Thoughts on CommodoreUSA

[commodorejohn]

yea, there must be some ex-original commodore engineers... hell if they could get chuck peddle in there he could kick a new processor up with some other engineers!

There are indeed some of the old Commodore engineers kicking around the community, but AFAIK none of them have had much nice to say about CUSA - Dave Haynie in fact has spoken in support of NatAmi.

hell that may even BE the plan!!! sell enough of the new/pc ones (64x etc) make enough money out of that and THEN make a totally new computer/chipset.

folks, if we support this new c= then we MAY get our new old c64 which is actually made near 100% c=usa and following the old company.

That's not going to happen. Both CUSA staff (Barry, Leo) and sources who appear to have some kind of informational connections have repeatedly lampooned the idea of custom hardware as not being commercially viable, and given the snub to Amiga-like software (i.e. AROS.) Supporting their subpar Linux box in a fancy case is only going to get us more subpar Linux boxes in fancy cases.

those of you who hate the new c=usa, so be it, but didn't you help the original commodores come into existance? it was an alien concept back then? the new one is very alien but help it to be more "with it" now... Look, what im trying to say is your parents (if you were that young back then!) got you a c64, so why not do the same for YOUR kids... it looks a hell of a lot better than a PC

The original C64 didn't need help to come into existence, as it was a terrific product for its day, far more powerful than the Apple II at a fraction of the cost, and consequently people ate it up. This new machine is an anemic PC clone with specs that could be had for a whole lot less than even the base price, to say nothing of the "higher-end" models. If I were to buy a PC for my kids, I'd just buy them a real PC, not this. It does look nice, but that's all it does.

 

[lonewolfgeoff]

If kids got their hands on these atom based systems with a Linux OS... then tried the old ones... I think even theyd be like "wtf they aint even close. They just look the same, and I could pull a better PC outta my ass, ."

hmm, ok true lol oh:

It's the OS that is going to be the big 'feel factor' I think. Provided the keyboard feels right, It'd be a bit easier to ignore the innards if the OS was closer to Commodore and it 'felt' like a Commodore product... IMO they should be working with the Commodore / retro computing community more closely in developing these products, because I think WE would potentially be their strongest customer base.

exactly what i thought i'd said in the round about way! lol

Another thing that comes to mind is... If workbench 5 is being developed by C= USA for these... and these are atom based (X86). Doesnt that mean that workbench 5 will be compatible with every other PC out there? Now thats just WRONG! lol

actually i agree 100000000000000% amiga workbench = AMIGA ONLY! not amiga + everything else in the known universe that aint an amiga!!!

 

[cosmicfrog]

thats where the real rub is for me lack of OS, No os no software, simple

 

[AmiNeo]

:nod:

 

[quarkx]

Here is what I would have done with this C64x if I were Barry and had his $$$$.
I would still have basically brought out the same hardware, but I would have like a year ago, brought Jerri Ellsworth out to "The Head Office" for a few months, shoveled a boat load of money at her. Got her to design one of her famous C64's on a chip and create a small and simple circuit board, so when you turn on the computer, you can press the "Commodore" key (or the f1 etc) and it would boot right into a hardware emulated C64. With a cable (inside from the board) and a port out the back to plug in a Real Commodore floppy drive. No fuss with emulation, no hassles.
He could then put Jerri's picture and signature on the box and has some sort of celeberty endorsement. Probably in bulk would have added no more than 10 bucks to the price

 

[cosmicfrog]

Now I like that idea quarkx

 

[quarkx]

Well, with it, right at launch, out of the box, it would have satisfied some of the community, and proved that he was serious about the whole "I am a fan also". But hey, I am just some hick from Alberta, What do I know? Oh forgot to add 2 joystick ports also.
Heck, I would have bought one with this

 

[lonewolfgeoff]

Here is what I would have done with this C64x if I were Barry and had his $$$$.
I would still have basically brought out the same hardware, but I would have like a year ago, brought Jerri Ellsworth out to "The Head Office" for a few months, shoveled a boat load of money at her. Got her to design one of her famous C64's on a chip and create a small and simple circuit board, so when you turn on the computer, you can press the "Commodore" key (or the f1 etc) and it would boot right into a hardware emulated C64. With a cable (inside from the board) and a port out the back to plug in a Real Commodore floppy drive. No fuss with emulation, no hassles.
He could then put Jerri's picture and signature on the box and has some sort of celeberty endorsement. Probably in bulk would have added no more than 10 bucks to the price

:wooha: wow! now THAT would have been better!!!! an idea... why not join comodeUSA's forums and post it (then run like hell!!!) you never know... you may actually get some response along the right lines ROFL

 

[quarkx]

:wooha: wow! now THAT would have been better!!!! an idea... why not join comodeUSA's forums and post it (then run like hell!!!) you never know... you may actually get some response along the right lines ROFL

Because it would NEVER happen! Barry is a business man, he could not think of a common sense thing like this in a million years, and if it even adds a penny to the production cost, the profits would go down and the share holders would revolt. Face Facts man, he lives on a whole different level of reality that a person like you or me.

 

[lonewolfgeoff]

:wooha: wow! now THAT would have been better!!!! an idea... why not join comodeUSA's forums and post it (then run like hell!!!) you never know... you may actually get some response along the right lines ROFL

Because it would NEVER happen! Barry is a business man, he could not think of a common sense thing like this in a million years, and if it even adds a penny to the production cost, the profits would go down and the share holders would revolt. Face Facts man, he lives on a whole different level of reality that a person like you or me.

very true... but it would be funny to do... like putting a cherry bomb with a long fuse under your least favorite teachers chair cushion at school and letting it go off while they sit there! naaa, waste of energy! forget it :wooha:

 

[AmiNeo]

Probably but if ideas dont get put out there, its gonna be ALL commodore USAs input and thats gonna be a lot worse! Atleast maybe if he has a chance to rip off some community ideas the machines that get put out have a chance of being a little more tolerable!

 

[quarkx]

Probably but if ideas dont get put out there, its gonna be ALL commodore USAs input and thats gonna be a lot worse! Atleast maybe if he has a chance to rip off some community ideas the machines that get put out have a chance of being a little more tolerable!

Oh, Them actually listening to what the community has to say? That's rich! They don't care at all about the community, they care about selling units. Plain and simple. I would actually be very shocked and surprised if Barry had ever even heard of Jerri Ellsworth, Chuck Peddle, Bil Herd or even Dave Hayne

 

[SaviorX]

well considering about 99% of todays computer using public hasn't.....

 

[quarkx]

well considering about 99% of todays computer using public hasn't.....

Which is SAD. Chuck Should be taught about in EVERY computer class, we would not be this far today without him. Computers would still be mainframes and VERY expensive IMHO

 

[SaviorX]

i would be willing to put cash down that if you asked random members of the public on the street who invented the computer they'd say Bill Gates....likely the same answer for the inventor of the internet...people who use a Mac *might* answer Steve Jobs....

 

[AmiNeo]

Probably but if ideas dont get put out there, its gonna be ALL commodore USAs input and thats gonna be a lot worse! Atleast maybe if he has a chance to rip off some community ideas the machines that get put out have a chance of being a little more tolerable!

Oh, Them actually listening to what the community has to say? That's rich! They don't care at all about the community, they care about selling units. Plain and simple. I would actually be very shocked and surprised if Barry had ever even heard of Jerri Ellsworth, Chuck Peddle, Bil Herd or even Dave Hayne

Hey theyre businessmen afterall, if theres an idea floating about that they happen to think may bring them more profits... :shhh:

 

[quarkx]

i would be willing to put cash down that if you asked random members of the public on the street who invented the computer they'd say Bill Gates....likely the same answer for the inventor of the internet...people who use a Mac *might* answer Steve Jobs....

yup i would happen to agree- so, so, sad

 

[lonewolfgeoff]

well considering about 99% of todays computer using public hasn't.....

Which is SAD. Chuck Should be taught about in EVERY computer class, we would not be this far today without him. Computers would still be mainframes and VERY expensive IMHO

you know, thats so true! if they taught about chuck and all those minds the world would be a better place! I mean, chuck helped a lot of people when he made those early 6502's etc... damnit, without him there'd be no cash points, "intelligent" tills (cash registers), computers, credit card readers, washing machines, microwaves, xbox's, mobile phones, burgalar alarms, tv's, cd/dvd players/recorders etc. Damn them! yes slight change of tune for me... we want OLD c64's not this new ahem, excuse the language! lol

 

[sian]

well considering about 99% of todays computer using public hasn't.....

Which is SAD. Chuck Should be taught about in EVERY computer class, we would not be this far today without him. Computers would still be mainframes and VERY expensive IMHO

you know, thats so true! if they taught about chuck and all those minds the world would be a better place! I mean, chuck helped a lot of people when he made those early 6502's etc... damnit, without him there'd be no cash points, "intelligent" tills (cash registers), computers, credit card readers, washing machines, microwaves, xbox's, mobile phones, burgalar alarms, tv's, cd/dvd players/recorders etc. Damn them! yes slight change of tune for me... we want OLD c64's not this new ahem, excuse the language! lol

lol i thought u blew computers up and fixed them or erm u did a few months back

 

[lonewolfgeoff]

Which is SAD. Chuck Should be taught about in EVERY computer class, we would not be this far today without him. Computers would still be mainframes and VERY expensive IMHO

you know, thats so true! if they taught about chuck and all those minds the world would be a better place! I mean, chuck helped a lot of people when he made those early 6502's etc... damnit, without him there'd be no cash points, "intelligent" tills (cash registers), computers, credit card readers, washing machines, microwaves, xbox's, mobile phones, burgalar alarms, tv's, cd/dvd players/recorders etc. Damn them! yes slight change of tune for me... we want OLD c64's not this new ahem, excuse the language! lol

lol i thought u blew computers up and fixed them or erm u did a few months back

OUCH! LOL :wooha::nod: damn you got me there!!!!

actually, i think that (after tons of reflection (and broken mirrors!) i've gone mad and decided to take the p.o.v. that maybe this 64x - actually, this isn't a ref to the old c64, rather a ref to the processor speed as they are 64bit! do its not even a true ref to the old ones! Plus the power light is also the on/off switch!!! SO the way i see this is (as everyone says) this isn't even close to c64ville BUTTTTTT ive decided to get one (hey don't shoot me! it takes no place with my proper real commodores!) im still using the originals!

tell you what folks... I know this will be a bit contrawotsit, but how bout a few of us try em? that way we can DEFINITELY say they are !!! Emulators or not, it may have the same feel! Its like eating stuff that says its meat but its not meat at all (quorn products) you know its not meat but it tastes like it... you don't complain that its not meat even tho it looks like it.. its fake but you eat it without question.

My point is maybe we should bite the bullet and some of us at least try em and perhaps write a review or 3? see the things close up and personal... hate em or not, buisiness con or not, lets at least look? ok, im kinda asking for trouble with this, but have you never looked at something and "poo poo'd" it then later bought it? (say hated the idea of mobile phones and swear by normal landline phones and refused to use mobiles) then two years later you get one!) I think you have... i'd say this is the same!

im not been a turncoat, double agent or a traitor to ye olde commodore, its just after thinking for a loooooong time it seems to be the next step in the c64s evolution.....