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Author Topic: The Amiga Development System (a new one found in the USA)  (Read 5474 times)

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Offline amigaloveTopic starter

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The Amiga Development System (a new one found in the USA)
« on: April 27, 2019, 04:57:04 PM »
Hi Guys!

I wanted to share something that has come into my possession recently: one of only half a dozen known Amiga Development Systems. According to one NEW piece of information I just received moments ago, mine is called "ZORRO" (where the very early versions were called Velvet) and this is where the Zorro name comes from.

This machine was created before a single Amiga was ever sold in the U.S. in either 1984 or early 1985. It was sent to Hewlett Packard in the hopes they would support the future platform by creating software and tools. They decided not to invest, and a gentleman purchased it from HP in the spring of 1985. We was quite likely the only non-Commodore employee to ever own an Amiga at that time.

In any case, I created a 17-minute video about the machine and the obvious differences between it and the earliest Amigas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfUVgHsPoNU

I also wrote a longer explanation of the machine and posted it here with several more photos:
https://amigalove.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1031

The key differences (in my mind) are:
- The logo is not an Amiga/Checkmark logo. It is an embossed Commodore logo instead.
- The keyboard doesn't have the Amiga red "A" keys - it has Chicken Lips
- There are no signatures under the top shell.
- It has really early custom chips: Portia (instead of Paula) and Daphne (instead of Denise) as well as a very early Agnus.



 

Offline Gulliver

Re: The Amiga Development System (a new one found in the USA)
« Reply #1 on: April 27, 2019, 06:52:06 PM »
Congratulation for that lovely treasure!

I have a spare kidney in almost healthy condition to trade for that Amiga.  ;D

I would love to have one of those, upgrade it just enough, and be able to use it to develop AmigaOS nowadays. It would be an epic historical journey.

Well, I can only dream...

Thank you for posting the pictures.

I hope it arrives to caring hands, so that it may last 35 more years.
 

Offline paul1981

Re: The Amiga Development System (a new one found in the USA)
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2019, 12:11:05 PM »
I'd love to see the output from WhichAmiga!
 

Offline hishamk

Re: The Amiga Development System (a new one found in the USA)
« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2019, 11:40:58 PM »
That's a terrific find! Congrats.

As for the smooth finish plastic, it seems typical of prototypes/pre-production machines.

An eBay auction for a prototype Macintosh SE explains:

"If you collect Macs, this 'smooth finish' instantly sets this Mac apart. It reflects light and shines, as you pass it.

It is hard to see in the pictures, but the finish is mirror like , to the touch.
I wiped the panel with a damp cloth to try and highlight this smooth finish.

Such parts are usually the result of test runs, on the new mold/tool.
Usually only a few hundred test pieces are made.
When the molded part has passed inspection the final treatment of the mold's surface is applied to give the textured finish we are so familiar with."

Source: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Apple-factory-Macintosh-SE-with-Prototype-smooth-finish-case/173874404360

2x A1000, 2x A2000, 1x A3000, 4x A1200, 3x A500, 1x CDTV, 1x CD32, 2x Pegasos II, 1x EFIKA