1-2 Introducing the Amiga 500 drives). jacks, connectors and ports, into which you can plug peripherals (optional external equipment, like printers, modems, and extra disk insert optional additional memory. On the back, there arc several bottom of the main unit there is an expansion slot into which you can and processing circuitry (e.g.. the sound and graphics chips). On the built-in V/i inch floppy disk drive. The main unit houses the CPU (central processing unit) and other microchips containing memory The Main Unit contains the computer circuitry, the keyboard, and a to connect all the components so you can begin computing. the main unit and additional components.
The capsule descriptions following identify these components and describe their basic functions. Chapter 2 tells how CPU—in one unit, called the main unit. A typical Amiga 500 system consists of The Amiga 500 combines a number of components—keyboard, disk drive, and Amiga 500. These descriptions demonstrate that in selecting the Amiga 500 you have chosen one of the most advanced microcomputers available today. Later in this chapter there is a section describing the major features of the scheme). This gives the Amiga a considerable advantage in processing speed.
must spend in indirectly accessing expansion RAM (e.g., by using a RAM disk this RAM is directly accessible, eliminating the time that other micorcomputers to a full megabyte internally (by adding the A501 memory expansion unit). All For example, the Amiga 500 comes equipped with 512 K of RAM, expandable more. In the Amiga 500. these features are enhanced and new ones are added. data of various types (program code, graphics, sound); easy expandability:
and (multitasking operation); a unique file structure that allows programs to exchange music capabilities; the ability to perform a number of tasks simultaneously Amiga 1000 "the Maserati of microcomputers"'—high speed/high efficiency processing; superb graphic and video resources; advanced stereo sound and The Amiga 500 retains all the features that inspired reviewers to dub the original minimum of effort. ble, so easy to control that even a computer novice can be up and running with a yet affordable. And all this power and sophistication have been made so accessi The Amiga 500's spectrum of capabilities is wide, sophisticated, versatile and Introducing The Amiga 500