3 ms·

Commodore 64 set for comeback

27 points by techdog 17y ago

gibsonf1 17y ago
It's hard not to have fond memories for my good old commodore 64... Wow, if I could have had this new version back then!
Luyt 17y ago
Are they trying to capitalize on the epic name 'Commodore 64'? Commodore itself calls this new machine the 'Phoenix', but in their ad they do refer to the original C64. About the only thing the original has in common with the Phoenix is its form factor. It looks nice and handy, but in my view it doesn't have anything that makes it stand apart from conventional PC's. This is in contrast to the original C64, which was kind of disruptive. edit: typos
michael_dorfman 17y ago
Of course, this is a Commodore 64 in name only-- it bears little resemblance to the original machine. Personally, I was more impressed by the "C-One" project (http://www.c64upgra.de/c-one/ http://www.c64upgra.de/c-one/) which attempts to reproduce the C64 in an FPGA. And, let's not forget Jeri Ellsworth's "C64 in a joystick": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeri_Ellsworth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeri_Ellsworth What I'd really like to see is a hardware clone of the C64, that takes an external keyboard and plus into a standard monitor. With today's technology, this should be tiny and cheap-- hell, you could probably give it away in a box of corn flakes. Talk about "one laptop per child"....
- Luc 17y ago
  > What I'd really like to see is a hardware clone of the C64, that takes an external keyboard and plus into a standard monitor Connecting a PS2 keyboard is fairly simple - there's solder pads on the PCB for it: http://www.colmer.info/c64/c64dtv.asp#Connecting_a_PS/2_keyboard http://www.colmer.info/c64/c64dtv.asp#Connecting_a_PS/2_keyb... It's not too hard to make an S-Video connection, either. You can just connect it to a cheap flat panel TV - no need for monitor resolutions...
- vidarh 17y ago
  If you like the C-One, you might also like: * http://www.minimig.net/ http://www.minimig.net/ (Re-implementation of a classic Amiga using a Freescale 68k + FPGA + PIC or ARM microcontrollers * http://www.fpgaarcade.com/ http://www.fpgaarcade.com/ (Re-implementation of classic Arcade boards and home computers, including support for the Minimig FPGA cores, and an improved one that does AGA for A1200 etc. compatibility) * http://www.natami.net/ http://www.natami.net/ (FPGA based implementation of an "improved" classic style Amiga - AGA + improvements combined with their "68050" FPGA based CPU core) Minimig is for sale (and plans to build your own are also available) from a number of companies - I have one at home. The FPGA Arcade board is "right around the corner" (the first production run is underway). Natami is in the board bring-up phase (there's an interesting thread on their forum about it, as they're enabling feature by feature). Makes me want to learn how to do FPGA based stuff myself. These boards create a great baseline to experiment on.
- SomeCallMeTim 17y ago
  It's apparently this computer, rebranded: http://www.cybernetman.com/en/products/zero-footprint-pc/zpc-gx31.cfm http://www.cybernetman.com/en/products/zero-footprint-pc/zpc...
  - steverb 17y ago
    Thank you. I knew I'd seen that thing before.
  - rbanffy 17y ago
    No... That one is their VIC-20 ;-)
jcromartie 17y ago
I have had a similar idea for a modern version of the C64. This one looks utterly uninspiring, however. It's just a big jumble of parts and features. It looks like a bit of a powerhouse compared to what the original C64 did. The configuration options look staggering (quad core, 4GB of RAM, optical drive, multiple SATA and PCI slots, serial, parallel, PS/2) and it will just run some junky commodity (maybe lightly customized) OS. To sum up what's wrong with it: http://www.commodoreusa.net/i//9100_rear-1.jpg http://www.commodoreusa.net/i//9100_rear-1.jpg If I were building one, it would have solid-state storage, a few USB ports, WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI out, audio in/out, and that's it, and for software it would have to run something Linux-based, but more in line with the old systems that booted to BASIC. Maybe a Lua prompt instead?
rbanffy 17y ago
This is not a C64. It's an insult to its heritage. It's not even beige ;-) Now, seriously, it's a PC. A keyboard PC, but, still, a PC.
vidarh 17y ago
It's a rebranded, off the shelf PC targetted for Point Of Sale use from a company called Cybernet Manufacturing.
- deleted 17y ago
  [deleted]
- MrFoof 17y ago
  That would explain the RS-232 serial ports, parallel port and PS/2 ports. I remember seeing some other stock photos and was wondering why it had what appeared to be a Track2/Track3 Magnetic Stripe Reader. I last had worked with developing for POS hardware about 5 years ago, and even then, USB receipt printers and barcode scanners were still very much fringe at the time. Apparently 5 years later they still are rare, but I guess that's to be expected considering the age of most POS suites.
kp212 17y ago
I just hope they release River Raid, Dig Dug, Spy Hunter, Impossible Mission, Pit Stop, Archon....oh the glory days.
- thinkzig 17y ago
  Impossible Mission was the best! Unless you were trying to play it on the Atari 7800. :)
cturner 17y ago
It's a PC, with a terrible video card. Boooring!! Something that would be interesting like this would PPC hardware that would run AmigaOS or MorphOS. So long as it has a decent video card.
- CodeMage 17y ago
  I wouldn't exactly say "boooooring". For us sentimental people who still remember their C64 fondly, it has certain value. I just hope that the price tag does not exceed that value ;)
jasongullickson 17y ago
If it's durable, inexpensive and introduces thousands of children to programming then it's "64-ish" enough for me. ...the deciding factor will be the software, I can see this coupled with Ubuntu and Scratch as being an acceptable descendant; but running Windows and...whatever free and accessible development tools they provide...oh wait...
- galactus 17y ago
  > If it's durable, inexpensive and introduces thousands of children to programming then it's "64-ish" enough for me. Amen
hernan7 17y ago
Some redditors seem to think this is a hoax: http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/bhl3d/the_new_commodore_64_set_to_ship_in_june_looks/ http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/bhl3d/the_new_co...
code_duck 17y ago
Was everyone else hoping for a 1 Mhz system with 64k of ram or something? Of course it's not a Commodore 64. However, I find the design enticing, and I could totally picture my kids laying down on the floor in front of the TV with one of these in front of them.
hkuo 17y ago
Why do I need to buy a new Commodore 64 when my old one still works? Honestly, the only upgrade I would want in a new Commodore 64 is the ability to play games immediately without having to wait for floppy disk load times. And I'm not talking about using emulators. I want the same software, same hardware, same peripherals, just no floppy disk waits.
jimm 17y ago
My office mate and I were talking about old boxen yesterday. This morning, he gave me his old Commodore 64, in the box. <Stimpy>Joy!</Stimpy>

27 points by techdog 17y ago

It's hard not to have fond memories for my good old commodore 64... Wow, if I could have had this new version back then!

Luyt 17y ago

Are they trying to capitalize on the epic name 'Commodore 64'? Commodore itself calls this new machine the 'Phoenix', but in their ad they do refer to the original C64. About the only thing the original has in common with the Phoenix is its form factor. It looks nice and handy, but in my view it doesn't have anything that makes it stand apart from conventional PC's. This is in contrast to the original C64, which was kind of disruptive. edit: typos

michael_dorfman 17y ago

Of course, this is a Commodore 64 in name only-- it bears little resemblance to the original machine. Personally, I was more impressed by the "C-One" project (http://www.c64upgra.de/c-one/ http://www.c64upgra.de/c-one/) which attempts to reproduce the C64 in an FPGA. And, let's not forget Jeri Ellsworth's "C64 in a joystick": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeri_Ellsworth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeri_Ellsworth What I'd really like to see is a hardware clone of the C64, that takes an external keyboard and plus into a standard monitor. With today's technology, this should be tiny and cheap-- hell, you could probably give it away in a box of corn flakes. Talk about "one laptop per child"....

Luc 17y ago
> What I'd really like to see is a hardware clone of the C64, that takes an external keyboard and plus into a standard monitor Connecting a PS2 keyboard is fairly simple - there's solder pads on the PCB for it: http://www.colmer.info/c64/c64dtv.asp#Connecting_a_PS/2_keyboard http://www.colmer.info/c64/c64dtv.asp#Connecting_a_PS/2_keyb... It's not too hard to make an S-Video connection, either. You can just connect it to a cheap flat panel TV - no need for monitor resolutions...
vidarh 17y ago
If you like the C-One, you might also like: * http://www.minimig.net/ http://www.minimig.net/ (Re-implementation of a classic Amiga using a Freescale 68k + FPGA + PIC or ARM microcontrollers * http://www.fpgaarcade.com/ http://www.fpgaarcade.com/ (Re-implementation of classic Arcade boards and home computers, including support for the Minimig FPGA cores, and an improved one that does AGA for A1200 etc. compatibility) * http://www.natami.net/ http://www.natami.net/ (FPGA based implementation of an "improved" classic style Amiga - AGA + improvements combined with their "68050" FPGA based CPU core) Minimig is for sale (and plans to build your own are also available) from a number of companies - I have one at home. The FPGA Arcade board is "right around the corner" (the first production run is underway). Natami is in the board bring-up phase (there's an interesting thread on their forum about it, as they're enabling feature by feature). Makes me want to learn how to do FPGA based stuff myself. These boards create a great baseline to experiment on.
SomeCallMeTim 17y ago
It's apparently this computer, rebranded: http://www.cybernetman.com/en/products/zero-footprint-pc/zpc-gx31.cfm http://www.cybernetman.com/en/products/zero-footprint-pc/zpc...
- steverb 17y ago
  Thank you. I knew I'd seen that thing before.
- rbanffy 17y ago
  No... That one is their VIC-20 ;-)

jcromartie 17y ago

I have had a similar idea for a modern version of the C64. This one looks utterly uninspiring, however. It's just a big jumble of parts and features. It looks like a bit of a powerhouse compared to what the original C64 did. The configuration options look staggering (quad core, 4GB of RAM, optical drive, multiple SATA and PCI slots, serial, parallel, PS/2) and it will just run some junky commodity (maybe lightly customized) OS. To sum up what's wrong with it: http://www.commodoreusa.net/i//9100_rear-1.jpg http://www.commodoreusa.net/i//9100_rear-1.jpg If I were building one, it would have solid-state storage, a few USB ports, WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI out, audio in/out, and that's it, and for software it would have to run something Linux-based, but more in line with the old systems that booted to BASIC. Maybe a Lua prompt instead?

rbanffy 17y ago

This is not a C64. It's an insult to its heritage. It's not even beige ;-) Now, seriously, it's a PC. A keyboard PC, but, still, a PC.

vidarh 17y ago

It's a rebranded, off the shelf PC targetted for Point Of Sale use from a company called Cybernet Manufacturing.

deleted 17y ago
[deleted]
MrFoof 17y ago
That would explain the RS-232 serial ports, parallel port and PS/2 ports. I remember seeing some other stock photos and was wondering why it had what appeared to be a Track2/Track3 Magnetic Stripe Reader. I last had worked with developing for POS hardware about 5 years ago, and even then, USB receipt printers and barcode scanners were still very much fringe at the time. Apparently 5 years later they still are rare, but I guess that's to be expected considering the age of most POS suites.

kp212 17y ago

I just hope they release River Raid, Dig Dug, Spy Hunter, Impossible Mission, Pit Stop, Archon....oh the glory days.

thinkzig 17y ago
Impossible Mission was the best! Unless you were trying to play it on the Atari 7800. :)

cturner 17y ago

It's a PC, with a terrible video card. Boooring!! Something that would be interesting like this would PPC hardware that would run AmigaOS or MorphOS. So long as it has a decent video card.

CodeMage 17y ago
I wouldn't exactly say "boooooring". For us sentimental people who still remember their C64 fondly, it has certain value. I just hope that the price tag does not exceed that value ;)

jasongullickson 17y ago

If it's durable, inexpensive and introduces thousands of children to programming then it's "64-ish" enough for me. ...the deciding factor will be the software, I can see this coupled with Ubuntu and Scratch as being an acceptable descendant; but running Windows and...whatever free and accessible development tools they provide...oh wait...

galactus 17y ago
> If it's durable, inexpensive and introduces thousands of children to programming then it's "64-ish" enough for me. Amen

hernan7 17y ago

Some redditors seem to think this is a hoax: http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/bhl3d/the_new_commodore_64_set_to_ship_in_june_looks/ http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/bhl3d/the_new_co...

code_duck 17y ago

Was everyone else hoping for a 1 Mhz system with 64k of ram or something? Of course it's not a Commodore 64. However, I find the design enticing, and I could totally picture my kids laying down on the floor in front of the TV with one of these in front of them.

hkuo 17y ago

Why do I need to buy a new Commodore 64 when my old one still works? Honestly, the only upgrade I would want in a new Commodore 64 is the ability to play games immediately without having to wait for floppy disk load times. And I'm not talking about using emulators. I want the same software, same hardware, same peripherals, just no floppy disk waits.

jimm 17y ago

My office mate and I were talking about old boxen yesterday. This morning, he gave me his old Commodore 64, in the box. <Stimpy>Joy!</Stimpy>