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Petah
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 27-Jun-2019 20:00:37
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Regular Member |
Joined: 10-Mar-2003 Posts: 432
From: EU <3 ❤️ | | |
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| Whatever you do, please do not endorse this "project". This "Commodore 64" isn't anything but yet another a Linux-based system that emulates the Commodore 64, with a "development" company doing its based to cash in on the 8-bit communities as cheap as possible. Commodore 64/128/65 users deserve a lot, lot better than emulation.
Now, if you do want to be the good guy/girl and support the Commodore 64/128 community and real enthusiasts that care about actual C64/128 hardware and software development, you have a couple of promising real, non emulation based projects to consider:
1: The Ultimate 64
Made by Gideon Zweijtzer, the Ultimate 64 is an FPGA-based system with a fully compatible form factor that fits into an existing (or new, made by Pixel Wizard) Commodore 64 case, sporting HDMI- and Ethernet connectivity, support for original cartridges, joysticks and Datasette tape drives. The Ultimate 64 even includes a (not yet activated) wifi-chip for serial access over the internet. The firmware receives updates at least once every couple of months, and the last update even included the option to live stream (!) the contents of the VIC chip over Ethernet!
More information about the Ultimate 64, including photos, an interview with Zweijtzer and delivery options, can be found on https://ultimate64.com/.
2: The MEGA 65
As the name suggest, the upcoming MEGA 65 computer is a fully compatible Commodore 65 housed in an original Commodore 65 case! Like the Ultimate 64, the MEGA 65 is FPGA-based and ships with Ethernet-connectivity, a mechnical keyboard, a 3.5" floppy drive, a truckload of RAM and full Commodore 64 compatibility! The price and release date are yet to be announced, however progress is moving along nicely and in the last few days the Australian/German development team has released the first few photos of what the machine actually looks like.
More information about the MEGA 65, including photos and the official development blog, can be found on [url=http://mega65.org/]http://mega65.org/[url].
Please spread the word - the Commodore 64/128/65 community deserves the very best, and emulation based options do nothing for the development of the platforms. _________________ That'll Put Marzipan In Your Pie Plate, Bingo 💻 Pro-Amiga, 🌍 Pro-Globalism, 🍅 Pro-Vegan, 🛦 Pro-NATO & 🇪🇺 Pro-Joint EU Defense Intervention Initiative
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Petah
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 27-Jun-2019 20:02:13
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Regular Member |
Joined: 10-Mar-2003 Posts: 432
From: EU <3 ❤️ | | |
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| Whatever you do, please do not endorse this "project". This "Commodore 64" isn't anything but yet another a Linux-based system that emulates the Commodore 64, with a "development" company doing its based to cash in on the 8-bit communities as cheap as possible. Commodore 64/128/65 users deserve a lot, lot better than emulation.
Now, if you do want to be the good guy/girl and support the Commodore 64/128 community and real enthusiasts that care about actual C64/128 hardware and software development, you have a couple of promising real, non emulation based projects to consider:
1: The Ultimate 64
Made by Gideon Zweijtzer, the Ultimate 64 is an FPGA-based system with a fully compatible form factor that fits into an existing (or new, made by Pixel Wizard) Commodore 64 case, sporting HDMI- and Ethernet connectivity, support for original cartridges, joysticks and Datasette tape drives. The Ultimate 64 even includes a (not yet activated) wifi-chip for serial access over the internet. The firmware receives updates at least once every couple of months, and the last update even included the option to live stream (!) the contents of the VIC chip over Ethernet!
More information about the Ultimate 64, including photos, an interview with Zweijtzer and delivery options, can be found on https://ultimate64.com/.
2: The MEGA 65
As the name suggest, the upcoming MEGA 65 computer is a fully compatible Commodore 65 housed in an original Commodore 65 case! Like the Ultimate 64, the MEGA 65 is FPGA-based and ships with Ethernet-connectivity, a mechnical keyboard, a 3.5" floppy drive, a truckload of RAM and full Commodore 64 compatibility! The price and release date are yet to be announced, however progress is moving along nicely and in the last few days the Australian/German development team has released the first few photos of what the machine actually looks like.
More information about the MEGA 65, including photos and the official development blog, can be found on http://mega65.org/.
Please spread the word - the Commodore 64/128/65 community deserves the very best, and emulation based options do nothing for the development of the platforms. _________________ That'll Put Marzipan In Your Pie Plate, Bingo 💻 Pro-Amiga, 🌍 Pro-Globalism, 🍅 Pro-Vegan, 🛦 Pro-NATO & 🇪🇺 Pro-Joint EU Defense Intervention Initiative
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Petah
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 27-Jun-2019 20:02:45
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Regular Member |
Joined: 10-Mar-2003 Posts: 432
From: EU <3 ❤️ | | |
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| [ ... ] _________________ That'll Put Marzipan In Your Pie Plate, Bingo 💻 Pro-Amiga, 🌍 Pro-Globalism, 🍅 Pro-Vegan, 🛦 Pro-NATO & 🇪🇺 Pro-Joint EU Defense Intervention Initiative
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-Sam-
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 27-Jun-2019 20:24:05
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Elite Member |
Joined: 18-Apr-2003 Posts: 3040
From: Yorkshire Dales, United Knigdom | | |
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| The Ultimate 64 looks to be perfect C64 implementation. Thanks for pointing these out. _________________ Sam
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ferrels
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 27-Jun-2019 21:54:05
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Cult Member |
Joined: 20-Oct-2005 Posts: 922
From: Arizona | | |
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| What is the cost of the Ultimate 64 and the Mega 65? Since they are FPGA based, the cost is going to exceed the $135 of this item by a large margin. I also don't see the C64 having an ARM CPU as a disadvantage. This means I can also run Linux on what appears to be a stock Commodore 64 as well as emulate tons of other retro platforms and arcade systems. |
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ferrels
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 27-Jun-2019 21:54:43
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Cult Member |
Joined: 20-Oct-2005 Posts: 922
From: Arizona | | |
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| @Petah
What is the cost of the Ultimate 64 and the Mega 65? Since they are FPGA based, the cost is going to exceed the $135 of this item by a large margin. I also don't see the C64 having an ARM CPU as a disadvantage. This means I can also run Linux on what appears to be a stock Commodore 64 as well as emulate tons of other retro platforms and arcade systems. |
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ferrels
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 27-Jun-2019 21:55:11
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Cult Member |
Joined: 20-Oct-2005 Posts: 922
From: Arizona | | |
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RobertB
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 28-Jun-2019 3:45:54
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Super Member |
Joined: 16-Jun-2006 Posts: 1526
From: Visalia, California | | |
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bennymee
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 28-Jun-2019 8:01:18
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Cult Member |
Joined: 19-Aug-2003 Posts: 697
From: Netherlands | | |
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| Don't forget the Ultimate 64 from Individual Computers, no ARM, no FPGA, it uses the real 6502. |
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bennymee
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 28-Jun-2019 8:01:42
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Cult Member |
Joined: 19-Aug-2003 Posts: 697
From: Netherlands | | |
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| @Petah
Don't forget the Ultimate 64 from Individual Computers, no ARM, no FPGA, it uses the real 6502. |
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hatschi
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 28-Jun-2019 9:08:13
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Elite Member |
Joined: 1-Dec-2005 Posts: 2328
From: Good old Europe. | | |
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| @bennymee
I guess you mean the C64 Reloaded MK2, right? |
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bennymee
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 28-Jun-2019 9:12:06
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Cult Member |
Joined: 19-Aug-2003 Posts: 697
From: Netherlands | | |
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Yssing
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 29-Jun-2019 11:00:06
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Super Member |
Joined: 24-Apr-2003 Posts: 1100
From: Unknown | | |
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| Why is an emulator packed in a nice design such a bad idea? _________________
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hatschi
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 29-Jun-2019 17:07:42
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Elite Member |
Joined: 1-Dec-2005 Posts: 2328
From: Good old Europe. | | |
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| @Yssing: It's not a bad idea at all in my view. It targets a different user group than the before mentioned projects (as an all in one and ready to use package). And I am quite sure that it will actually be available on the announced release date. In volumes, instead of small batches which are quickly sold out. |
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khayoz
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 30-Jun-2019 3:49:49
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Regular Member |
Joined: 26-Dec-2004 Posts: 216
From: Stockholm, Sweden | | |
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| @Petah I bought the U64 and I love it!
HDMI - DVI cable on a BenQ BL912 and scanlines just WOW. Ethernet port - Been BBS´ing a lot with UltimateTerm. :) USB - 1 internal, 2 external for easy transfer of files.
I got 2 C64 breadbins and 2 C64 C´s in my collection too, but since the U64 arrived they sadly not been used as much as before.
Looking forward to the MEGA 65 & Foenix 256, great times for retro geeks. _________________
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ferrels
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 30-Jun-2019 7:58:39
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Cult Member |
Joined: 20-Oct-2005 Posts: 922
From: Arizona | | |
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| Quote:
Why is an emulator packed in a nice design such a bad idea? |
My colleagues and I would love this. Many of us cut our teeth on Commodore 64's and VIC-20's and being able to run those systems as well as Linux in a C64 case and keyboard would make this a hit at my office.
I got rid of all my C64 hardware over 20 years ago so I'm not interested in these FPGA systems which have cartridge slots, tape ports, and floppy ports for original hardware. If I wanted that sort of experience again, I'd just buy a real C64 on the cheap from eBay. You can still find them at yard sales, online, and at thrift stores for as low as $25. |
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Yssing
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Re: New full-sized C64 in production. Posted on 1-Jul-2019 19:16:04
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Super Member |
Joined: 24-Apr-2003 Posts: 1100
From: Unknown | | |
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| @ferrels Yep, it would be a cool little computer. I personally use UAE a lot, so I am all for emulators. _________________
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