Computers

Commodore USA to release updated Commodore 64

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The original Commodore 64 in stylish beige
The PC64 Pro
The Phoenix
The original Commodore 64 in stylish beige
The Invictus
The Amigo
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Back in the halcyon days of the 80’s, my siblings and I were lucky enough to receive a VIC-20 computer for Christmas. As much fun as I had whiling away the hours on such classics as Missile Command and Lode Runner, I was always insanely jealous of friends who had the power of the Commodore 64 at their fingertips. Now, some 20 plus years later, I may finally be able to satiate my jealousy with the news that the good ol’ C64 could soon be back on the market – and with some much more impressive specs.

Commodore USA has just announced that it has reached a licensing agreement that will allow it to produce a full line of new Commodore branded All-in-One (AIO) keyboard computers and intends to start selling an exact replica of the original beige chassis C64. Cue some misty eyed reminiscing from a large part of our readership.

Because users would think the original 8-bit C64’s specs a bit lacking nowadays and would find the prospect of loading games from a tape drive positively antiquated, the updated Commodore PC64 will include an Intel Atom 525 CPU with NVIDIA Ion2 graphics, 4GB DDR3 memory, 1TB Hdd, HDMI, DVD/CD optical drive (Blu-ray optional), dual-link DVI, six USB ports, integrated 802.11n WiFi, bluetooth and a 6-in-1 media card reader.

The company will also release a Pro version featuring a 2.66 GHz Intel Core I7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with 512 MB, 2 TB hard drive, 4GB DDR3 SDRAM and BLU RAY drive. However, the PC64 Pro won’t feature the original C64 casing.

The PC64 Pro

The PC64 and PC64 Pro will join Commodore USA’s current lineup which includes the Amigo (that's an “o” not an "a" at the end) – a basic entry level AIO computer featuring a system on a chip configuration –, the Invictus – another keyboard computer but with an embedded LCD display –, and the recently released Phoenix – the company’s flagship model powered by an Intel Core 2 Duo or Quad Core processor. Images of these are in the gallery.

Commodore USA plans to release the PC64 and PC64 Pro in time for Christmas. No word on pricing as yet.

Via engadget

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9 comments
Kai Pays
But will it contain the original CPU and SID chip? I t would be awesome if you could have the advantage of modern loaders and use disk/tape images onto the original hardware, like the emulators! what would be awesome is if they could put the original system on chip like the minimig and incorporate it in the new version, they must have the resources to make a verilog version it?
Richard Batchelor III
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
VoiceofReason
What I did on my souped up Commodore Amiga 500, 68030 (386) running at a screaming 30MHZ, with 4MB RAM, and a 120MB hard drive still amazes me.
I agree that the powers that be should try to get some original games. How much room could it take?
Hotrao
There are some things that should remain in our minds as they were. This is the case of C64. I understand the marketing appeal, but the flavour is different.
Facebook User
Don´t get me wrong, I love the classic C64. But what is the point to squeeze modern PC hardware into the most unergonomic case ever created? Also, what is with the keyboard? If they replicate the original keyboard, many keys will be missing, resulting in problems controlling certain applications.
Vincent Najger
What OS? I can't imagine WORKBENCH would quite cut it these days....
Eddy Vergara
wOw ...still rmember the goOD OlD days...C64 ...!! i have even the Vic 20 ..as starter Comp...nice
nutcase
This article made me so nostalgic that I went out the shed and restored another of my collection of over 50 C64s amigas and trs80s.
Presumably the "64" now means 64G not 64k ;)
DEFINITELY will get one.
C64 is still the all-time best-selling computer, a true classic!
Crispy Lettuce
This is 2014 and still nothing so, just like I thought back in 2010 (when this was originally written), this was a joke.