Remember when computing was fun?
Every now and then, I find myself virtualising an operating system just to use one specific piece of software that is not available on my current host machine.
In my spare time, I enjoy experimenting with Hollywood Multimedia Application Layer:
http://www.hollywood-mal.com. Hollywood is an interesting tool because it can run on several platforms, including the latest Amiga operating systems and hardware.
Most of the time, I use the Windows version. But at some point, I asked myself: “What would it be like to run this on a (real) Amiga?”. So, I gave it a try.
The Amiga: Still Alive Thanks to Its Community ❤️
Many of you will still remember the Commodore Amiga computers.
Recently, I discovered that there are still many passionate people out there keeping the platform alive. Real heroes, honestly. The community is still active, still experimenting, still building, still preserving.
I only wish there were more hardware options available today.
A Machine Ahead of Its Time 🚀
When the Amiga first appeared, it was so innovative that some people say even Commodore’s own sales representatives struggled to explain what it was truly capable of.
Andy Warhol experimented with it, and some of his digital works were created using Amiga hardware and software. That alone says a lot about how forward-thinking the platform was.
Sadly, the Amiga was not the first great technology to lose the battle in the marketplace, and it certainly was not the last. Today, the Amiga is a survivor. And maybe that is part of its charm.
Operating Systems: Do We Really Have Enough Choice?
Do we have enough high-quality alternatives to make the operating system landscape truly diverse? Probably not.
We have seen public institutions move from open-source solutions back to proprietary software after experimenting for a while. Apple seems to have slowed down the Macintosh story a bit. Linux is still there, together with many other operating systems, offering an alternative for some users, but not for everyone.
I wish the Amiga had become one of those valid alternatives. It did not happen. But hey, you can still do something with it!
Want to Try It Yourself? 🛠️
If you would like to try the Amiga platform, or maybe even take part in the community, a good place to start is the video below. It shows the three essential things you need in order to emulate the platform on your Windows PC or Mac.
Not all of those technologies are strictly mandatory, but they do make the whole process much easier. Some of them also involve a cost, and no, none of that money goes to me.
Start there and decide your next step: drop the idea, give it a quick try, or become a regular member of the community.
In the End, It Is All About Having Fun 🎮
That is really what this is about: curiosity, nostalgia, experimentation, and fun.
Originally posted on LinkedIn on 24 April 2017