By Joe KPosted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 12:05 GMT
Its not April again already is it??
They really missed a trick here, if it was installed with AmigaOS, or even just dual boot into Amiga in a Box (http://aiab.amiga.sk), this thing would FLY off the shelves through nostalgia alone.
A C= branded machine running XP, perish the thought.
By David ArnoPosted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 12:21 GMT
"There'll be no Linux option, apparently, only Windows XP."
If it came with a 2008 version of AmigaOS, then I might have got excited. Instead it's just another bland overpriced disappointment from a brand name that ought to have the grace to just die.
By Stuart HarrisonPosted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 13:05 GMT
OK, judging by the photos, it's no Macbook Air, but for God's sake IT'S GOT A COMMODORE LOGO ON IT! Will definitely up my street cred with the retro computing commuter crowd. The beige plasticy look of it is a nice retro nod too...
By Richard KilpatrickPosted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 13:06 GMT
£325. C7M. XP.
Why, dear god, WHY. What is the point of this?! It'll be slow as hell with the cache-crippled VIA CPU and XP, and the Commodore brand isn't even backed up with a comprehensive/well integrated emulator?
What is the point of launching this dreck when there are established, CHEAPER models?!
By Anonymous CowardPosted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 13:41 GMT
These days, both Commodore and Amiga only exist as brands owned by companies that hope to cash in on their brand recognition (much like Atari). The company that owns the Commodore brand is not the same one that owns the Amiga brand. "Commodore" these days seem to just make standard x86 PCs with pretty cases, while "Amiga" claims to be "a software company dedicated to creating applications and services to help people access and control the content of their unique digital environment. We call this Digital Living™". Bleugh.
By Dave BellPosted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 14:23 GMT
Microsoft have been pushing XP as the OS for this general class of computer, so I'm not all that suprised.
And everyone and their dog sells USB stuff with XP support. Linux, on the other hand, can be a trap. Even "Linux" on the packaging is no guarantee. And, because of that, supporting Linux can be a PITA.
But there is a very comfortable space between no official support, and not being able to easily run Linux. The stupidity is when a manufacturer sells a machine like this which cannot easily run Linux.
By Mad DogPosted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 16:05 GMT
Come on everyone, the biggest problem with this thing is the price tag! If they sold it for 50 quid they could rock the entire industry and become a "cult" brand on the back of their current nostalgia value. Instead they hobble it and hock it off for £325? If only the accountants hadn't stuck their noses in...
Seriously though, what would be the problem with just wiping it and installing your own Linux?
By Richard KilpatrickPosted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 17:32 GMT
WTF? It's clearly white. The white balance on the shot hasn't been corrected for artificial lighting.
Again, price-wise - Acer Aspire One, 1GB/120GB, Linux, £229. 1024 x 600, decent 1.6GHz CPU. Asus machines are also competing on similar levels, as is the MSI Wind.
The Commodore shown here, the Maplin/Elonex machine... they're all exceptionally poor value by comparison.
Joe: I was tempted to stick Sinclair logos on my black Eee 701 ;)
Acorn stuff - well, the brand got snapped up. Make enough noise, I'm sure the current owners will be happy to market a subnotebook running XP on a crippled CPU as well.
By ZmodemPosted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 20:04 GMT
if theyre going to sell that. they should keep it on the drawing baord. until they make it not look like something from the 80s, or they`ll be living on workbench patents for the next 15yrs
By tardigradePosted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 20:37 GMT
It does what the Acer Aspire One does, only it costs more and doesn't look as good. No Linux and at a price point that is way above the Eee so it's not in that market either. Who is going to buy it?
By Steven RaithPosted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 23:57 GMT
They seem to have gone straight back to the days of the Amiga 600 and CD32.
And if it's anything like my second generation C64, it'll be about as reliable as, er, something sentient with a nasty sense of humour. Although that might have been the tape deck being crap.
Still, nowt wrong with a bit of nostalgia...and my S1 C64/tape deck was much better in terms of reliabilty.
[I want my one in S1 C64 light grey with black keys [and the System keys - Win, Pause, PrntScrn et al can be dark grey. In a row. Down the side]
By Dave MorrisPosted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 00:11 GMT
Holy factual inaccuracy Batman!.
According to this: http://www.commodorecorp.com/repository/document/90.pdf factsheet from the Commodore website. Which is freely available and publicly facing, and should have been easily accessed by anyone. This machine comes with "MS WinXP or Linux Operating System."
Also note that this SCC has it's own girl on the first page. While not as scantily clad as the EEE girl, she's still quite attractive.
The guy on the second page, however, looks pretty confused; and well he should be.. why is he there.. he doesn't even have a computer.. just a cup of coffee or tea.
By Richard KilpatrickPosted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 08:17 GMT
Yes, very enlightening. It doesn't specify the clock speed of that C7, the resolution of the display, the formats handled by the card reader...
What is does clarify is that:
The device is white.
The USB ports are in a stupid place.
FWIW, they may plan to offer it with Linux but are choosing to offer it with XP only for the time being. Not that El Reg is always accurate or even fair (see: FlipStart coverage), but they're only going to be as good as the information they're given when dealing with press released or third-party reports from shows.
Comments on: Commodore launches little laptop
*checks calendar* #
By Joe K Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 12:05 GMT
Better name #
By Joe Montana Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 12:11 GMT
Nice design #
By K Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 12:17 GMT
No thanks. #
By Voice of Reason Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 12:18 GMT
A C7??? #
By Alex Walsh Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 12:18 GMT
Wot, no AmigaOS? #
By David Arno Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 12:21 GMT
Nice #
By Anonymous Coward Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 12:33 GMT
Just don't expect any support... #
By Aaron Scully Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 12:33 GMT
There'll be no Linux option, apparently, only Windows XP. #
By Richard Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 12:40 GMT
If it's a Commodore #
By Mike Richards Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 13:00 GMT
WANT #
By Stuart Harrison Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 13:05 GMT
ARGH! #
By Richard Kilpatrick Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 13:06 GMT
No unix #
By Anonymous Coward Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 13:09 GMT
talkin' 'bout the resolution! #
By b Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 13:22 GMT
Yes, blimey, AmigaOs! #
By Matt Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 13:39 GMT
Re C64 #
By James Pickett Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 13:40 GMT
Commodore != Amiga #
By Anonymous Coward Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 13:41 GMT
a decidedly C64-beating £325 #
By Paul Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 13:50 GMT
Windows XP? #
By EnigmaForce Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 13:58 GMT
Does it at least come with... #
By Anonymous Coward Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 14:11 GMT
At least it isn't Vista. #
By Dave Bell Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 14:23 GMT
Ameagre. #
By Jolyon Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 14:35 GMT
Pointless #
By shane fitzgerald Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 14:40 GMT
This brought a rush of nostalgia #
By P. Lee Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 14:46 GMT
Want the next one #
By Faber foX Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 15:34 GMT
Anyone else notice.. #
By Dean Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 15:41 GMT
Make one with Sinclair branding... #
By Joe Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 15:53 GMT
Nostalgia... #
By Mad Dog Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 16:05 GMT
<dream>Now I want an Acorn one.. #
By It'sa Mea... Mario Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 16:24 GMT
Shame I just got the eee 901 #
By David Hicks Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 16:44 GMT
ARM #
By Mage Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 17:04 GMT
shame on you nostaligia freaks #
By p3ngwin Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 17:14 GMT
Commodore Beige? #
By Richard Kilpatrick Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 17:32 GMT
Nah..Marketing failure- #
By Andus McCoatover Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 18:20 GMT
to Richard Kilpatrick #
By Anonymous Coward Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 19:24 GMT
Nostalgia aint the word #
By Zmodem Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 20:04 GMT
It's got FAIL written all over it. #
By tardigrade Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 20:37 GMT
MMMM, Commodore #
By Bill Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 22:44 GMT
Underspecced, overpriced... #
By Steven Raith Posted Tuesday 2nd September 2008 23:57 GMT
Er.... #
By Dave Morris Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 00:11 GMT
If it's got an HDD its not an SCC #
By Adrian Esdaile Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 03:09 GMT
If it could run my 'Blue Meanies' cartridge I'd be sold!! #
By fred scuttle Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 03:25 GMT
@Dave #
By Richard Kilpatrick Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 08:17 GMT
Um.... #
By David Hayes Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 08:48 GMT
Erm..Aint that... #
By Andus McCoatover Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 09:04 GMT
decisions #
By Outcast Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 12:11 GMT
Re: Um.... #
By Jon Lamb Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 12:40 GMT
poke 36879,8 #
By Anonymous Coward Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 12:46 GMT
Poke 36879,8 #
By Alan Parsons Posted Wednesday 3rd September 2008 14:22 GMT