Could someone please explain me what would you use a new C64 for?
Let me start with this - I am 50y old, I come from the Apple2-clone era, I am also nostalgic of certain things. So I understand some vintage nostalgia feelings you might have. I must say I never had a Commodore machine and this is why I'm confused.
But question is this - I see on the official Commodore website that brand new C64 models are coming out. I also saw yesterday youtube video about Atari 800XL clone coming out.
What I don't understand is - what are you gonna use a brand new C64 or 800XL machine in 2026? I am sincerely puzzled. And this comes from the fact I have no idea what you can use these machines for. So games - sure. BASIC coding - sure. No idea what else.
So I want to understand what the majority of you want to do - is it only for the games? If "no" then what else?
I see (i think it was in the new 800XL case) new ports being added (i think they added USB). Okay this expands a bit what new hardware you can use. But really - what do you do on these machines now?
If someone here is still doing C64 4kb ASM demos - well I would like to see that. I would find value in this. If someone here is still making new tracker music - sure - show off your skills - I find value in this too.
But I really have zero idea what is possible and what do you do.
Because no matter how nostalgic I feel, I would grab an emulator if I want retro-functionality in 2026. Keeping more hardware around is taking care of more things. Especially retro-hardware which would require more care. Not to mention the space. Well at least I don't have the space.
So don't get me wrong - I am not saying anything bad. I just don't get it. So tell me.
Grown up kids with adult money who want to play old games on a machine that looks like the one they remember, is reliable and works with modern displays.
Yeah, it's the same with most old games from that period. By modern standards they are repetitive and clumsy.
But back in those days, video games were still a novelty, and it was exciting to play through an Atari 2600 game until the background changed color or you rolled the score over.
Absolutely... I mean when I played Wonderboy on C64, it was just 4 stages repeated over and over with slightly changed backgrounds. Even the bosses were the same with some slight changes. But I still wanted to finish the game and played for hours.
In recent memory, I was playing Fort Apocalypse with an emulator and I enjoyed it. Looking forward to the various Olympics, Archon, Bungling Bay, Frantic Freddie, Jumpman, etc. Sure, some games will be painful, but there is soooooo much content out there.
That's the thing. My heart says "yes!" but my brain says "why?"
After multiple rounds of self interrogation this is about all I could come up with:
I like the case.
SD card slot / mass storage support.
I own C64s, drives and accessories. The two things I said are about the only things that I care about that sets it apart. I was really disappointed to find out that it's FPGA is locked down.
I'm 52 and recently bought the new C64 Ultimate after 40+ years away from the C64.
For me, it's not just about playing old games. I'm learning BASIC again, experimenting with sprites, and working towards creating my own games.
That's the real attraction for me. I love the idea of being able to create something myself, starting with nothing but a few lines of code and turning it into something I can actually play.
Could I do it on an emulator? Sure. But I'd rather do it on the actual machine. 😊
These computers are excellent platforms for learning. When you program them you're very "close to the metal". There aren't layers of operating system and framework abstraction between you and the hardware. If you want to make a pixel light up, you figure out what memory location contains the bit corresponding to that pixel and set it. If it's in a sprite you manually set the rest of the parameters that are used by the actual video chip to control it.
It's a lot like working on an old car, the kind that has nothing but an engine under the hood - such little stuff you can step over the grille and stand inside. Modern conveniences and functionality are useful but they also get in the way of understanding.
I don't care much about _playing_ old games. But I appreciate the skill involved in writing new ones, squeezing capabilities out of 40-year-old hardware that its creators never imagined were possible.
Nostalgia yes, but I’m also a collector and spend a great deal of time restoring these as a hobby.
I’ve never met an original Commodore 64 that didn’t have some show stopping hardware failure. They look like tanks, but truth is, 80s Commodore management focused on cost reduction to such a degree that there’s a high level of variability between units year to year and sometimes month to month. The result is that it’s often difficult to find exactly the right parts in abundance (SID replacements are relatively new) and troubleshooting is not always as straightforward as say a monolithic design like the Mac. I’m not saying other companies didn’t do this too - they did - but Commodore was particularly adept at it.
The C64U has the credibility of the brand, and ironically, the fact that it uses an FPGA is both its greatest asset and squarely in line with Commodore supply chain maneuvers of yesteryear.
It’s simply the best retro computer value proposition on the market today. It has the vast library of software from contemporary developers and benefits from a vibrant community of indie devs today that are putting out some really great stuff.
If you’re new to the vintage/retro computing scene, the C64U is a nearly perfect entry point without many of the drawbacks of 1982. And it’s essentially “the real deal” as opposed to an emulator. Whereas the 800xl, which I am considering, is another emulator box but with a substantial differentiation in its design and controls from other implementations. It’s essentially a niche Flashback console and that’s really interesting.
As for the C64U over an emulator - it really comes down to personal preference and need. I’m
really into old demos and being able to play those in some weird hybrid timings is a really neat feature. The option to hook this up to my real CRT is nice too.
The only caveat I can really see is that the ultimate SID fpga implementation isn’t perfect so a set of ARM2SID is preferred by some.
I still have my old Commodore C64, complete with disk drive and joysticks, and all three work just as well as the power supplie they have a slight loose connection, but thats more due to the port. Also, I know many other retro friends who all have working old Commodores at home. So that's why I'm surprised you haven't found anyone yet who has a working one.
I’ve genuinely wondered if it’s the climate I’m in bringing these to some early failure. It’s quite humid here most of the year and most folks have been storing them in sheds and attics. But I’ve also not had the same problems at the same frequency with other machines.
I’m glad you’ve had a good experience with some well loved machines. My experience has been different.
FWIW, my original breadbox C64 worked the last time I powered it up a few years ago and it had been packed in garages in the humid midwest summers. The keyboard isn’t as responsive and probably needs to be replaced but the core hardware was fine.
My VIC 20 powers in but I can’t seem to get video from it. I didn’t spend much time troubleshooting it so it may be minor or a major problem.
I recall the original power supply being the BIGGEST problem (and I think I went to an "aftermarket" gold, metallic one with HELLA vent holes in the shiny case after my 2nd C-64 burned up). I seem to recall Commodore being quite speedy in sending both replacements to my doorstep (not as fast or "track able" as Amazon Prime, but it was 1984/85 after all..) I think the only other hardware trouble I had (after changing power supply) was burning out the video chip after days/weeks of being powered up (and again, I remember CBM sending me a replacement rather quickly.)
I was nearly RAISED by my C-64-- my Mom was in Grad School, and she did seem to have PLENTY of "boyfriends" before/during/after the divorce (she was "Miss Ephraim" and HS Valedictorian, after all..) She looked a LOT like Elizabeth Taylor, back in their respective "days.."
I think you're pretty much spot on. It's mostly a nostalgia thing. I'm not going to use my C65 Ultimate for productivity. I might do some BASIC or Assembly coding for fun on it, and perhaps some music. And, of course, games. Because they're nostalgic.
And as for the hardware itself over a software emulator - well, when you're coding in BASIC, it helps to have a proper C64 keyboard for the PETSCII graphics and control characters.
How hard is it to actually enter code on the C64 compared to coding on a regular PC with a modern IDE like VS Code and large high-resolution monitors? I would go crazy if I can't have multiple side-by-side views of my code. Maybe even alpha testing would be much easier through an emulator and save the actual C64 for beta testing.
Well, if you don't come from an 8 bit background, it might be hard to adapt to doing software development - or any type of productive work, really - directly on a Commodore 64. I know I've seen at least one IDE for modern computers which allows you to develop C64 software from a modern interface, presumably with a built-in emulator. So you might want to look into that.
Those old 8bit come from a time it was possible for an individual to master all the technical aspects of a given machine. And because the C64 had the greatest game, better graphics and better sound than others, it's still vivid, on the hardware side with C64U and others like BMC64 ( I built one myself ), and on software side too, just visit itch.io and check by yourself
When you want to buy it you can find a bunch of justifications for it - mine were that il play a bunch of games, maybe write my own, a bit of nostalgia etc
Now I have the c64u I’ve used it to chat on BBS which is fun, and as a desk ornament lol. They are nice remakes though and I absolutely would buy it again even though I’ve not made the most of it
I'm in my 20s so I got no nostalgia for it. It just falls within one of my hobbies. I like to mess around with things, sure I ain't doing it all the time but it's good to have various hobbies to expand on your own knowledge, and it's fun.
I did a lot of emulation when I was in highschool, just to pass the time, I got a taste of how different games were on different systems and eventually wanted the real ones. I've currently got a small collection of consoles and computers from different eras (had to limit myself because of space).
Aren't games and BASIC programming more than enough? That's what was more than enough back in the day, although we also HAD to use it for productivity purposes as well because that was the only computer we had. Now, they can just do what they are uniquely suited for.
Sure, but that's a whole other level of commitment. I'm a professional writer for a reason. My math education was poor and that's not how my brain operates. BASIC is about my limit when it comes to programming.
basic is fine though, can still do plenty of cool stuff with it, considering the act of programming the 64 is the fun part of it, more than the ultimate result IMO. you only need assembly to do a lot within a clock cycle so you don't get jittery screen gfx/movement.
I did school papers on mine, even in college in the early 90's as that was the only computer I had. While everyone else had to schedule time in the computer lab, I was able to just type my papers out in my room and print them out on my Okidata. I don't remember what software I was using though. I know it was disk-based and extremely basic as I never had any cartridges for my C64.
I was a kid then, so I mostly used it for writing the occasional school paper. I was one of the first in my school to use a computer to do that. I sometimes did a mix of text and graphics, which was obviously also a bit novel at the time. I dabbled a little in using a database for personal inventory, but it wasn't particularly reliable, so I stopped. Otherwise, just lots of art and a little programming.
Yeah I was thinking of that too. My first machine was an XT clone and I started on DOS. So I would type my school assignments and later print them. But I refused to install Windows for which I had simple text editor, not the fancy word processing of MS Word. As I said Im not familiar with the Commodore. So what was available - do you have proper word processor? At least like Word 5.0 which was in text mode for DOS but still a proper word processor. Did you guys had a GUI OS? Database? Spreadsheet? Visicalc was available for DOS, so you probably had something too...
I know Amiga had a graphical OS, but not sure what was on C64...
Later on DOS we had the BBS software, so I guess you had this too. So we talk connectivity here.
Yes, the C-64 got a graphical OS circa 1987 with GEOS. It had a WYSIWIG word processor and other productivity apps. It was amazing for just needing 64K and a single disk drive.
As for various productivity apps, most computers had a full suite available one way or another. As one of the most popular computers ever, the C-64 had countless options.
I blew my boss’s mind when I showed him what I created using GEOS. I had whipped up an ad for the store with graphics and more than one font, and a business card. He couldn’t believe it. “You made these on a Commodore 64???”
Some nostalgic gaming and fiddling around with it. I like to spend a couple of hours loading games from cassette and throwing shapes to the load screen music while reading magazines. It beats doom scrolling!
For me personally, it's nostalgia, but I am genuinely impressed with the amount of new software coming out and a new Legion of appreciative younger users who seem to genuinely like the simplicity of it compared to today's computing.
Heck, I've seen music review YouTube channels where musicians are reacting to classic 8-bit tunes and are marveling at how such complex music could be made in that time when they thought the era was primarily NES and Gameboy tracks.
I guess at the end of the day, for lots of people it's a new toy, and from an entertainment perspective, it's done, and been doing that, admirably since 1983.
Mostly games, but there's some utilities specifically for the C64U too. There's plenty of YouTube videos out there covering these.
Add to that the array of new hardware that's out there (even before the C64U) and it's impressive that Commodore had such a following that people have designed and built modern hardware to extend and improve existing machines. My original C64 from 1983 now has HDMI output, for example.
RFOFF providing the HDMI out path and clean analogue video (composite and S-Video) out.
Generic HDMI audio embedder to take a tap of the analogue audio signal, convert it to mono digital, and embed it into the HDMI signal (the combined output then connects to the RFOFF to leave the machine).
I also use with it and Ultimate II+L cartridge to load games and apps, and an Easy Flash 3 cart for loading other games and testing apps.
It’s not meant to be a practical purchase. It’s nostalgic. You transport yourself to the days when you probably had almost no responsibilities, and waited for the latest game to be released (and not need to be patched immediately) so you could have a copy party with your friends, and then spend a week leapfrogging each other in progress until one of you completes the game maybe mere hours before the rest of you do.
It's 99% games. I say this as someone still coding new games for the c64. You can run stuff in VICE and get 90% of the way there, but there's a little 10% more you get only from working with the real, somewhat clunky machine.
Thanks! It's a simple look -- but my main goal was to see if I could get something that rendered at a smooth frame-rate, which it does. By c64 standards anyway. The movement is what hopefully makes it fun. Give it a shot on VICE :)
As a kid reading about professional development using PDS I was in awe of that kind of setup and wondered what it would be like to have one. With the ethernet setup, ACME assembler and the control tool that's basically what I have.
The toolchain these days is amazing. You can definitely do things no sane c64 programmer could have imagined. Lucky for us there were many insane c64 programmers even back then :)
My family's old Commodore 64 inspired a lifelong love of computing, so nostalgia is a factor, but that wouldn't be enough for me to want the new one. I still have our old breadbin from the mid '80s. Although it still works, compared to the C64 Ultimate it isn't as practical for saving progress while programming, loading games quickly, or for using GEOS to what I see as its potential. The C64 Ultimate as a newer, quicker, and more enjoyable way to do use a C64. It can still run the old software and use the old peripherals, but has internal storage, Wi-Fi, and other convenience features. I'm also getting the slimline 64C this time around, which might be more ergonomic for me to type on... plus I've always liked how they look.
The Commodore 64 Ultimate and Atari 800XL do not advertise to you. They do not spy on you. Sure, you could use an emulator. But if you're using macOS or Microsoft Windows, those OSs will advertise to you and spy on you.
These new retro computers allow you to experience the joy of retro computing, without the advertising and spying of modern OSs.
To be honest - I've never had an Apple product myself. Years ago migrated from Windows to Linux. Do you have a MacOS machine? I have zero idea what it's like, except it's come BSD cloned OS (very roughly speaking)
The C64 Ultimate had a lot of quality life extras. Mainly managing disk/tape/cart images and connectivity. You can add them to old hardware but it gets bulky fast. It's also compatible with the hardware you do have.
I have many C64's, 128's, drives, Amigas, TI99's, etc. etc. For me collecting retro computers is one of my hobbies. I have working machines I've only used once to make sure they're working. I do have daily drivers I mess with most days. I don't understand the need for ROI with these old machines. If I want a C64 to turn on for 5 minutes once a week then that's enough ROI for me. I didn't initially buy a C64U because I prefer originals and Ultimate II+ carts give them much of the same functionality. Although I did pre order the Cyberpunk version because that's just badass.
For me personally, an emulator is never as good as the hardware. There’s always something off about it - whether it is incomplete support, glitches, or something of that nature, it just doesn’t feel right.
On the other hand, I still have all of my original Commodore machines - VIC 20, C64, C128, and Amiga 2000 - but they’re boxed up currently. A few years back, I was getting back into retro PCs and even bought an Amiga 3000 when I got a great deal. It is boxed up as well. The reasons why they’re boxed up vary - lack of space, an office remodel and I never brought them back out, lack of time - but I eventually came to the conclusion that I wanted to preserve the hardware so that’s why I’ve made no real effort to bring it all back out, though I may change my mind at some point.
So for me, with both of these factors in mind, I bought the C64U. I thought it was a good compromise of the two points above and I bought it for the sake of nostalgia, as that era was one of the two greatest gaming periods in my life. I don’t use it as much as I’d like to be honest but I can fire it up at any time to play games and reminisce. If I had more room, I’d bring out a drive and a dot matrix printer but I’ll get there eventually.
I think you’re reading too much into people buying these retro machines. People are largely buying them for nostalgia and to play old games, write programs, etc. It is just a fun hobby. No one is likely buying them as a daily driver. The Atari 800 does interest me because as a kid, it was between the Atari 600 and C64 and I chose the C64. I’d love to get the Atari but space is a factor.
I'm 55 and I totally understand where you're coming from and agree with you. I was very involved was back then: I wrote in assembly code (using the Merlin assembler) and authored an NTSC raster bar controller, flexible line display controller, etc., used in many demos. I had fun pushing the limits of the hardware back then making it do things it was really never intended (or known) to do. However, there's no incentive or reward to do that anymore, especially on emulated hardware. This stuff has been so thoroughly explored now that there's nothing left to pioneer. I still have my C-128: it was fun for a short time to attach an SDHC card external drive to it and drop some ROMs there, but I quickly got bored of that. Nastolgic, sure; a good use of my time now, no.
If I ever need to scratch a nostalgia itch I open up an emulator and play for a while. Having a real, physical machine that requires desk space and a monitor is too much for a rare moment of enjoyment.
There are, though, many many people who love this stuff, and are excited to have a physical unit. The look of it. The feel of it. It's just.... just... perfect.
I think the most telling thing is that RetroGames Ltd has existed for a while now and has produced a number of both mini and full-sized units. They're still in business, so clearly there's a market. And things like the ZX Spectrum Next (from Kickstarter) and C64 Ultimate (from new Commodore) prove that people are also willing to pay for more expensive FPGA retro creations.
The oldest computer I still use is my Amiga. Deluxe Paint is still good and trackers are still good, and you can write and program on them, and safely poke around in files and the OS. Though dated in some areas, it's very much a complete productivity computer. Whenever I need to plot some graphics and debug mistakes, it's much faster to just reach for trusty old AMOS than an unfamiliar modern language where opening a simple screen might be several lines and seagulls are everywhere.
The C64 is more of a nostalgia only thing for me, in the sense that after I've fooled around a bit I've had my fill... and I only have so much time available for fooling around.
Mainly nostalgia. The same way people enjoy listening to vinyl records, antiques and working on old cars. They can wrap their heads around how it all works and enjoy the simplicity. Its missing in the dense complexity of modern computers.
But I have also seen my kids enjoy learning programming logic in Basic - same as it was 40 years ago and more satisfying than Scratch block-programming in a browser
And games - I find it amazing how enjoyable old gaming is, especially arcade games - simple, challenging and rewarding. Arcade gaming as a concept (pick up and play) has moved to phones but I think something was lost along the way.
If someone here is still doing C64 4kb ASM demos - well I would like to see that.
We sure are. There are 403 releases so far this year. We hang out over at r/demoscene
SID Wizard is the most recent tracker, so there's innovation on your music front, too.
I mean, I don't really need a new C64. I have my ALDI and my turbo chameleon 64 cartridge.. which has pretty much the same functionality as the C64 ultimate. But it's been in heavy use and it won't last forever.
Because no matter how nostalgic I feel, I would grab an emulator if I want retro-functionality in 2026. Keeping more hardware around is taking care of more things. Especially retro-hardware which would require more care. Not to mention the space. Well at least I don't have the space.
I get this, and I feel that way about most platforms.. except those who do a lot of interpolation and only really look and feel right on a CRT. I miss the times when every living room had a particle accelerator in them. I have a small CRT on my hobby desk with a switch to connect to my real C64, C64U, A1200, NES and SMS.
Nostalgia for old games. Distraction-free writing device (plenty of old word-processor programs out there). Using BBSs the way they used to. Something fun to do. Why do people collect anything? I mean, what does a stamp collector do with stamps?
By the way I just researched the word processors on c64. I totally get the "distraction free" thing - lots of people are looking for thie J.R.R. Martin vibe. But one guy on youtube said you can't share your files with anyone, but other c64 users. So if you type something on a c64 word processor, do you have file converters to convert it to something a linux/windows machine can read and you can for example at least read with an ascii text editor (sorta like Notepad on Windows, vim/emacs on linux)...?
Because if the keyboard is convenient for you, a c64 would make a perfect writing deck, assuming you can later export the file to be read by another OS.
Another one said only the GEOS word processor is an actual word processor, the others are too basic. I saw video of GEOS and I agree the wp app there is good.
I read J.R.R. Martin uses WordStar 4.0 which he uses on an old DOS machine, sorta like distraction-free writing deck.
So if you use the c64 as a writer deck - I totally get that. Assuming there are file convertors.
Some people go all out. Get a working printer and scan (easy to do with a smart phone) and then edit on a modern PC. I started vibe-coding a GEOS word processor with a .txt export function but didn't get far. May have to pick that up again soon.
1) Nostalgia: they either had or wanted a C64 when they where young in the 80ies and now want to relive those moments.
2) Games: retro games are cool because they are simpler. If you have 20 minutes, you load a C64 game and get to play. No tutorials, training levels, etc., like in modern games. If I have 20 minutes and want to play GTA V, the time it takes to get up and running, I already wasted 1/4 of my available time.
3) Demo's: there is a very active demo scene for the C64, producing amazing demos. Some only really work on real hardware - due to SID chip tricks, CRT phosphor and/or interlace effects, etc.
4) Development: because there is a demo scene, it is a cool challenge to program for the C64, because you are limited to the available hardware. You get the VIC-II, the SID, a 6510 CPU and 64KB RAM. It is amazing what people come up with! Plus, the C64 is a system which still allows a normal person to compreend it's inner workings. You can learn assembly/machinecode, interrupts, disk formats (BAM, tracks and sectors), etc. Take a modern Windows 11 computer and you have no idea what's really going on. A new aspect is that AI is now capable of reading C64 binaries (!) and explain them to you. AI can modify games or write you new games for the C64. This makes it even easier for the casual programmer to get somthing out of this computer.
I connected my VIC-REL relay cartridge to my C64 Ultimate and programmed some fun effects on it, just like I did as a teenager on my VIC-20.
Then I connected my 1520 plotter to it and programmed the Ultimate from my PC's webbrowser, which is really handy. Made a small TIC-80 program to preview some cool spirograph-style parameters, copied those to my Ultimate and plotted them out.
Also added original SID chips and enjoyed comparing their audio quality to that of the built-in emulation.
I have a bunch of old machines, but they are more of a hassle to set up and use and tend to break a lot.
The Ultimate has almost all of the functionality of the original machine, plus added convenient modern functionality. I can highly recommend it, it is a love letter to the C64.
I have a couple of the 'Mini' and 'The' versions, which are really convenient if you want to play classic games without much hassle, but they don't have the old connections.
EDIT: One major advantage over emulation, including the MiSTer FPGA, is the correct keyboard layout. I have a 'The Spectrum' as well, which has a very unique keyboard.
I have an original C64(C). In fact my first own computer. I've never really retired it. At least for Christmas the machine always came out of storage to play some old or even new games and watch new demos. And I've started to buy used stuff I couldn't afford as a kid and new hardware that wasn't around back then.
At some point I had the space to have the system out all year, near the current PC setup, so I often have both running, using the C64 as programmable calculator. Sure it's somewhat redundant because on the PC there is always a Python shell open, but doing it on the C64 in BASIC is more fun.
Then I started to use it as much as possible. For instance for mail correspondence with government offices or companies, instead of e-mail I like to type it on the C64, print it out, and send the old school snail mail. Sometimes people at the other end are curious about the 9-pin matrix printer look of the print output.
Now to the question:
The C64U…
a) … helps preserving the original machine. I can store the original in a dry place, protected from UV light.
b) … has a ton of extensions and devices already built in but still has the ability to connect devices with the original connectors and cables. Even stuff that no emulator has. For instance a video digitiser cartridge. Or simply using the user, cassette, and joystick ports as GPIOs for DIY projects.
playing new games that have just been written for it , watching demos that are new from old favourites.
programming, loading games very fast , and playing old games that I used to.enjoy
There are a lot new stuff for C64 - games, software, demos.
Some of them utilizes C64U capabilities (e.g. RAM expansion).
Some of demo sceners try to use turbo mode of new C64, but there aren't too many productions right now.
A Polish developer is currently working on a new game engine that takes full advantage of the C64U's capabilities (not only RAM expansion, but also a 64 MHz processor, Amiga mod support, etc.):
Does it really matter? People get them for all of the reasons you already listed: games, music, programming, word processing, nostalgia, etc. Like many (I’d argue most) hobbies, it boils down to nostalgia and it being fun for them. I collect baseball cards, which are functional useless (unless you’re selling them). Does there need to be a why for it, beyond the fact that I love baseball and it allows me to connect to a time in my life that makes me feel good?
I guess I’m saying that understanding isn’t necessary, just appreciation and respect for another’s passions.
Reliving the days when playing with computers were fun and not maddening. The hardware is fairly simple, unlike the complex multi-core models of today where the OS won't let you do certain things.
Your post comes out as somewhat passive-aggressive, as if demanding people to explain their behaviour to you. Why would they have to do that?
So I present a counter question: have you actually tried doing anything on a vintage computer recently? Not in an emulator, but the original hardware?
Any piece of hardware that is in contact with a human is an interface. We interact with touch, sight, hearing, smell. Even feelings.
Different hardware will interact differently even when running the same software, creating different experiences. And having experiences is sort of the point of living a life.
I have the holy grail of commodore 64's, an SX-64, I do maintain it from time to time if it dies when I test it each 2-5th year or so, maybe a rom went bad, some dried out caps etc.
But do I use it? Never. I even have a mini-c64 that has HDMI out, do I use it? never.
I grew up coding games and demo's on it, and it's fond memories at best.
But I don't feel the use case, for me it has to have some kind of use case rather than "back to the 80s".
The toys we have now are spectacular, we have wireless VR, supercomputers, can do anything we want endlessly.
I do have the C-64 emulator on my taskbar on my main computer (Linux), so yeah, I can test the occasional demo someone made in modern times, but that's about it.
Keeping more hardware around is taking care of more things. Especially retro-hardware which would require more care. Not to mention the space.
There is a sentiment among many retro-entusiasts for using emulators and recreations so as to avoid wear and tear on real vintage hardware.
And those are often easier to use in one way or another.
I myself only use a emulated C64 occasionally, and follow the demo scene (which is alive and doing amazing things). But the vintage world is more than the machines. I listen to remixes/recreations of C64 game and demo music because I like the genre: often inspired by 1980's synthpop and purely instrumental. Instrumental music with a good beat is what I used to prefer to listen in headphones while working even before I got into remixes.
I also think sometimes that the modern world of computing can learn a lot from the past, and there are lessons that should not be forgotten.
If I didn't already have a Mister FPGA I would get one to watch new demos, test code (I do the actual development in Linux though) and of course play games now and then.
I have a very modded C64G but prefer being able to have easy networking to update disk images, use virtual carts etc, not to mention a crisp HDMI output to a dedicated 4:3 monitor. Emulators are fine but it's just not the same experience. IMO FPGA is as "real" as the original C64, and it's not just a tiny tiny bit technically better but also different and better feeling than using emulators. It's like playing a good racing sim vs driving around in a real car for a few hours.
I use the C64 Ultimate mainly to play old games, especially from old disks, since I prefer to protect my vintage computer a bit so I just have my floppy disk drive hooked up. This allows me to stream, which is really cool via OBS. I also experiment a bit with SID music on it, and that's just much more relaxed and faster on the C64 Ultimate. Because of that, I have tons of use cases, and now I'm looking forward to the Callback device because maybe I can use it to control the C64 as well, and that's bound to be super exciting.
Play some games occasionally without wearing out my original. But mostly just because it felt good to buy it. I have hardly used it (a The C64). It’s actually a waste of money.
So, I haven’t tried in years so take this with a grain of salt. But from around 2010 to 2015, I had my Commodore 128 and other Amigas set up and tested various media. Shockingly, at the time, I only ran across a couple of 5.25 floppies which no longer worked - IIRC, one was Epyx GI Joe and I can’t recall the other. This was after 30+ years of being stored in garages in humid/cold Midwest weather. I’m sure by now others have degraded and once I get my drive hooked up to my C64U, I intend to test.
I bought a c64u because I never had one as a kid. I had a C16 and then MSX1 and 2. I just wanted to feel like a kid again and get the “real” homecomputer that I always wanted.
That’s it.
I occasionally hook it up and play with it. The rest of the time it’s on display in my home office.
It’s mainly nostalgia I think 60% will just sit in a corner and collect dust after the first week. Of the other 40% most will be connected to a tv or monitor and be uses a few times a year. And a very small number will see actual use as a gaming device.
We just do what we did back then on the C64 (or any retro system) play classic games and new ones, as people still make games for them, maybe do some coding, or make music etc.
I got a C64 Ultimate because the C64 was the first computer I ever had as a kid, so I have a lot of love and great memories of that computer and wanted that authentic experience again.
Everyone is different, some people do it with an emulator, some want a more authentic experience and buy these re-released systems.
I think working 8 bit computers are the root, the genesis of all the "computing" devices in our lives today, and as a 70 year old I don't need to own one (even though I do) to understand how we got where we are. If you don't understand 8 bit computing/computers/the 8 bit era you are not rooted in the promise of that era and how/where that promise succeeded and failed.
8 bits were the era of "second wave" computing and now we are fully in a "third wave" computing era where many people are fully oblivious of the negative effects.
Games. Emulator isn't the same. It doesn't sound the same. Using good joysticks like the Tac-2 is troublesome with usb-9 pin converters having given me nothing but headache. The tactile sensations and sounds of a classic tape. Emulators are the uncanny valley of retro gaming. Something feels off.
There are young people getting into vintage / retro computing. It’s been popping-off hard since like 2020.
All the nostalgia things are driving this as well as people who are long time fans of the Commodore 64.
The Apple II was a brilliant machine and Woz truly is the Mozart of hardware and software. I love Woz and I want to be clear about that.
But the C64 is simple enough that you can work hard and truly understand the whole thing. And yet it’s truly dynamic and has hidden potential due to the flexibility and truly remarkable abilities of it s custom chips. There’s simply so much you can explore and push the machine’s seemingly limited boundaries into crazy directions. In fact the C64 in particular has had decades of people figuring out how to do something incredible that didn’t seem possible up until that point. The demo is scene is amazing across the board but the C64 demos push crazy limits.
In fact I humbly submit my own little bit: as part of my ChiCLI project I wrote code to get the temperature of the C64 processor WITHOUT any additional hardware. I play with the unused pins on the 6510 where I take a pin high as output then set it to input and time how long it takes to go low. From that I can use a lookup table and report the CPU temperature. Had had read about the idea but never found any code or program that did it so I did it. It works! It’s bonkers but it’s about a couple degrees within what my FLIR camera reports! Who woulda thunk it?
It’s this kind of stuff that keeps people coming back to the C64. You can learn the whole thing and then start asking yourself “hey yeah but what if I did this…” and then do something that’s never been done before. It’s complex and dynamic enough to be interesting for almost half a century and at the same time you really can hold a model of the entire computer in your mind… at least if you study hard enough!
Also things like wifi card and telnet bbs systems that are currently running let you turn your C64 into a news reader or whatever.
Plus my friend who makes C64 OS has put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, into making a GUI inspired by modern sensibilities that runs on a C64 and lets you do useful and fun things.
It’s the whole ecosystem too - there’s basically an absolute shit-tonne of C64’s in the world and therefore so much existing hardware and software both old and new.
So, in short, I think that the C64 is specifically in a unique position to be a compelling platform for learning about and enjoying technology.
With the release of the new Commodore 64 machines we get even more growth of the ecosystem. As much as someone like me enjoys repairing old machines the new FPGA based Commodore 64 Ultimate lets anyone who’s interested get into the C64 without the pain-in-the-ass elements of basically dealing with old shit. You don’t have to deal with the old power supplies trashing your machine , or try and find an old CRT to use, or constantly have to Deoxit your sockets and connectors to keep the machine working. The new machines just work but you can still plug in literally anything from the C64 universe.
People are also making and selling new hardware and software. I myself have a store and I sell my software and some hardware that I designed.
I dunno man… it’s a whole big thing… and I think it’s turning into not just a retro thing anymore!
Returning to the roots of computing, when the power was with the user. No GUI, no bloatware, no AI. Just you and the command line and the same tools and resources as everyone else- a level field for playing and experimentation. If you want to delve into the system, you can actually understand how everything works if you put the time in. There's value in that. Plus it's just fun pushing the limits of the hardware. Also working with built-for-purpose hardware adds to the experience. Sort of like watching a movie in theater vs. at home.
Yes,for that same reason I created myself a Debian remix without any GUI (no desktop environment of any sort) so it's designed to be used only command-line.
So i understand your point. Of course running a modern OS even stipped on a modern hardware is not like running DOS on a 640kb RAM XT-clone without a hard drive and only one 360kb FDD, fighting for each RAM byte and each CPU cycle, each FDD read/write cycle, but still.
Understood. For me emulation can't touch the feeling of original hardware. Same reason I have an original arcade machine in my living room. One other point- with the C64, the keyboard has a different layout. It also has a locking shift key and graphical key codes. For example Commodore button + S yields a heart. The graphical key codes can be used to draw out makeshift GUIs and all sorts of other graphics. This is hard to replicate with emulation without key stickers and even then doesn't work right unless you change your key layout. At the end of the day it just doesn't work as well. I suggest getting some time on a C64U. Write a small program or two and experience it for yourself.
I'm a game dev and I use mine to make new games on.
I find it really fun to work with because (1) it is a heavily constrained system where I have to think about clock cycles and memory allocations in a way that I would never have to in the modern world and (2) I grew up with a bread-bin model as a kid, so going back to make software for it now scratches that itch.
Programming close to the metal in the way that you can on a C64 is just never something you do at all in the modern game dev world.
Doing demo coding on a modern reimplementation of any vintage computer system sounds like going against the idea of doing such coding for the platform.
I mean, if you want to code against a limited platform it does little sense to run your code on hardware that does not have those limitations... And also might have differences in it's implementation. FPGA and emulators tend to have small different behaviors than the original hardware.
Sure, it makes sense to do the actual coding on other hardware. I mostly code Amiga assembly in vscode on Linux and debug the code in fsuae. But I do it to run the finished executable on my real Amiga hardware. I would want to sit and code on a The A1200 (or whatever it is called).
Not a daily driver. Some people still make demos and SID tracks, then check them on real hardware because emulators miss little timing stuff. Everyone else is playing old games. No space? Just use VICE.
That makes total sense. It's a distraction-free device. Question is - how to you export the file to send it to a publisher? Are there any file convertors?
The new c64 has wifi and you can ftp to the USB stick or just plug it into your pc. Once you have a disk image on your pc easy to extract and convert files.
These mini retro things baffle me. For the same money or less you can pick up a refurb PC with lots more raw computer power, frinstance an i7 with 16GB of RAM and a small SSD, install every emulator, and run all the same games and software from every repro console/PC with better results. Or you can drop under $50 on a Chinese handheld and play tons of old games. Back in the day I owned Atari XLs and some hot-rodded Amigas, and they were great at the time, but my first PC bought in the 90s had so much more raw power I never used the old Atari/Commodore computers again. That kind of nostalgia doesn't make sense to me
It also has a whole bunch of expansions built-in that I can experiment with (REU, multiple drives), connects to my TV with no problems, let's me switch between PAL and NTSC or different SID types, and as a coder I'm curious what you can do with a 6510 clocked at 64MHz.
Also I grew up with a C64C. I played games on it, then I wondered how they worked, then I started learning how to code to see if I could do that myself. I'm now a senior games programmer and my ultimate sits behind me in teams meetings as a reminder of how I got here.
Games. Apple had no games. The ones they had sucked. Meanwhile, Commodore ate up the market. Games were always what drove innovation, especially when PC clones got in the game. You don't upgrade to a 486-66MHz machine (screaming at the time) to run spreadsheets. You upgrade so you can play "Wing Commander." And so it went, for the longest time. Gamers drove tech upward.
to relive your hey-day for many it was our first computer. most of the games are still fun. the c64 demoscene is alive and kicking so you could code or do gfx not just play games... most of the top scene BBSs are still running just over telnet now. a preservation of an awesome time. plus the new model lets you just load up an SD card if you dont want to actually flip media etc., lets you overclock, ram expansion unit built in. its more fun for those of us that got this as a first machine.
For me, it would be to relive the original experience with the original keyboard, all the peripherals, the original ports and so on. You can transfer your disks and tapes without an actual C64, but running in an emulator doesn't give the full experience of using that specific computer. Also, I think some people like the purity of being on a dedicated 8-bit platform, free of the host operating system an emulator would run under, and all that comes with it.
Store recipes. In the mid to late 70s, I worked in a Sears department that carried computers. We had the VIC 20, the C64, and the TI-99/4A. Every single customer I talked to, regardless of age, race, or gender asked me the same question, "Can I store recipes on this?"
The 800xl is a soc with software emulation. The Commodore is a fpga which is emulation of the hardware and more accurate representation of the hardware. Most people o know like the fpga to run other cores. The mega 65 is another fpga based on a Commodore prototype that can perform as multiple different systems not just the Commodore 65. I think it's for people who don't want to risk old hardware or to connect to newer displays. Most TVs I see now don't support analog video inputs. If you got adapters, a pico cart, you can easily get a real Atari 800xl for cheaper. In my experience Atari 400/800, 1200xl, and 600xl/800xl are very reliable machines. The 65xe/130xe/XEGS are finicky with poor ram chips and replacing is a pain because those traces and vias on those boards are so very fragile compared to the other computers and consoles I worked on.
the scene for these old home computers is still pretty much alive and well. itch.io will feature daily quality releases of new games (even commercial games are still made & sold). next to that, the demo scene is alive and well.
and lets not forget about the classics, still fun to play.
I use it for developing all kinds of software: streaming, mcp servers, extending the firmware itself. I am learning a lot. The community is very curious and I love tinkering back on the computer I grew up with, but now 40 years later. Basically, I am doing the same I've always been doing on the C64 over the past 40 years, but the new C64U makes it all the more exciting as it rejuvenates the platform with network access, faster CPU speed, and so much more.Unlike more complex modern systems, you are also much closer to the hardware, and the entire ecosystem is simpler and more approachable. Plus, whenever I use it, I also get a warm fuzzy feeling as I grew up with it. So you have the nostalgia factor combined with modern software dev in 2026 and learning a lot about firmware development.
Nothing useful in my case. I pre-ordered The800XL because I want to have the case and working keyboard. It’s pure nostalgia. I’ll probably continue to play my old games on my main pc with an emulator. The800XL is functionally no different from the 400Mini I already have, but I couldn’t resist the full size case and working keyboard. Playing on that full size case will meet some additional tactile nostalgia that goes beyond the games themselves.
I like to try out demos and games. I also like coding for the Commodore 64 as a hobby. I'm currently working on a game and software for GUI64. I'd use it to run all of that. Currently I either use Vice or my TheC64 Maxi.
I've tried TheC64 for distraction free writting but it's not ideal. The high up keyboard is uncomfortable and dealing with C64 disk images whilst perfectly doable is a faff that I don't need. Specially when software like Ghostwritter gives me the same distraction free result.
Nostalgia for me and mostly play on PC with emulator considering I still have genuine 80s boxed matching serial C64, a plus/4 but don't have the space nor time to leave it setup.
Emulator can also speed up America's Cup, unlike the tape version 🙄 but even no basic, as with work I'm purely either .Net, Python, or JS
I never had a C64 growing up and to be honest I never knew about them until about 10 years ago but I got TheC64 because I loved typing in programmes and games using old books on vice and really wanted to try the real thing. It's a hobby for me and even though it's technically screen time it still feels like a disconnect from the modern constant notifications and stuff. There's something quite therapeutic about it
Not much more than people have said. It has more power for more recent devs ans also, accounting for all issues an OG N64 has or vmwill have and the devices you have to get to make it workable (Floppy,m, loader, CRT screen/converter)... Someone willing to have the C64 experience will be better off with the recent release base model and for probably less money.
On most C4, PLA, RAM, SID, ROM cannot will fail. The old wedge PSU is a killer waiting to strike, the video output is outdated and requires conversion or a proper screen, and more.
I still love my IG 64 and and 52 year old me didn't mind fixing it and pimping it with an 1541 ultimate II+. I love both :-)
Never had a C64 back in the day, I didn't like them actaully, I preferred the BBC Micro, which I never had as well. But got the C64 Ultimate and use it to have fun with learning basic programming. I sometimes play a few games, but nearly all the time is spent with basic programming using the TSBneo BASIC extension. Fantastic.
Given I'm not a huge fan of keeping older hardware, I get the sentimwnt of using an emulator instead. That's fine, for some of us the nostalgia isn't about the hardware itself, it's the software and, as long as you still have legal copies, no harm, no foul. Some people's nostalgia IS the hardware, IS the feel or sense of that physical machine, and emulation just doesn't compare no matter how good. Yes, a few people might prefer using real (or as close to real as they can get) hardware to try to push the limits of the machine or discover any hidden secrets, and there might be a fraction of a percent that has to use real hardware BECAUSE nothing modern works right or at all compared to it - but you get rid of the rarities, and you're left with the basic two.
I ordered the 800XL to give to my 75 year old Dad. I already have a few 8-bits running, but this will let him playsome old games, just by plugging it into a LCD (HDMI). For him, this is actually easier than an emulator since he can just flip the switch and it's ready to go.
Looking back, I'm not sure I knew anyone who had a C64. We had an Apple Iic, a friend had a really nice TRS setup, another friend had one of the Timex Sinclair computers, several other people we knew had various Apple II products, and that was what we used in elementary school. Didn't know anyone who had a Mac or a PC til HS.
To me, the attraction is writingcode that can be understood in its entirety on a machine that can be understood in its entirety. It's a bit like building circuits from visibly discrete components or rebuilding the engine in a 1950s truck.
I think he built the projector himself. At one point he added a mirror and a prism to split his green beam and get a red one as well. The software he used ran on the C64, I can't remember what it was called.
Nowadays you can connect both the old and these newer FPGA devices to the internet using technologies like FujiNet and this opens up an entire World of innovative uses to these older devices. It's super fun actually, especially for those of us who understand and appreciate the technology and their limitations.
My opinion is stupidity, impulse,.or both! Yes I bought one. Took it out of the box, powered it up. Hooked a 1541 to it, yeah, it works, put it back in the box. Trying to figure out why I bought it. Oh yeah, already covered that stupidity and impulse.
Agreed, Nostalgia. But I felt stupid after spending $348.00 and now use it to take up space in the closet next to two 1541 floppys I have had for 30+ years.
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