, and eventually, these innovations would trickle down to video games and other software.