Amiga Walker

Not to be confused with the computer games Walker or Mind Walker.

The Amiga Walker (1996).

The Amiga Walker, sometimes incorrectly known as the Mind Walker, is a prototype of an Amiga computer developed and shown by Amiga Technologies in late 1995/early 1996. Walker was planned as a replacement for the A1200 with a faster CPU, better expansion capabilities and a built-in CD-ROM. The Walker was never released; Escom and Amiga Technologies went bankrupt, and only two prototypes were made.^[1][2][3]

The case is unique and radically different from computers before it. The intention was also to make the motherboard available without the case so users could put it into a standard PC case. There were a number of other potential case designs of different sizes, the Walker motherboard could fit all of them; this allowed for expandability tailored to the user's requirements.^[4]

Despite Amiga Technologies' bravery in producing an innovative case, it did not get a very good reception. Comparisons were made with vacuum cleaners, Darth Vader's helmet and even Doctor Who's electronic dog K-9.

Technical information

Specifications

The Amiga Walker motherboard.

• CPU:
  • Motorola 68030/33 MHz (in the prototype version)
  • Motorola 68030/40 MHz (compared to 68020/14 MHz in A1200)
• Chipset: AGA
• Memory:
  • 1 MB Kickstart ROM (compared to 512 kB in the original Amiga 1200)
  • 2 MB Chip RAM
  • 4 MB Fast RAM (only in the production version)
• Drives:
  • internal CD-ROM
  • 1.44 MB internal floppy drive
• Realtime clock onboard
• Additional:
  • Amiga keyboard

See also

• Power A5000
• Amiga models and variants

References

1. "The Amiga Walker". Nicholas Blachford. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
2. "Amiga Technologies: Walker". Big Book of Amiga Hardware. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
3. "Walker". Magazine AmiagOS et MorphOS. Retrieved 2008-11-26.
4. "The Walker concept". Amiga history guide. Retrieved 2008-11-26.

External links

• Short video of an Amiga Walker prototype on YouTube