My very first computer was a Commodore. A Commodore PET, to be exact. It had a chicklet keyboard, a small monchrome CRT monitor, a cassette tape drive and a whopping 8k of memory.
It propelled me into the world – and the business – of computer technology.
That was early 1982. A few months later I was the proud owner of a Commodore VIC-20 and after its launch in autumn of that year, A Commodore 64.
The Commodore 64 opened a whole new world for me. I published newletters, owned and SYSOP’d local bulletin board systems (BBS), and started two businesses with it. And, of course, I played a few games. The Commodore 64 also introduced me to CompuServe and Quantumlink, the latter being the online service that would later become AOL.
I opened the first online shopping mall in Florida – Zeta Software – on a Commodore 64. It was a dial-up BBS based virtual shopping mall and it existed between 1985 and 1986, before the Internet was public. I also used my C-64 computer to publish a newsletter for the Association of Cinematic and Video Arts, an organization for film and video production based in Orlando, Florida, for nearly seven years.
I was a big Commodore fan. I joined the Central Florida Commodore User Group (CFCUG), served as an officer and librarian of its huge software archive and wrote applications for the C-64 and C128 using Commodore Basic.
I used my Commodore 64 computer to listen to and create musical compositions – SIDS, as they were called. I created low-res graphics and animation using the Commodore Graphics keys on the keyboard.
My Commodore 64 computer was relied on for both personal and business use. It opened doors for me that previously were not within reach and considering that, in some ways it even changed my life.
But as I made the most of it, the company that made it didn’t. It went away. And I moved on.
But now- it’s back!
Yes, the Commodore 64 is back, and, according to Commodore, (which is, amazingly, still around) better than ever. This nostalgic classic even sports its original shell in its original color. But it isn’t the same computer. It’s better. It’s been brought up to speed with today’s PC technology.
Inside the new C64 is a Dual Core 525 Atom processor on a mini-ITX PC motherboard with an Nvidia Ion2 graphics chipset, 2GB DDR RAM (expandable to 4 GB) and your choice of a Blu-Ray or DVD-RW drive. It also runs a version of Linux – Ubuntu 10.04 LTS.
The keyboard? It uses Cherry brand key switches for a classic IBM touch and click sound. The keys are the same color and shape as the original.
In spite of its modern upgrades, however, Commodore did not leave its history behind. The new Commodore 64 will also run 8-bit programs – including ALL of its library of 1980’s era programs written for the original C-64.
The basic version is now available for pre-order and sells for $595.
But that’s only the beginning.
The Amiga will also return. If that’s not enough, check out these concept images for future models on the slate for 2011. For a closer look at the new Commodore 64, visit commodoreusa.net.
Welcome back, Commodore. What took you so long?
Good ole days.
I used mine to log into school and compile my home work..from home.
I did have a sweet setup at the time..
300 baud modem, 1541 and 1581 drives and all the games you could play.
I do miss helping the sysop of the Boilerroom bbs ( ed wilson ) get things up and running on that and coming up with new idea’s for the bbs.
I can tell you that when commodore came out with a 5 gig HD, we were all going OOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHH (drool)
Of course ed had to move the bbs right over to that media LOL
The good ole days.