The best computer - ever - is returning!

Commodore 64 is back with a revamp
16:51 8 April 2011



Back from the good old days (Image: Commodore USA)

For those of a certain age it will evoke glorious memories of wasted afternoons playing Donkey Kong, International Karate and Pitfall: The Commodore 64 is coming back, albeit with something of an upgrade.


While the familiar clunky beige box is all present and correct, replete with rainbow logo, inside things have changed somewhat.

The new C64 comes kitted out as a modern-day PC, running Linux but capable
of handling the Windows 7 operating system. It's hardware has also been
given a boost - it sports a 1.8 gigahertz processor (rather more
powerful than the original's 1 megahertz), built in Wi-Fi, and a DVD
player.


When it was first launched in 1982, the Commodore 64 was a massive hit and was
arguably the first computer to bring gaming to the mass market by undercutting
rivals Atari and Apple on price. It came with a then-massive 64 kilobytes of
memory and included an integrated graphics card - all the better for
displaying those wondrous 16 colours in all their glory.

It could be plugged into the television set for home gaming and could also
be set up with higher quality monitor for more serious applications.
It's 2011 revival, however, comes with an HDMI cable for
high-definition output. The basic version is to be sold for $595, the
same price as the original.


In the UK the C64's only serious rival was the Sinclair ZX Spectrum (remember mashing those rubbery keys to Daley Thompson's Decathalon?) but the C64's superior power saw it overtake its rivals towards the end of the 1980s.

The C64 has been rescued from history by a group which has bought the
rights to both the Commodore and AMIGA brand names, and has plans to
reboot the AMIGA too at some point.


In a defiant message on their website they say they are "appalled by Apple revisionism" and state:

Commodore
is back, and we're determined to bring the much loved brand back to the
mainstream and restore its prominence in the tech industry to that
which it richly deserves. It ain't over 'till we say so.

Can't you just picture it, the blue screen, the flashing white cursor?

Ghostbusters and Q-bert: we're back on.