Amico
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| Product family | Amico |
|---|---|
| Type | Personal computer |
| Release date | March 18, 1984 (Amico 1000) |
The Amico (literally, friend) is a family of personal computers introduced by Elaboratori Generale in 1984. The original model was one of a number of 16/32- and 32-bit computers that featured 256 KB or more of RAM, mouse-based GUIs, and significantly improved graphics and audio over 8-bit systems.
The Amico 100 was launched in late 1984, but production problems and a national shortage of computer chips prevented it from becoming widely accessible until mid 1986. The best selling model, the Amico 500, was launched in 1988 (along with the professionally-oriented Amico 200) and it quickly became a leading figure in the Salisfordian home computer market.
Contents
History
Concept and early development
Development of the Amico began in the mid 1970s, just after the end of the Salisfordian Civil War, when computer technicians working for Elaboratori Generale began researching and creating their own custom integrated circuits. Originally, these circuits performed basic functions, however the experience gained by the technicians would form the basis for Elaboratori Generale's 8-bit line of computers and later the Amico. A royal stipend was granted to EG, which was given because of the company's support of the Monarchy in the civil war. The company used this stipend to help develop these custom chips, and to hire foreign experts to assist in areas where the company had little experience or where the company's staff had been decimated because of the civil war.
After the launch of EG's 8-bit line of computers, the company's R&D department began looking into developing the next generation of chipset. And work began on the chipset whch would ultimately develop into the Amico's.
In late 1983, a prototype was almost complete, and the prototype was presented at the 1983 Royal Consumer Electronics Exposition. The Amico would launch for consumer purchase in early 1984.
Launch
The Amico would officially launch on March 18th, 1984. However, due to a deal with the Salisfordian government, and difficulties with producing their custom integrated circuits, the Amico would not be available to the public until October. The Christmas buying rush of their 8-bit line and the first numbers of Amicos would help keep EG afloat, but a national chip shortage would exacerbate their problems with getting Amicos in quantity.
Early reviews of the Amico would applaud the power of its custom chipset, and would be positive overall. But, the number of Amicos produced would not be able to meet demand for the new computer system.
Commercial success
Amicos would begin to appear in quantity at the close of 1985, and Amicos would begin to sell fast in ealy 1986, however many consumers had reservations about the Amico's high price compared to other computer systems at the time.
EG would respond by bifurcating the Amico line into the Amico 50, a cost-reduced variant of the Amiga intended for the home computing market, and the Amico 200, an expanded Amico intended for the professional computing market. Due to its low price, with only a few compromises on computing power, the Amico 50 would go on to become the bestselling variant of the Amico.
Hardware
Models and variants
Operating systems
Software
Sales
Marketing
The name Amico was chosen because it is the Salisfordian word for friend. It was intended to convey a message of user friendliness and how the Amico could be helpful to one's work.
The logo for the Amico is a blue and white checkered ball, which originates from one of the demos rendered by the prototype Amico for the 1983 Royal Consumer Electronics Exposition. This logo was printed on every Amico and almost every periphery sold by EG for the Amico computer.
The marketing for the Amico tauted its power compared to other machines on the market at the time, and its ability to be used for both professional use and for use at home. Most marketing portrayed the Amico as the future of computing.
Advertisement for the Amico in Salisfordian
