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Normal Sized Retro Commodore 64 In The Works
Last year a mini version of the Commodore 64 was announced and released. It holds 64 pre-installed Commodore 64 games at the cost of roughly 80 USD. The small size has a disadvantage, the keyboard needs to be external. That is going to be solved.
There are now plans from Retro Games to fab a "THEC64", a normal sized C64 replica with a working keyboard. The company posted a few teasers online, along by sharing info that the product should be available in 2019. The prototype does show some weird discoloration on the keycaps, not part if the original (which I still own my self btw). We think that's due to the prototype though.
rl66
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Joined: 2007-05-31
Senior Member
Posts: 3608
Joined: 2007-05-31
#5620992 Posted on: 12/26/2018 01:05 PM
No the classic look is the best one
there was keyb + mITX case C64 looking case years ago. it could be fun idea too.
No the classic look is the best one
there was keyb + mITX case C64 looking case years ago. it could be fun idea too.
Fox2232
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Joined: 2012-07-20
Senior Member
Posts: 11808
Joined: 2012-07-20
#5621007 Posted on: 12/26/2018 01:45 PM
No the classic look is the best one
there was keyb + mITX case C64 looking case years ago. it could be fun idea too.
Well, I used C16 too which had same keyboard as C64 shown here. (Just different layout of images on keys.)
C64c has different keyboard angle and height from desk. C16 and original C64 is for people who were using computer as typewriter.
C64c being much closer to desk (slimmer) and having nicer angle is much closer to design which won test of time (slim keyboards and hand rests).
People simply do not use keyboards as typewriters, they rest their hands on handrests or directly on desks.
No the classic look is the best one
there was keyb + mITX case C64 looking case years ago. it could be fun idea too.
Well, I used C16 too which had same keyboard as C64 shown here. (Just different layout of images on keys.)
C64c has different keyboard angle and height from desk. C16 and original C64 is for people who were using computer as typewriter.
C64c being much closer to desk (slimmer) and having nicer angle is much closer to design which won test of time (slim keyboards and hand rests).
People simply do not use keyboards as typewriters, they rest their hands on handrests or directly on desks.
Amigafan35
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Posts: 218
Joined: 2007-10-23
Senior Member
Posts: 218
Joined: 2007-10-23
#5621035 Posted on: 12/26/2018 04:08 PM
I'm so gutted I was quick to sell my c64c, 1541 disk drive, action replay nk6 & everything else after upgrading to the amiga in the early 90s. Few years after I did buy another c64c, 1541 & even an ar mk6 cartridge again second hand, still got it along with boxes of floppy discs with games on,, doubt they'd be readable now though after all this time.
I'm so gutted I was quick to sell my c64c, 1541 disk drive, action replay nk6 & everything else after upgrading to the amiga in the early 90s. Few years after I did buy another c64c, 1541 & even an ar mk6 cartridge again second hand, still got it along with boxes of floppy discs with games on,, doubt they'd be readable now though after all this time.
Valken
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Joined: 2011-01-05
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Posts: 2572
Joined: 2011-01-05
#5621041 Posted on: 12/26/2018 04:33 PM
I NEVER had a C64. I bought the Amiga when I made my own money part time working and I did emulate it on the Amiga. The breadbox C64 was awesome and would love to own a full size one with the 1541 floppy or two and the matching monitor. Too bad I am not made of money otherwise my dream man cave would be retro city.
Would love one next to a C128D, next to my old Amiga 1000, 3000 and maybe a 4000!
Good options to those who love old school computers and gaming!
I NEVER had a C64. I bought the Amiga when I made my own money part time working and I did emulate it on the Amiga. The breadbox C64 was awesome and would love to own a full size one with the 1541 floppy or two and the matching monitor. Too bad I am not made of money otherwise my dream man cave would be retro city.
Would love one next to a C128D, next to my old Amiga 1000, 3000 and maybe a 4000!
Good options to those who love old school computers and gaming!
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They should have gone with C64c design. More pleasant to eye and comfortable to use. But in the end... what will make or break it is having emulation vs real deal chips.
Most of those who had C64 in any variant finished all awesome or interesting games (subjective) on real C64 or in emulator.
So, if they want to succeed, they'll need nostalgia effect. And that does not come from android phone being put inside keyboard.
I did love my C64c, 1541-II, Seikosha SP-180VC, Merkur ALFI Plotter, ... So many things one could do which were out of reach on PC platform for good decade after due to poor software support.
But it is almost 2019, and from productivity perspective C64 holds very weak cards against modern computers. If emulated, then it holds no cards at all.
Therefore perspective has to be "Fun, Nostalgia & Authenticity".
Because today, you can have quite good Cutting plotter for $300. Drawing plotters became practically obsolete with high quality printers. And their mechanical methods evolved into 3D printers. Today, new thing is $400 3D printer with head combining 4 different color compounds (CMYK).