Commander X16

Greetings!

I was born in 1958, which put me at just the right age to appreciate the dawning of the personal computer. I've always been interested in computers, even as a kid. Of course back then the only contact I had with computers was what I saw on TV, which was usually represented by panels of blinky lights and lots of buttons and dials, sometimes the occasional oscilloscope screen. Not exactly realistic, but I didn't care, it just looked cool, and I wanted one.

1977 was a big tech year me. I was a senior in HS, I learned to program in ForTran and COBOL, I learned to operate the IBM 029/129 keypunches, an IBM 3742 Duel Data Station, and an IBM 4000 series line printer. Over the Summer I discovered the world of personal computers via magazines, computer stores and my first computer faire. Of course this was also the year that the Apple ][, Commodore PET 2001 and TRS-80 Model 1 microcomputers premiered, ushering in the home computer revolution. In the fall, I started college and learned BASIC and operated an IBM 360/30 mainframe. Like Sinatra said, it was a very good year.

Fast forward to 1982. I bought my first computer, the Timex/Sinclair 1000. Granted, it wasn't much to look at; about the size of a piece of bread, membrane keyboard and a B/W display, but it was cheap and it was mine. Programming that thing was an exercise in frustration, due to the fact that each key had three or four different functions. In '83 I stepped up to the Commodore VIC-20, followed by the C=64 in '84. In 1986 I moved to the big leagues and bought an Amiga 1000. In '88 I want to the "dark side", which means, yes, I got my first IBM PC clone and have been there ever since.

A couple years ago I started getting nostalgic about those old "bread box" computers, wishing I still had mine. I messed with a couple of emulators online, but without the PETSCII keyboard it was rather frustrating trying to remember where all the graphic characters were. I started looking for a hardware solution and by chance I came across the C64 Maxi, a C=64 look/work-alike, from the "bread box" case down to those lovely PETSCII keys. Not only did it come with

    **** COMODORE 64 BASIC V2 ****

It also came loaded with numerous games, which didn't matter much to me. So I headed over to Amazon and ordered one. I wish I could say I computed happily ever after, but there some niggles that make me want to look for something better.

Enter The 8-Bit Guy. I'd been watching his vids off and on for some time, but it wasn't until I went back and started watching his posts from day one that I really got into his retro vibe, especially when he talked about Commodore gear. When I finally saw his "dream computer" episode, I was intrigued and looked forward to hearing more about it. As each new update appeared, my interested grew in seeing a modern-day, 8-bit, retro computer, especially one that mimicked a C=64. Which brings us to now. Like everyone else, I'm looking forward to seeing a consumer-ready version (w/case, keyboard) hit the proverbial shelves.

I could say a lot more, but I've rambled on enough...for now.

Welcome