C64 rises from the dead

The computer in a keyboard is back - well... sorta. Well, to be honest, not really, but it's kinda nostalgic to dream.

The ancient Commodore 64 design is back with shedloads more stuff under the bonnet than was around when it was first launched in 1982.

In its first life the Commodore 64 sold 30 million units over 12 years until the outfit folded and the beast sank into the deep waters of popular memory.

Now the Commodore 64 Phoenix is coming out of the stable of Commodoreusa.net.

It is basically a "computer in a keyboard" design like the old C64 of yore, with things like a Pentium processor, a DVD drive, wireless Ethernet and USB ports, all of which were not around in the 1980s.

While the original C64 had a hefty 64KB of RAM, the C64 Phoenix has 4GB of RAM along with 2TB of data storage. It can run either Windows 7 or Ubuntu Linux.

Prices start at $US475 for a bare-bones model, rising to $US1,300 for a top of the line unit. As far as a call to the past is concerned, it does look a little bit like a C64 in the right light, but not really.

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15 Comments

Takoma Jun 3, 2010 10:44 AM	That's hot. I want one.
Mademan Jun 3, 2010 11:15 AM	lol would you really want one dressed up like an original C64? I guess it would be good for internal airflow...
SquallStrife Jun 3, 2010 11:21 AM	It would have been icing on the cake if they'd included a real Commodore 64 SoC in the package.
p_francis_bennett Jun 3, 2010 11:54 AM	Rise out of the ashes much ;)
Athiril Jun 3, 2010 12:40 PM	If its decently portable and can connect to a tv or monitor that could be pretty handy.
Alkahest Jun 3, 2010 2:25 PM	That'd be great for HTPC if it had the capabilities
p_francis_bennett Jun 3, 2010 3:06 PM	The only problem with these things is that you can't upgrade the hardware like you can with a tower. So you'd have to get a new c46 phoenix everytime a new one came out, wether with a tower you can just upgrade the hardware inside rather than upgrade a whole device. It'd get extremely expensive after a while if you had to keep buying these all the time. There is no real point in buying one of these just because you want it, it's the same as buying one for the sake of buying one.
Cybes Jun 3, 2010 3:15 PM	http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/03/25/commodore_64_redux/ March, guys. MARCH.
Metasynaptic Jun 3, 2010 4:00 PM	Bennett: like a mac?
Sher Khan Jun 4, 2010 11:46 AM	C64's were for Dweebs! I've still got my (disfunctional) Apple}{+ clone case in my shed and as soon as I work out how find a converter from the keyboard ribbon cable to a USB or PS2 connector I'm building a new PC!
Sher Khan Jun 4, 2010 11:47 AM	C64's were for Dweebs! I've still got my (disfunctional) Apple][+ clone case in my shed and as soon as I work out how find a converter from the keyboard ribbon cable to a USB or PS2 connector I'm building a new PC!
oscarcharliezulu Jun 4, 2010 12:19 PM	Who said it wasnt upgradeable. I went to the web site and you can buy it "barebones" and install you own components. OK, its small and limited to a 775-based cpu. An i5 or i7 version would be better. Its otherwise easier to upgrade than a mac (now they are soldering the cpu's (those pricks)).
brissietex Jun 4, 2010 12:47 PM	I thought Asus had their EEE Keyboard coming out: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/22/asus-eee-keyboard-gets-unboxed/ Personally, I'd rather have this computer since nostalgia aside, what in the world would you do with a C64 in this day and age?
Waltish Jun 6, 2010 3:58 AM	The pic up there is the Invictus the Phonix looks like this http://www.commodoreusa.net/i//9100_2-1.jpg.
sheok Jun 10, 2010 2:03 PM	at least the c64 phoenix wont get bled on :P

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Atomic Magazine

Issue: 137 | June, 2012

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