I'd say that magic is a combination of how we felt first time laying eyes/ears on an Amiga coupled with the superiority of its technology and software. That the custom chips had "names" instead of just part numbers. How intuitive and easy it was to create eye popping graphics and animation, not to mention all the sound samples, effects and music of Paula. There really wasn't anything like it back then. C64 maybe, if you were into the 8-bits hardcore. Apple's Mac was a friggin' joke. We had a 9" black and white TV growing up in the kitchen and ONE color TV in the living room. At 14/15yo, I remember laughing my ass off when the original Mac came out.
Ahem... Today though, it's fun to see how far we can push the Amiga. Especially now that *some* of the peripherals we might not have been able to afford back in the day are affordable now, is in a way, like revisiting an old friend. Getting to know the idiosyncrasies like never before is compelling on the Amiga. This might sound strange, but I'm more of a "hardware" guy than software. I keep telling myself I'll get "better" at using my Amiga someday and well, there's another reason why the machine is compelling. It keeps drawing you back as you yearn to learn more. Having large collections of software is really nice in this endeavor and the old mags such as AmigaWorld and Amazing Computing (all ALL of the minor mags too) really help round out the classic Amiga experience. I love collecting boxed software too. Having something physical to hold in your hand, read the back of the box and take in the artwork. Boxed Amiga software, like Atari 2600 boxes, just look so cool. Really made you want to purchase. Relatively speaking, kids are missing out on so much today. What they have for marketing is a joke and much of today's products suck anyway, so I guess it doesn't matter. Amiga represents and takes me back to a higher quality time. Some would call this nostalgia. Most all of my friends are in their 50's (I'm 38), so they totally get most of the fascination I have with older technologies et al and enjoy seeing my wares. Takes them back too as many had C=, TI or TRS-80 products back then. They're never really compelled to sit and play them, but they can sure hold a conversation about 'em for as long as you'd let them talk. lol I do have a buddy that used to fly commercial planes. I was thinking about plopping him down in front of SubLogic's Flight Simulator one of these days and see what he thinks.
There's still plenty to be impressed about the robust AmigaOS in all its "simplicity". I'm enjoying OS1.3 and 3.1 again after all these years. The computer: the way it looks, the way it feels (tactilely and OS wise) can't be beat. Helps being older too, having literally grown up with ALL types of computers, starting in the late 70's. So having a more rounded and centered understanding of the evolution of personal computing than someone much younger, is what I would attribute my seemingly undying "love" for all things Amiga
-edit- I also love the font of the Amiga, the rainbow checkmark, the word Commodore and the C= logo :lol:
