Commodore 64 Primed For a Comeback In June 330
angry tapir writes "The Commodore 64 is getting a makeover, with a new design and some of the latest computing technologies, as the brand gets primed for a comeback. The revamped computer will be available through the Commodore USA online store, which is set to open June 1. The computer will be an all-in-one keyboard, with Intel's 64-bit quad-core microprocessors and 3D graphics capabilities."
Clear Hoax (Score:5, Insightful)
64-bit?! (Score:5, Insightful)
Then it's not a Commodore 64, it's just a modern product trying to cash in on the famous name.
Riding the back of nostalgia. (Score:2, Insightful)
Sure, the C64 was a fantastic machine in its time. But that was the 1980s. Commodore hasn't been in the public consciousness for nearly two decades (the last Amigas from Commodore - the 1200 and 4000T - ceased production in 1996, if Wikipedia can be trusted). They're planning an all-in-one keyboard computer, just like the original C64, and I can pretty much guarantee: it'll flop. The design had good reason back in the 80s, but not so much now - they're banking upon the name driving sales, but I suspect a lot of people will look at it and discount it for that same reason.
Not really a comeback (Score:5, Insightful)
Seriously: what does this have to do with the old 8bit microcomputer?
And yes... it does run Linux, sadly...
Those wishing to a Commodore 64 should look elsewhere [c64upgra.de] (or Ellsworth - haha, lame I know...)
Upgrades? (Score:5, Insightful)
From the commodoreusa website:
There’s nothing like it. At just 17.5 inches wide and 2 inches tall, it’s designed to take up far less room — and use far less energy — than any other desktop computer.
So, in other words, it's a desktop that will be a colossal PITA upgrade and will probably use non-standard parts to get everything to fit. All the upgrade inconvenience of a laptop with none of the advantages.
The C64, an eulogy (Score:5, Insightful)
By sparking the low-cost microcomputer revolution of the eighties, he prepared a whole generation to the modern digital age.
Jack Tramiel's Wikipedia entry. [wikipedia.org]
Re:Riding the back of nostalgia. (Score:5, Insightful)
And this is why your generation sucks at programming.
Nope, not a commodore (Score:4, Insightful)
load "*",8,1
to start software, it isn't commodore 64. Case closed.
Re:Clear Hoax (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Riding the back of nostalgia. (Score:5, Insightful)
Your post makes me sad on two levels; first that at 25 I'm no longer part of the younger generation (nearly everyone my age has seen/used a C64 at least in their early grades of primary school); and secondly because there are poor people out there who have never had a chance to use one.
Limited pfft: POKE, PEEK, and 64k is all anyone will ever need.
Re:Riding the back of nostalgia. (Score:3, Insightful)
As one who did programme back then (and earlier), I can assure you that his generation sucks no more or less than did the older generation; just in different ways.
What it really is (Score:5, Insightful)
Casemod.
nothing more, nothing less. a Wintel-PC with funny hat.
Re:64-bit?! (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:64-bit?! (Score:2, Insightful)
That's not really impressive, when you consider the audio quality of the cassette recorders used to store data on those low-end cassette-based computers from the 80's. In fact, Radio Shack recommended against using too 'high quality' of a cassette recorder. The data is encoded in basically the voice band. Too wide a frequency response just increases the artifacts and noise that get recorded, which is actually detrimental to the quality of the digital record.
It's about time. (Score:3, Insightful)
I'm ready to see this form factor start to get deployed again. Now that the typical desktop computer doesn't have quite as many cables coming out of it as it did a few years ago, it's time.
Re:Clear Hoax (Score:5, Insightful)
It really is rather pathetic -- they're looking for people to only purchase this slapped together crap for nostalgia's sake.
In that case, other than the nostalgia angle, I think they've captured the fundamental essence of Commodore marketing perfectly.
-- idontgno, a still-frustrated-after-all-these-years Amiga partisan
Re:The C64, an eulogy (Score:3, Insightful)
Tramiel did try to buy out project Lorraine from Hi-Toro, but Commodore managed to land the deal (and 'f*ck up' the machine, as a famous Workbench easter egg recited).
By the way, long live Jay Miner [wikipedia.org], Commodore's Steve Wozniak.