If you want to experience the Amiga ecosystem in 2025 without touching hardware, the easiest path is:
WinUAE (Windows) or FS-UAE (Mac/Linux) — great defaults, easy setup
Install Workbench 1.3 or 3.1 plus: Directory Opus, Diskmaster, WHDLoad
Use curated packs like Workbench 3.X ClassicWB so you don’t have to configure everything manually
For games, WHDLoad bundles are a massive quality-of-life improvement over floppy juggling
You’ll get 90% of the “Amiga feel” without hunting vintage hardware.
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bartread
It's funny. I objectively know that 9MB of RAM is tiny by modern standards and, indeed, has been tiny for decades now. My friend's dad got a PC with 32MB of RAM in 1996, or maybe early 1997, to put it into perspective.
But I can still look at a screenshot of Workbench 1.3 running on an Amiga 500 displaying "8831544 free memory" and it feels like an absolute ocean of RAM for that machine and that time and, most importantly, for the software that was available in that era.
Back in the early 90s I used to, with 1MB of RAM, code, play games, make music, do word processing, create graphics with both DPaint III (or was it IV?), and create vector drawings with a CAD package, create spreadsheets, create fractal landscapes with Vista, not to mention a ton of other stuff as well.
It is crazy to think of how much you could do with so little back in the day. But even this was a massive step change compared to the 8-bit machines I'd been using up to that point. These I'd mostly used for programming and games (although I did do a bit of word processing on BBC machines, and a teeny tiny amount of spreadsheet stuff). I did have a light gun for my ZX Spectrum but, boy, was it tedious graphics with (although I did do it), as compared to DPaint.
It's amazing that a platform that's been dead since the early 90's is still getting so much love.
EvanAnderson
Piling-on here: My A1200 and CD32 haven't been powered-on since 2001. They worked when they went into climate-controlled storage but need to be recapped.
I haven't had luck finding anybody in the US with experience recapping these models who will do the work. The one person I found was unwilling to do the work w/o my verifying if they work now. I think it's a mistake to apply power to them in their current state since that could cause damage.
If anybody has recommendations I'd appreciate it. I'm not looking to cheap-out on this (particularly with the CD32, since I'm the original owner and have all the original packing material, etc). I just want them done right so they can be preserved and used again.
Email is in my profile.
show comments
ManlyBread
I've never experienced the original Amiga and I probably never will. I would however be open to emulating the machine. Are there any good resources for people like who would like to try out the whole ecosystem as a complete newbie in 2025? My knowledge about Amiga is close to zero.
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icedchai
I wish I kept my Amiga 500! My parents gave it away. :(
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krige
Having went through a similar process with an A600 and then A1200 I enjoy reading through these writeups. Diskmaster, wow that's old-school (t. Filemaster enjoyer)
Although this system will be somewhat hobbled by OS 1.3, I doubt OP will be bothered by that much. Have fun!
xyzal
After many years I turned on the A500 in my attic and got immediate motion sickness from the 50Hz monitor flicker. I guess this is the reason I have to wear glasses now.
eggfriedrice
Classy job!
anthk
On the games list, I found Lotus III, good, but the Dr Who one was missing.
It's a great platform game.
If you want to experience the Amiga ecosystem in 2025 without touching hardware, the easiest path is:
WinUAE (Windows) or FS-UAE (Mac/Linux) — great defaults, easy setup
Install Workbench 1.3 or 3.1 plus: Directory Opus, Diskmaster, WHDLoad
Use curated packs like Workbench 3.X ClassicWB so you don’t have to configure everything manually
For games, WHDLoad bundles are a massive quality-of-life improvement over floppy juggling
You’ll get 90% of the “Amiga feel” without hunting vintage hardware.
It's funny. I objectively know that 9MB of RAM is tiny by modern standards and, indeed, has been tiny for decades now. My friend's dad got a PC with 32MB of RAM in 1996, or maybe early 1997, to put it into perspective.
But I can still look at a screenshot of Workbench 1.3 running on an Amiga 500 displaying "8831544 free memory" and it feels like an absolute ocean of RAM for that machine and that time and, most importantly, for the software that was available in that era.
Back in the early 90s I used to, with 1MB of RAM, code, play games, make music, do word processing, create graphics with both DPaint III (or was it IV?), and create vector drawings with a CAD package, create spreadsheets, create fractal landscapes with Vista, not to mention a ton of other stuff as well.
It is crazy to think of how much you could do with so little back in the day. But even this was a massive step change compared to the 8-bit machines I'd been using up to that point. These I'd mostly used for programming and games (although I did do a bit of word processing on BBC machines, and a teeny tiny amount of spreadsheet stuff). I did have a light gun for my ZX Spectrum but, boy, was it tedious graphics with (although I did do it), as compared to DPaint.
Don't forget that Aminet is still receiving regular uploads: https://www.aminet.net/
It's amazing that a platform that's been dead since the early 90's is still getting so much love.
Piling-on here: My A1200 and CD32 haven't been powered-on since 2001. They worked when they went into climate-controlled storage but need to be recapped.
I haven't had luck finding anybody in the US with experience recapping these models who will do the work. The one person I found was unwilling to do the work w/o my verifying if they work now. I think it's a mistake to apply power to them in their current state since that could cause damage.
If anybody has recommendations I'd appreciate it. I'm not looking to cheap-out on this (particularly with the CD32, since I'm the original owner and have all the original packing material, etc). I just want them done right so they can be preserved and used again.
Email is in my profile.
I've never experienced the original Amiga and I probably never will. I would however be open to emulating the machine. Are there any good resources for people like who would like to try out the whole ecosystem as a complete newbie in 2025? My knowledge about Amiga is close to zero.
I wish I kept my Amiga 500! My parents gave it away. :(
Having went through a similar process with an A600 and then A1200 I enjoy reading through these writeups. Diskmaster, wow that's old-school (t. Filemaster enjoyer)
Although this system will be somewhat hobbled by OS 1.3, I doubt OP will be bothered by that much. Have fun!
After many years I turned on the A500 in my attic and got immediate motion sickness from the 50Hz monitor flicker. I guess this is the reason I have to wear glasses now.
Classy job!
On the games list, I found Lotus III, good, but the Dr Who one was missing. It's a great platform game.