The Commodore 64 is Back!

[T-Rexx]

The Commodore 64 is the best-selling computer of all time. And now it's back - as a PC.

The famous wedge-shaped keyboard has had the guts of a PC stuffed into it. It's been updated with a 1.8 GHz Atom processor, Nvidia Ion 2 graphics, and 2 GB RAM. It has HDMI video out and is capable of 1080p. It has four usb ports, one ps/2 port, an RJ45 lan port, and the usual audio connectors. A multi-format card reader is integrated into the right side, while a DVD (or optional Blu-Ray) drive pops out of the left side. The keyboard looks identical to the original C64's foam keys, but in fact features Cherry brand keys with audible and tactile feedback.

It apparently will ship with Windows 7, although rumors are flying that Amiga Workbench 5.0 may be an option.

No word yet on how soon the new C64 will be available, or what it will cost.

http://www.geekwithlaptop.com/commodore-64-makes-a-comeback-as-fully-functional-pc

 

[Corny]

that 's not a c64, that's a case mod

 

[T-Rexx]

^ True, that.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Damn! I was ready to start looking for my "Rat Race" disks.

 

[Dark Adept]

At 0:46 lol

 

[Dark Adept]

Hmm didn't work.......... well if someone can help me [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kw5s3CB_1pE[/ame]

 

[Paws]

Let this fucking shit die.

The Commodore company of today has nothing to do with the one back then and despite what [STRIKE]retro[/STRIKE] backwards freaks say, the C64 and Amiga are dead.

I still often play games through emulators though.

 

[HornyHenry]

What company actually makes this machine? Does it still use a separate power supply?

 

[T-Rexx]

^ The old company was called Commodore Business Machines. That company is long bankrupt, of course.

The new company, which bought (at least some of) the old trademarks is called Commodore USA.

And I'm sure it still uses an external "brick" power supply.

 

[looseliam]

that 's not a c64, that's a case mod

shhhhhhhhhh!

 

[Michiko]

Workbench 5.0? Does that even exist? Last time I heard from anything Amiga, it was AmigaOS 4.1 or so... which was PowerPC only, by the way (requiring a PPC604 or better if I remember well, so it wouldn't even run on stock Amigas without PPC add-on boards.)

 

[T-Rexx]

^ Apparently

Unleash your creative potential with our new Commodore OS, AMIGA Workbench 5.0, a distinctive, attractive, advanced and stable operating system experience, that will come pre-loaded with dozens of the latest and greatest productivity, creativity and education software the open source world has to offer. Featuring dozens of exciting 3D games, the latest web browsing technology, a Microsoft Word compatible Office Suite, advanced graphical manipulation programs, 3D raytracing software, advanced software development tools and languages, photo and movie editing and sound and music composition programs, there is no task too big or too small for a Commodore or AMIGA to accomplish.
"100% Commodore Compatible"

Feeling nostalgic? Workbench 5.0 will also be 100% Commodore compatible, able to run classic 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit era software via emulation. A beautiful user interface allows you to easily peruse games for the Commodore PET, Vic20, C16, C64, C128 and AMIGA. No need to bother with floppy disks, as practically every game you ever owned is now readily available on the internet.

http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_OS.aspx

 

[Michiko]

^ ^ ^

That doesn't sound realistic. Seeing that the thing is x86-based, that would require someone to write a few emulators for that Workbench 5.0 system.

While even an Atom has the muscle for passable 68040 emulation, which would make possible to run up to Amiga 4000-specific software, all of those are proprietary platforms which if I remember well include plenty of ASICs, and systems with lots of ASICs are particularly difficult to emulate because of synchronization issues.

The system would need a PPC emulator as well, to run some AmigaOS 3.x and 4.x software (everything requiring BlizzardPPC or CyberstormPPC or AmigaONE or whatever) The fastest PPC emulator I know of (other than Apple's very OS X-specific Rosetta) would be rather sluggish on an Atom.

Now, they're even bolder...

"All our machines will also provide optimum software flexibility with the optional extra to run Windows software either from a dual boot menu at start up, or seamlessly integrated within Workbench 5 itself."" -- from the website

Seamless Windows apps? That would require someone to port virtualization software with seamless capabilities to Workbench 5.0... and the user to provide a full copy of Windows. Or they could port Wine, but that would be rather limited.

 

[T-Rexx]

^ I believe Workbench is written in C, so it may be relatively easy to transport across platforms.

But it is interesting that the web site says "...will come pre-loaded with dozens of the latest and greatest productivity, creativity and education software the open source world has to offer." And it describes included software as "...the latest web browsing technology, a Microsoft Word compatible Office Suite, advanced graphical manipulation programs, 3D raytracing software, advanced software development tools and languages, photo and movie editing and sound and music composition programs..."

That sounds suspiciously like Linux. An X-Window manager that resembles Amiga Workbench already exists for Linux in the form of amiwm.

As far as the statement "All our machines will also provide optimum software flexibility with the optional extra to run Windows software either from a dual boot menu at start up, or seamlessly integrated within Workbench 5 itself," that also sounds like Linux in a dual boot with Windows, or "seamlessly integrated" via Wine.

As far as playing Amiga and Commodore 64 games and other software, Linux emulators for these already exist. UAE (the "Ubiquitous Amiga Emulator") is an Amiga hardware emulator, already available for Linux and other platforms. As far as Commodore 64, VIC-20, and PET machines, the VICE emulator is already available for Linux for running C-64 games and software. Note that the Commodore USA web site says "No need to bother with floppy disks, as practically every game you ever owned is now readily available on the internet" because they have no way to read old Commodore floppies.

I bet all these people have done is install Ubuntu with the amiwm X-Window manager, Wine, UAE, and VICE, and called it Workbench 5.0. I bet it even uses the Ubuntu repositories, so they don't actually have to maintain any software themselves.

 

[Michiko]

I thought of that as well, but really wanted to believe... lol.

 

[borg69unimatrix]

Ah... memories! I still have my original C-64 in the closet. When I saw this post, I thought I had a chance to finish the 'Bards Tale' game I never finished a zillion years ago!