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

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

[ ... ]

_________________
That'll Put Marzipan In Your Pie Plate, Bingo
💻 Pro-Amiga, 🌍 Pro-Globalism, 🍅 Pro-Vegan, 🛦 Pro-NATO & 🇪🇺 Pro-Joint EU Defense Intervention Initiative

The Ultimate 64 looks to be perfect C64 implementation. Thanks for pointing these out.

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Sam

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.

@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.

double post

ferrels wrote:
Quote:

What is the cost of the Ultimate 64 and the Mega 65?

The regular U64 (not the U64 Elite) was $216 US.

According to the exchange rate at the time I bought mine,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group - http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm
August 10-11 Commodore Vegas Expo v15 - http://www.portcommodore.com/commvex

Don't forget the Ultimate 64 from Individual Computers, no ARM, no FPGA, it uses the real 6502.

@Petah

Don't forget the Ultimate 64 from Individual Computers, no ARM, no FPGA, it uses the real 6502.

@bennymee

I guess you mean the C64 Reloaded MK2, right?

@hatschi

Yes, this one:

https://icomp.de/shop-icomp/en/shop/product/c64-reloaded-mk2.html

Why is an emulator packed in a nice design such a bad idea?

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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.

@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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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.

@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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