Computers

Commodore USA unveils Amiga Mini, updated range

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With an anodized aluminum case, rounded corners and front-loading slot drive, the Amiga mini is strongly reminiscent of the pre-2010 Mac Mini (Image: Commodore USA)
With an anodized aluminum case, rounded corners and front-loading slot drive, the Amiga mini is strongly reminiscent of the pre-2010 Mac Mini (Image: Commodore USA)
Commodore USA has also upgraded its sleek black VIC-Slim keyboard-PC with the same processor found in the VIC mini (Photo: Commodore USA)
The VIC mini is positioned as the Amiga mini's affordable sibling, housed in what appears to be an identical aluminum case, sans Amiga branding (Image: Commodore USA)
The Commodore 64-styled C64x PC has undergone a spec update that exactly mirrors that of the VIC mini (Photo: Commodore USA)
The VIC mini is positioned as the Amiga mini's affordable sibling, housed in what appears to be an identical aluminum case, sans Amiga branding (Image: Commodore USA)
With an anodized aluminum case, rounded corners and front-loading slot drive, the Amiga mini is strongly reminiscent of the pre-2010 Mac Mini (Image: Commodore USA)
With an anodized aluminum case, rounded corners and front-loading slot drive, the Amiga mini is strongly reminiscent of the pre-2010 Mac Mini (Image: Commodore USA)
The Commodore 64-styled C64x PC has undergone a spec update that exactly mirrors that of the VIC mini (Photo: Commodore USA)
Commodore USA has also upgraded its sleek black VIC-Slim keyboard-PC with the same processor found in the VIC mini (Photo: Commodore USA)
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Commodore USA has unveiled its first Amiga-branded personal computer. The Amiga mini borrows Mac Mini stylings but packs a hefty punch into the compact package. An updated range also accommodates the lower spec Commodore VIC mini. Updates to the VIC-Slim keyboard-PC and C64x complete the new range.

Commodore USA acquired both the licenses to the Commodore and Amiga brands in August 2010, but the Amiga mini marks the first use of the latter brand, once synonymous with accessible home computing and gaming, since Commodore USA's inception.

Amiga mini

With an anodized aluminum case, rounded corners and front-loading slot drive, the Amiga mini is strongly reminiscent of the pre-2010 Mac Mini (Image: Commodore USA)

With an anodized aluminum case, rounded corners and front-loading slot drive, the Amiga mini is strongly reminiscent of the pre-2010 Mac Mini, though rather less sleek given the extra adornments and vents. The Amiga mini has a 7.5-in (19-cm) square base and stands 3 inches (7.6 cm) tall.

Spec-wise, though, the Amiga mini has rather more grunt than even the current Mac Mini, boasting a quad-core 3.5 GHz Intel Core i7-2700K, 16 GB of 1333 MHz DDR3 RAM, a 1 TB hard disk (though a 300 or 600 GB SSDs is optional). Graphics are driven by a 1 GB nVidia GeForce GT 430 GPU, HDMI and DisplayPort are among the outputs, and hiding behind that slot is a combined Blu-ray and DVD-writer.

The Amiga mini comes with Commodore OS Vision installed, described as a Linux distro for Commodore enthusiasts. In reality it's a 64-bit distribution based on Linux Mint, using the GNOME 2 graphical user interface.

The Amiga mini isn't cheap. The 1 TB hard drive entry-level model can be ordered from the Commodore USA website for $2495 in silver or black finish, and you can add a further $495 or $995 to that if you'd prefer a 300 or 600 GB SSD. A "barebones" version is available for $345, which effectively reduces the unit to a Blu-ray player - a costly one at that. Estimated delivery turnarounds are currently four to six weeks after an order is placed.

VIC mini

The VIC mini is positioned as the Amiga mini's affordable sibling, housed in what appears to be an identical aluminum case, sans Amiga branding (Image: Commodore USA)

The VIC mini is positioned as the Amiga mini's affordable sibling, housed in what appears to be an identical aluminum case (sans Amiga branding). Under the hood it's all change, though. A 2.13 GHz Intel dual-core Atom processor makes the VIC tick, 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 512 MB nVidia GeForce GT 520 graphics card. Storage options are identical to the Amiga mini, and the same Blu-ray/DVD-writer slot drive also comes installed.

The 1 TB-drive-equipped entry-level model will set you back $995, almost $200 more than the not-entirely-incomparable Mac Mini, which, lest we forget packs a 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 processor. Delivery, again, is touted at between four and six weeks after ordering. The 300 and 600 GB SSDs can be added at the same mark-up.

Images for both the Amiga mini and the VIC mini appear to be mock-ups, and the precise final appearance might be subject to change. The VIC mini also ships with Commodore OS Vision, as now do all of Commodore USA's products.

C64x update

The Commodore 64-styled C64x PC has undergone a spec update that exactly mirrors that of the VIC mini (Photo: Commodore USA)

The Commodore 64-styled C64x PC has undergone a spec update that exactly mirrors that of the VIC mini, except that the 1 TB hard drive base model (priced at $1295) can be upgraded to a 3 TB hard drive for an extra $295. Again, you can opt for a more expensive SSD. Yes, this is more expensive than the equivalently-specced VIC mini, but then it looks like a C64 rather than an iffy Mac Mini knock-off, and that has to count for something (if not $300).

VIC-Slim update

Commodore USA has also upgraded its sleek black VIC-Slim keyboard-PC with the same processor found in the VIC mini (Photo: Commodore USA)

Finally, Commodore USA has also upgraded its sleek black VIC-Slim keyboard-PC with the same processor found in the VIC mini, and included HDMI output while they were at it. Updated models will ship in May, and are priced between $345 and $595. Needless to say, both the VIC-Slim and C64x require a separate monitor to use.

Source: Commodore USA

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11 comments
Vincent Najger
I almost fell off my chair when I saw this......bet its a bit faster than my old 1200. Now, the question remains....it is as innovative as it used to be or is it going to be another little niche market thing....
Tim Jones
Have I missed something here, or is this just a Linux box with an Amiga label on it? It doesn't run triPOS/AmigaDOS or Intuition, so how did it become an Amiga? For those of us that owned original, signed Amiga 1000's, this is simply a marketing gimmick set to play to our nostalgia for that wonderful computer.
C'mon Commodore, don't be just another Linux PC maker.
CDavey
Actually, the question becomes will Comode Door be able to market this more effectively than they did the original Amiga, and will there be any software for the thing. Sure hope so, because my old 2000 still remains my all-time favorite computer.
Rigby5
The Amiga was generations ahead of Microsoft Window8 even. And that is what I would want to see if they maintained? Does the computer still have the innovative and streamlines multitasking that Windows does not?
Nitrozzy7
It'll all boil down to whether it'll play BF3 on full specs with triple the frame rate needed and at what cost...
joe1946
Wow , a Linux box that is twice the size of the MacMini and cost more ! I purchased a 17.3" Toshiba laptop last week from Staples and it had the latest Core i3 with 6GB RAM and 1TB HDD for $499 or 1/3rd the cost of this and you could dual boot any Linux distro easy since it had two 500GB partitions.
Gregg Eshelman
To truly simulate the old VIC-20 experience, the caps lock key should be permanently locked on. ;)
MasterG
Marketing gimmick. This is not innovative at all its just a box with a sticker on.
Don Henderson
Seriously??? nah! Seriously???
Steven Murphy
Commodoer's back??..i just hope the stay around longer than last time..i have a 64,and three 1541 drives i would trade for a new C64 x