One upon a time, the Commodore name was synonymous with PCs that fit snugly into a (bulky) keyboard. And if one guy has anything to say about it, the Commodore name will rise again.
Commodore USA is a new company that’s working to get the rights to use the name for a shiny new PC-in-a-keyboard. The new model will feature an integrated touchpad, optical disc drive, flash card reader, and media buttons. In the back, you get a range of ports including VGA and DVI outputs, 4 USB ports, Ethernet, and a couple of serial ports — remember those?
On the inside, you get an Intel Core 2 Duo or Core Quad CPU, up to 2 Terabytes of storage and a choice of Windows or Linux (although the web site points out that you can also install OS X yourself).
The keyboard is 2 inches tall and 17.5 inches wide. And unlike another PC-in-a-keyboard that we’ve been hearing a lot about lately, it doesn’t run on batteries or wireless connect to your PC. So this thing is really meant for use in the office, not the living room.
Update: It looks like Commodore USA might have jumped the gun on slapping the Commodore name on this product.
via Engadget
I’m trying to figure out what is the logic behind this product. I guess it’s something like: “A lot of people used to have C64s, so if we slap the Commodore name and logo onto a cheap computer, then nostalgic old timers will buy it!”
If they included Commodore and Amiga emulators and some old games to run on them, they might have better luck. Even then I can’t see it setting the world on fire. (To be fair, I was into Atari and Amiga computers but never C64/C128. So the C64 doesn’t bring back any particularly fond memories to me, and the Commodore name I mainly associate with corporate bungling and running Amiga into the ground.)
Is this company just going to buy the name Commodore just so they can buy and rebrand this device?
i know i have seen that computer before, under a different name. Would not mind getting my hands on one with the C< logo tho 😉
ah, checked the engadget link and they had actually dug up the source of the hardware. Impressive of them.
Memories of my Amiga 1200 come flooding back (does it come in beige?). Load it up with AmigaForever (https://www.amigaforever.com/) and relive those glorious days 🙂
I think it would be great if one does not have alot of desktop space for a pc box. It is totally retro looking.