Commodore 64 is back

[elptacek]

http://www.cnet.com.au/commodore-64-is-back-339305567.htm

[nash]

The Register covered it a) better and b) earlier.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/25/commodore_name_bounc...

And it has the story of crazy commodore name lottery. Older stories linked in article.

[SoftwareMaven → nash]

What is with the last line in the article?

> When we initially phoned Barry Altman this morning, > he said he wasn't Barry Altman.

Isn't that how you deal with bill collectors, not the press?

[Keyframe]

I always tear up a little when I hear Amiga name. Hardware isn't enough though, it would need an AmigaOS at least. But, AmigaOS has it's own share of drama which will make it highly unlikely.

[bradhe]

Awesome! A branded computer I can plug in to my TV -- hey, wait a sec...

Or is the appeal supposed to be the easy-to-use programming environment like the days of old? Qbasic on my TV perhaps?

[mcantelon → bradhe]

My guess is it'll be pretty similar to any other Atom PC running Ubuntu.

[ars → bradhe]

HDMI does not mean it's supposed to connect to a TV, or if it did all (recent) computers can connect to TVs.

[nash → bradhe]

The modern versions: vim + gcc + curses.

[SwellJoe → nash]

Try vim + Python/Ruby/Perl + wx (or whatever you like)

Or, probably better: vim + JavaScript + modern browser

[sharjeel]

They've been drum beating the trademark acquisition for about 2 years. They've said a lot but so far there isn't anything concrete yet.

[ars]

Besides the name what makes this a commodore 64?

[rodh257 → ars]

the picture in the article is misleading. http://www.commodoreusa.net/index.html (middle bottom)

I think they pictured the Pro version. They are making the PC64 one a more authentic replica

[listic → ars]

The chassis.

[ithkuil]

the picture looks like an amiga. The screenshot is like AmigaOS >3.x, the keyboard is very similar to my amiga 500 keyboard.

[keith_erskine]

I'll believe it only if they bundle Jumpman

[ilkhd2]

No, that was no Commodore. This a real new Commodore 64, daymit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C64_Direct-to-TV

[jacquesm → ilkhd2]

In response to that other thread about females in tech, this was designed by a very successful female entrepreneur.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeri_Ellsworth

[prodigal_erik → jacquesm]

Oh, Ellsworth is amazing. As that article mentions in passing, she did enough research to successfully make transistors from scratch in a pottery kiln.

http://makerfaire.com/pub/e/2545

[jacquesm → prodigal_erik]

Funny, I posted that link a couple of hours ago :)

[prodigal_erik → jacquesm]

So you did! I stumbled across her work at Maker Faire (too stunned to fanboy, thankfully) and I keep thinking it's a shame she isn't better known.