Commodore USA to Revive Commodore 64

CommanderFrank

CommanderFrank

Cat Can't Scratch It
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A trip back in time is about to happen and the time machine is a Commodore 64. For those of us old enough to remember the original, this will look and feel like the real deal.

The device will feature an exact replica of the original beige Commodore C64 chassis, but under the bonnet it will house more modern specifications that include a dual-core Intel Atom 525 CPU with Nvidia Ion2 graphics, 4GB DDR3 memory, 1TB hard drive and a CD/DVD drive. A Blu-ray drive is available as an optional extra.
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Ugh, why the Atom? It might as well have the original CPU. At least put a Core i3 in it.

I know the ION's a nice GPU but I'm not familiar with the ION2.
 
An ARM Cortex-A9 CPU would have been much cooler than an anemic Atom...
 
Kinda cool i guess, but i hope it has a commie 64 emulator built in, kinda like a linux quick boot option.
 
I'm not sure if I want the authentic C64 keyboard (note: the US C64 used a UK keyboard layout) or if they should make it more like a US PC keyboard.

I used various Commodores from 1982 to 1991. Even now, to type 'LOAD "*",8,1' my fingers instinctively want to go where the keys on the Commodore were, rather than where they are on a PC keyboard.
 
I started out with a C64 but later moved on to Amigas (A500 and A1200). The A1200 was pretty expandable for its time and considering its size, I fitted a 68030 CPU at 50 MHz and added 16MB RAM (18MB total) and a 1GB hard drive as well as an external CD-ROM. It originally came with a 15 MHz CPU, 2MB of RAM and no hard drive, only a floppy drive.

It looked damn good too. I would almost have bought a modern PC modded into the A1200 case. It came with a proper keyboard, unlike the C64.
 
SuperSubZero said:
I'm not sure if I want the authentic C64 keyboard (note: the US C64 used a UK keyboard layout) or if they should make it more like a US PC keyboard.

I used various Commodores from 1982 to 1991. Even now, to type 'LOAD "*",8,1' my fingers instinctively want to go where the keys on the Commodore were, rather than where they are on a PC keyboard.
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What mechanism was the original Commodore keyboard? Mechanical or rubber dome?
 
I had a vic 20 then a c64 then I had every amiga model till they went under.

I loved me some commodore back in the day.
 
Other than the nostalgic value,I don't see much purpose in it. The real appeal of the C64 was the games,and anyone can play those on emulators.
 
Those specs would make it a nice htpc.

But as much as I loved my C-64 and C-128, I really don't think I'd get one, unless its cheap.

I wonder if the optical drive comes in a 1541 enclosure.
 
I've still got a C64, a TI99/4a, a couple Atari 2600's, and a Vectrex in the closet. Also a small stack of PC mags from back then. I really should clean out the closet more often.....
 
Stoly said:
Those specs would make it a nice htpc.

But as much as I loved my C-64 and C-128, I really don't think I'd get one, unless its cheap.

I wonder if the optical drive comes in a 1541 enclosure.
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I don't what happened to my ol' 1541. Disk I/O sounded more like it was grinding every disk into shreds than just accessing the media. The sounds of youth.
 
I used to type in a com program from memory on a C64. It was my main terminal for my ham packet radio operations. I remember visiting flea markets looking for a tape player so didn't have to type that damn program in everytime I had to turn it off or some BBS locked it up.

Good times...
 
I do hope the access times are better these days. :) My 1541 had times you could measure in days...
 
Anyone remember having to open that damn 1541 drive up and realign the heads? It was so frequent on mine I just kept the top off and a screw driver handy.
 
Shouldn't it have a tape drive/floppy something? Blu ray just jars with the old ass computer concept. Maybe they could be disguised as vinyl
 
You know what might be sweeter, and probably more profitable in the long run, don't sell a computer, sell a case that looks like a computer, hell you can have the old 1541 disc drive as a CD/HD holder.

Then anyone can stick whatever micro-ATX board they can get their hands on in there.
 
Why can't they let Commodore die with dignity... this must be the millionth attempt to revive the C64.
 
Agent_N said:
Wait, what?! Commodore is still in business?!?!
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No it's not, it's just been random companies buying up the namesake over the years and not producing anything meaningful from it.

This was the last Commodore64 computer from these guys, just a rebranded Taiwanese laptop without a screen deal with a C64 sticker slapped onto it:

commodore64.jpg
 
FSCDiablo said:
My rich friends had the Colecovision... Us common folk had Atari's :(
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All I remember Coleco having was Zaxxon (cool though) and Donkey Kong? There was also some bomber game that looked cool to a very young kid in 1983, but I think that may have actually have been an Intellivision...

I had an Atari... I just remembered being envious as I seemed to only have access to about 20% of the games my C64 friends seemed to all have. I was thrilled when I got to go over to their place to play some games! No one ever wanted to come over and play mine... :(

But, unlike my friends, I could actually program my Atari... The 6502 was a fun chip...
 
As long as they replicate (adding windows & menu keys of course) the keyboard in look and feel and sound.
 
Heh. I wish I still had my C64. I had that, 2 1541 drives, dot matrix printer, expansion cards, and a boatload of games and programs. I actually ended up throwing it all in the trash.:mad:

oh well:rolleyes:
 
Ah man, I do so remember my Commodore 64 and 1541 disc drive. I actually had the "datasette" first but got the disc drive the next Christmas.

One on One with Larry Bird and Dr J and Summer Games were the first games I ever played on there.

The ORIGINAL Wolfenstein was on C64 too.
 
I'm barely old enough to remember this. My older brother had one. I'll be looking forward to seeing what they come up with. If it's an Atom/Ion combo then it shouldn't cost much at all.
 
Spare-Flair said:
No it's not, it's just been random companies buying up the namesake over the years and not producing anything meaningful from it.

This was the last Commodore64 computer from these guys, just a rebranded Taiwanese laptop without a screen deal with a C64 sticker slapped onto it:

commodore64.jpg
Click to expand...

It has windows keys?
 
I still have a working C16 /w tape drive and with working tapes.

Does anyone remember GEOS for the C64? Yeah Windows for the commodore if you even want to call it that. Brings back so many memories. One of these days I'll fire up my C64 and play a game of Test Drive. That was fun.
 
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