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Do you remember typing Load"*",8,1 to fire up a program? How about using an Epyx Fast Load cartridge to speed up load times? If either of those bring back memories, then you grew up in (or lived through) the Commodore 64 era nearly three decades ago. With sales estimated to be as high as 17 million units, the Commodore 64 is largely regarded as the best-selling PC model of all time. It only makes sense, then, that someone would try to bring the C64 back, albeit with updated components.
Commodore 64 is ressurecting the C64 with a near replica of the original model, at least externally. It sports the same beige housing with black keys that you remember from long ago, though the plank's been upgraded with Cherry brand key switches for a better feel.
On the inside, however, nothing is as you remember it. The new Commodore 64 sports a mini-ITX motherboard with a dual-core Intel Atom 525 processor clocked at 1.8GHz, Nvidia Ion 2 graphics, up to 4GB of DDR2-667/800 RAM, onboard 6-channel audio, DVD burner (optional Blu-ray reader), multi-card reader, USB ports, and other amenities found on a modern day nettop.
Also included is a built-in Commodore 64 emulator with a handful of classic games pre-installed. Pricing ranges from $250 for a barebones setup (basically just the case and card reader) all the way to $895 for a fully loaded system with a 1TB hard drive. All units come with Ubunutu 10.04 LTS on disk and ready to install.
Image Credit: Commodore 64
Comments are closed on this article
dmackey828
April 07, 2011 at 6:08pm
I'm a Commodore Nut, http://www.n2dvm.com and I WON'T be buying one of these..
Sorry CUSA.
Wingzero_x
April 06, 2011 at 5:53pm
It's just wrong!
Also can't we already just get this emulator anyway? Heck we can get this one and more! Personally I think they would do better by releasing the C64 as it was. With perhaps a few mods.
2dougmac
April 06, 2011 at 4:04pm
I so wanted a C64 when I was growing up, but couldn't afford it. Used to go into Gemco (strike any cords?) and just paw the keyboard with longing.
Now, to think of it jacked up with that much, I don't know if it sounds great to have it back on the market, or it's heresy.
CaptainFabulous
April 06, 2011 at 2:53pm
Wow, it's really ridiculously expensive, and it doesn't even have a display. And an Atom/Ion combo places it right in the netbook bin. Too bad.
gdouglass
April 06, 2011 at 1:56pm
Let us know when there is a computer looking like the Atari 800XL or 130XE!
The Ataris were better computers than the C64.
Gene
hammeredtoast
April 06, 2011 at 12:40pm
This is funnier than anything. On all levels. It's so funny to me, in fact, that I have no idea how to explain why.
pfilias
April 06, 2011 at 12:35pm
Those 1581 drives were bad ass. I got about 3 or 4 of them and ran my BBS using them. I had tried a 5 and 7.5MB Commodore hard drive, but they failed, so I settled on the SFD and a few 1581s. Those were some AMAZING days. Heck, for a few hundred, I'd get one of these systems, mainly for nostalgia's sake.
Neufeldt2002
April 06, 2011 at 12:29pm
I read this a couple of days ago on Cnet. Yes, this brings back memories of high school, sitting with my friends playing games until our eyes hurt. The only thing I can think of that would make this worth while is the emulator and games that it comes with. But, that seems that it would get old fast, otherwise I will just stick with a regular computer.
DrX69
April 06, 2011 at 11:35am
i want! I still have my c128 and it still works!!! I origianlly had the c64. Hamburger... true but you completely missed the point. my c64 and c128 is the whole reason i make good money today. I have a soft spot for it as does many others. tommM... I still have (all working last time i hooked it up about a year or so ago): c128, 4x1541, 2x1571, blue chip daisy wheel (which you can STILL get ink for), 1581, mps-803 printer (STILL can get ribbons also), 1530 cassette drive, 1901 monitor (still works), modem.
darthgriffin
April 06, 2011 at 3:35pm
I've also got one sitting out in my garage with the fastload cartridge, modem, couple of disk drives and 2 printers. Just don't know what to do with the thing.
Hamburger
April 06, 2011 at 12:38pm
No, I didn't miss the point. I totally get that you are paying extra nostalgia and 15 minutes of Ooohs and Aaahs from friends that also had C64s.
TommM
April 06, 2011 at 11:40am
LOL...sounds like you have the Commodore version of the Smithsonian display in your house.
Hamburger
April 06, 2011 at 10:28am
It's an over-priced netbook without a display. Best to buy the bare-bones and piece something together yourself.
TommM
April 06, 2011 at 10:28am
Loved my C64 days. Man, there were some classic games I played on that - the Zork triology, Bard's Tale, the Ultima series, Impossible Mission. Plus I had the incredibly loud and slow Commodore Daisy Wheel printer - what a beast that was. But I'll have to pass on this little toy as it really doesn't offer anything I don't already have (except the keyboard). But great to see a blast from the past.
