Commodore 64 Is Back: 21st Century All-In-One C64

The Commodore 64 Is Back with 21st-Century Makeover

The Commodore 64, that cheap-and-geeky 1980s home-computing classic, , is making a triumphant return to the mass market. This version of the Commodore 64 is a new machine for a new age, though: gone are the raised black keys and textured plastic housing.

The new C64 is an all-in-one, with the hard drive and CPU bundled into the keyboard itself, which in turn can attach to an existing display or television.  Slim though it is, the C64 retains a slightly old-school look. The target audience won't mind.

Commodore 64 tech specs include an Intel G31 motherboard, up to 3.4Ghz INtel Core 2 Duo processor, Gigabit Ethernet, and dual SATA2 ports. The new C64 will be able to run Linux, Windows, AROS, and an Amiga emulator.

The new Commodore 64 will be available through Commodore's online store on June 1, but no pricing has been listed so far.

Commodore: Same Same but Different

Commodore is not the same company that originally manufactured the C64 and the immortal PET, but a newer holding company that bought the Commodore name. Commodore (the new Commodore) released a line of netbooks at CES 2009.

 

The original Commodore 64 was priced very low ($600 originally, then reduced to $200- insanely cheap for the Eighties), but its operating system and components were willfully geeky, and not aimed at the layperson, who had yet to incorporate the personal computer into his or her life. Apple would sieze on that perception gap to position its Apple IIc.