After years of on-again, off-again teasing, it looks like Commodore (or Commodore USA at least), may have figured out a way to remain relevant and/or re-invent themselves: release a computer that looks like a C64 but stuff it with modern components.
The new model will be called the PC64 and will be an exact replica of the C64 case. The innards will include an Intel Atom processor combined with an Nvidia ION2 graphics , similar to what you might get in a new netbook. The PC64 will also come with 4GB of memory, 1TB hard drive and all the other usual suspects – Bluetooth, WiFi, and even an option Blu-ray drive.
Being a child of the 80′s, it does seem cool for Commodore to go retro – at least on the outside but I wish they would have used the Commodore 128 chassis – it was so much cooler, no?
The PC64 should be available for purchase during the holiday season.
“64″ surely has a very different meaning today as it did back in your school days. Then it meant 64k today, 64 would more likely refer to 64-bit processing.
My first computer was a VIC 20 – or was it a TRS-80? Hmmm.. can’t remember.
Ah! A sign of times!
I spent many days on a portable TRS-80 with daisywheel printer. I don’t think I want that back, but something like this …. well, if the price is right a person might do it for the novelty of it.
The choice of the ’64 is the right one. It’s the one that most people remember and it has the funky art-deco look that the ’128 lacks. Nobody remembers what the TRS-80 or TI-90 looked like but the C-64 is iconic.
And, yes, I will buy one. And I have just the CRT to hook to it somewhere in my basement. Needless to say, if it’s not shipped with one, the first app installed will be a C-64 emulator, and then a copy of Blue Max.
All I remember from the TRS-80 days is the DeskMate software that came with it. And why I remember is beyond me.
Ah, the old Tandy Radio Shack. I cut my teeth on that one! Also had the VIC 20 at home with a big 5K ram hook up to the TV for a monitor.
I was a Commodore 128 kid