Commodore returns...

ElEctric_EyE · Post by **ElEctric_EyE** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 1:02 am

I saw that as well Garth. With a dual-core Intel cpu. The all in one package is sorta cool, where you just need to plug into a video device, but so many details left out. Is it a Nehalem Intel cpu where they don't need the north bridge? Where are the spec's?

They could use it as a tool to teach the fundamentals of dual/quad core Intel CPU's. Including assemblers, and such.

Maybe they are? Not enough info... But this is why the C-64 was a favorite. It was open to the public, including schematics and all.

But $600 is too much for me.

HiassofT · Post by **HiassofT** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 9:30 am

ElEctric_EyE wrote:

I saw that as well Garth. With a dual-core Intel cpu. The all in one package is sorta cool, where you just need to plug into a video device, but so many details left out. Is it a Nehalem Intel cpu where they don't need the north bridge? Where are the spec's?

They could use it as a tool to teach the fundamentals of dual/quad core Intel CPU's. Including assemblers, and such.

Maybe they are? Not enough info... But this is why the C-64 was a favorite. It was open to the public, including schematics and all.

But $600 is too much for me.

You can find the specs at http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_C64.aspx, then click on "Technology". This is just a standard mini ITX mainboard with an Atom CPU and Nvidia ION2 graphics - so don't expect too much performance.

BTW: They didn't even bother to add connectors for the old 9-pin standard joysticks (at least I couldn't find any info on this), so this really is just a low-end PC in a fancy case...

IMHO this thing is way overpriced. If you look at http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_C64Select.aspx, the $600 version neither has WIFI nor a DVD drive. You can buy a netbook (or nettop) with similar specs for far less money...

so long,

Hias

BigEd · Post by **BigEd** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 10:51 am

yes, just bought an Atom based linux netbook for £250
(has HDMI but not VGA out)
Not 100% happy but the price is good and I'm hoping linux will catch up with the touchpad support. (Look for Meenee on Amazon.co.uk)

ElEctric_EyE · Post by **ElEctric_EyE** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 7:28 pm

Yeah, the joystick ports are a big oversight, since they made this thing to be retro compatible. Their custom OS sounds interesting...

HiassofT · Post by **HiassofT** » Mon Apr 11, 2011 8:23 pm

ElEctric_EyE wrote:

Their custom OS sounds interesting...

Ah, I knew there was something I forgot to rant about :-)

From their current FAQ http://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_FAQ.aspx:

Quote:

10. What is Commodore OS?
Our new Commodore operating system, will be a unique Commodore and AMIGA centric Linux distribution, that will grow over time into something far greater.

There's nothing wrong with Linux (I use it all the time), but this sounds like they created yet another Debian/Ubuntu/whatever derivative with "vice" and "uae" preinstalled plus maybe some nice themes and/or other customizations.

Problem with all these derivatives is that most of them didn't catch up with the changes of their base. If Debian or Ubuntu releases a new version, the derviative also have to do this - and as history has shown us a lot of them failed and then vanished over time.

Creating your own Debian/Ubuntu/... based distribution is quite easy, but maintaining it over time means a lot of work.

So, at the end you might be better off installing the original (i.e.: the base distribution) and just add the additional software. In Debian/Ubuntu this is just an "apt-get install vice uae" at the command line. While you're at it you can also "apt-get install atari800 xmame-sdl xmess-sdl spectemu-x11" and get even more emulated systems on your Linux box :-)

so long,

Hias