Commodore OS Vision

[MoonRise]

Never have kept it a secret. Started out with the Commodore 64, First release, many, many years ago. Always wanted to see it go on, but narrow sightedness and of course the eventual MS take over pretty much squashed it. Was excited to see that a company obtained the rights to "bring" them back. Yes, modern components in the recreated shell, but I'd expect it to be modern. Along with that it was stated they would be releasing their own OS. Linux kernel. From what I can tell from what I downloaded today and installed, it is based on Linux Mint/GNome. All in all very nice. Some of the sound effects are a bit much, but then again, Commodore to me lead the way there and always used sound for various functions (depending on what software was being run). Very smooth. Initial install crashed, but second time around after changing a few VM settings it went though fine. Installed VB guest additions and not a hitch. Desktop Effects look good. All in all for a start it is very nice and functional. Wish them all the luck. Wish I had the money to actually purchase one of their recreations. Screen-shot attached.

DT20120331a.jpg

[woodsmoke]

The family cut our teeth on first the Timex Sinclair ZX-81 then the C-64. I published my first books on a C-64 using GEOS and my oldest boy, the programmer, wrote his first programs on the Timex and then the 64.. We had three rigs en toto and he still has one.

Very nostalgic.

woodsmoke

[Ole Juul]

I've got a Sinclair X81 with a 16K (IIRC) module and a bit of associated collectibles. It's just part of my vintage collection and I have never fired it up. Although I stick pretty much to IBM (both PC and x86), I'm right with you in seeing the fun in both re-living and learning the history. It always amazes me how often people don't get it when it comes to computers. They'll say "wow" when they see a Chrysler Valiant but give you a blank stare if you mention even something as classic as an Amstrad 1512. It just goes to show that we're really a car culture and not a computer culture.

However, for those who want Commodore stuff, why buy a new reproduction when there is a thriving marked with the real thing? Check out the Vintage Computer Commodore Forum to meet others who use this stuff daily. There's lots of gamers, but I'm pretty sure if you look around you will find a couple of BBSs running on a Commodore - the real thing.

[woodsmoke]

Hi Ol Juul! lol

BTW, here is some trivia about the Timex, long haul truckers used it extensively for route maps in the U.S. They would type in the route as they were going, or fill in in from a printout, and since it was completely waterproof, and a tape player it was almost impervious to coffee spills, shocks etc. They just used a different tape for each route ( I think) but it was fascinating to learn that.

woodsmoke

[MoonRise]

Ole Juul,

Thanks for the link. Will look through that. I actually still have my C64. Missing one cable though and a vital one at that. Don't know what happened to it.