Can it be?

[Manyak]

http://www.ohgizmo.com/2010/12/17/loada-sneak-peek-at-the-commodore-64x81/

The new C64x however is a fully functioning PC as we know it today, with a mini-ITX PC motherboard featuring a Dual Core 525 Atom processor, an NVIDIA Ion2 graphics chipset, 2GB of RAM expandable to 4, a Blu-ray drive and all the ports and connectors we’ve come to expect.

[iMav]

If it isn't too insanely priced, I will pick one up if readily available.  That would be a fun toy.

[HaaTa]

But what about the keycaps/switches?

[Lanx]

that's really fat, my 20 year old nostalgic memory tells me that the c64 wasn't as thick. i mean yea it was think that they released the slimmer white one, but damn.

[Azuremen]

But what about the keycaps/switches?

From what I've read, Cherry MX switches. Likely blues since they are comparing it to old buckle springs.

Pretty neat to see this, could imagine it selling fairly well too, with the nostalgia and relatively compact form factor.

[msiegel]

it'd be ironic if this were the new unicomp mini

[8_INCH_FLOPPY]

No way.  This is the most awsome thing I've heard all month.  If this thing ends up being 1/10th as popular as the original, and it really does use Cherry switches, it could set a new standard for keyboard manufacturers everywhere!

[8_INCH_FLOPPY]

It does use Cherry switches.  Win
http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_C64.aspx

[NamelessPFG]

Cherry switches for the integrated keyboard? Awesome...if they're MXs like we're thinking. (I don't even want to imagine the rage that'll result if they turn out to be MYs.)

Also, it sounds like it has an official C64 emulator of some sort already pre-loaded. How fitting. Bonus points if they actually have a Commodore SID socket in there (like the one on Catweasel III/IV) that said emulator uses-apparently, C64 enthusiasts are pretty damned picky about the sound to where they can't even agree on SID revisions.

(Now if they'd just throw in Amiga Forever as part of the package...oh, wait, the keyboard layout's totally wrong for that.)

[zmurf]

Bonus points if they actually have a Commodore SID socket in there (like the one on Catweasel III/IV) that said emulator uses-apparently, C64 enthusiasts are pretty damned picky about the sound to where they can't even agree on SID revisions.

I can promise you that they won't. The hardware is a standard, generic, Intel Atom based, ITX motherboard. You will have to throw in your own catweasel with sid chip if you want one.

(Now if they'd just throw in Amiga Forever as part of the package...oh, wait, the keyboard layout's totally wrong for that.)

Well.. they are going to produce a "Amiga" series of computers to... based on a linux system with a window manager that looks like Workbench... I gues that they'll probably make it come preinstalled with UAE or something..

Anyway... I feel less then unenthusiastic about this. You could as well get hold of an old C64 on ebay. Throw everything inside out. Mount an ITX moterhboard inside it. And connect the original C64 keyboard with a Keyrah keyboard adapter
It will probably be cheaper too...

I more enthusiastic about the AROS or the Natami project.
Those are really cool.

[iMav]

What about the upcoming new X1000?  Any interest here in the new Amiga OS (4.2) that has been kicking around for a while?

[sixty]

Those renders look even less realistic than the truly ergonomic. I will not believe a word I read about either of those until an actually working prototype shows up.

[zmurf]

What about the upcoming new X1000?  Any interest here in the new Amiga OS (4.2) that has been kicking around for a while?

Well. I have a µAmigaOne with AmigaOS 4.1 installed. But I'm not really sure if specialised hardware is the right way to go. I don't really like any of the SAMs, X1000, OS 4.x and MorphOS projects.

I also think that doing what Commodore-USA does, that will say: building a "new"  "Amiga OS" based on the 20year old Linux (which in it self is based on a 40 year old Unix system :wacko: ), slapping on a "workbench like" window manager, and adding a transparent classic Amiga emulation, absolutely is not the way to go.
(Hmm ... doesn't this sound familiar... didn't some other company do something similar?)

The Natami project is for me interesting only because it will allow me as a classic Amiga nerd to get new classic Amiga compatible hardware. But I do not see it as the future of Amiga. For this the only real alternative for me is the AROS project. A system that actually looks, feels, is used like and is coded against as the original AmigaOS/workbench (API compatible with classic AmigaOS 3.x). This is also true for the AmigaOS 4.x systems. But AROS have the advantage that it runs on x86, where OS4.x does not.
Both AROS and OS4.x also has transparent classic emulation. So for me the choice is easy: AROS wins since I can run it at whatever x86 hardware I want, making it possible for me to have an AmigaOS laptop. The x86 hardware is also MUCH faster then the SAMs and the upcoming X1000, which makes the emulation faster and thereby much more interesting.

[Findecanor]

Bah. A real C=64 has two DE-9 ports for joysticks on the right side and a cartridge port on the back.
They should have put real DE-9 ports there, perhaps connected to a parallel ports so that you could use vintage joysticks with the emulator.
Then they should have put the card-readers where the cartridge port was.
The power button was also on the right side behind the two joystick ports.

By the way.. This is just a 3D rendering, not a real-world prototype.

[woody]

I have a pristine (mint?) C64, maybe will let it go. Box is worn down, though.

[TheSoulhunter]

Want!

[Sam]

2GB of RAM expandable to 4

I'll wait a few years until it comes with 64GB of RAM.  That way it'll be a true C64, albeit third generation.

[McLaren]

Nirvana at last - at least for some - the Commodore 64 is reborn as an Atom-powered NetTop! With a Cherry keyboard, no less.

Announcement



Better shot of the keyboard:


From the main page: "The new Commodore 64 features genuine Cherry brand key switches, which provide a feel much better than the original, with a lovely IBM classic mechanism and click sound. The keys are the exact same shape as the original and are color matched. No expense has been spared. This is the ultimate hackers keyboard on which to wield your key-fu."

More on the Commodore 64

[iMav]

Merged with earlier thread.

[iMav]

The prototype doesn't look nearly as cool.  

http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_C64Prototype.aspx

[McLaren]

Argh! Sorry about that - I missed the original post.

I'd be tempted to buy one at the right price and throw Ubuntu on it just for grins - I never owned the original C64, and have zilch interest in running the old stuff. I just like the retro look of the unit.

This might be a good market for Nettops - package them so they look like an old 8-bit computer - something like the New Beetle and the Mini Cooper.

[Findecanor]

But ... the keyboard is totally wrong!

* There is no PETSCII on the front of the key caps!
* The Caps Lock key should be 1 unit wide and latching!
* The Commodore key should be to the left of the left Shift key,

Even though the two cursor keys together with the right Shift key were quite efficient on the original keyboard (once you got the hang of it), that would not work with modern user interfaces where Shift-Cursor is used so often for something else. From that aspect, the new cursor placement is quite good, but I don't think that they had to make the right Shift key so small. On the original keyboard, both Shift keys are the same size ...
I like that they have made the Backspace key wider and replaced the Restore below it with Delete. The Insert key is kind of superfluous if you have Fn. They could have made the C= key mean Fn.

By the way ... the original Commodore C=64 did not need any active cooling!

[Brian8bit]

These projects are just scams to cash in on the name.

[8_INCH_FLOPPY]

These projects are just scams to cash in on the name.

Never hope!  Cynic man is here to crush everyone's dreams!

[bladamson]

I also think that doing what Commodore-USA does, that will say: building a "new"  "Amiga OS" based on the 20year old Linux (which in it self is based on a 40 year old Unix system :wacko: ), slapping on a "workbench like" window manager, and adding a transparent classic Amiga emulation, absolutely is not the way to go.
(Hmm ... doesn't this sound familiar... didn't some other company do something similar?)

If they just used the Linux kernel, there's no reason that the OS would need to be Unix under the hood (then again, they could use Mach or whatever for that, too, I guess).  It'd just give them access to all the linux drivers to support a plethora of hardware.  But then they'd lose software compatibility, and it'd be like BeOS.  One hell of a cool OS with no software available for it. X_x

I think any new OS these days would have to be compatible with either Windows, MacOS, or Unix to ever take off at all.  Given the closed nature of the first two, I think Unix is the only viable option, and of the varieties of Unix available for x86 chips, Linux definitely has the best end-user software support. ;<

[quadibloc]

I can live with the SID chip just being emulated on a modern soundcard. But there's no port to which I can attach my authentic 1541 floppy drive so that I can play my old games on it. So I'll just have to use my real Commodore 64 for them.

Booting into a C64 emulator is a nice touch, and a lot of the old stuff can be downloaded now as abandonware, but this is a gap.

[Findecanor]

I can live with the SID chip just being emulated on a modern soundcard. But there's no port to which I can attach my authentic 1541 floppy drive so that I can play my old games on it.

Check out the XUM1541 project for how to make yourself an adapter that works with USB. You can use a Teensy 2.0 board. (that is how I found out about it)