Ask HN: Do Commodore fans have anything in common to guide new products?
2•amichail•7mo ago
And if so, what might that be?
What sort of new product would they like to see the new Commodore make?
Comments
taylodl•7mo ago
I think Commodore needs to figure out who they want to be. The Commodore 64 was one of the best-selling computers of all time and offered many video and sound capabilities that were unparalleled. Ditto for the Amiga. What did these machines have in common? They were comparatively inexpensive computers for the everyday person, not business.
Apple used to market computers "for the rest of us" and created machines geared more towards creatives. They've largely abandoned that market and nobody has swept in to take it. That market aligns well with Commodore's legacy.
I would also focus on machines for the tween market, i.e. 8-12 year olds. The Commodore 64 introduced many of us to computing. Make a simple machine these kids can use and have fun with. Even better, "lego-ify" it and make it a machine they can build!
What we don't need - another Linux box with a UI looking like it came straight out of the 80s. We don't need that nostalgic, kitschy crap. We need real machines for today addressing needs others have abandoned or never even developed.
amichail•7mo ago
Any computer they make would need an operating system. What else can they use besides Linux?
taylodl•7mo ago
Of course, they're going to use Linux or BSD. But I recently saw a demo of Commodore OS Vision 3.0, which I understand is a Linux distro, and I was overwhelmed by the kitsch. That's what we don't need - how would Linux look if it had been released in the 80s?
I guess what I'm getting at is if Commodore just wants to re-hash their glory days in a modern context, then that's an extremely limited market. I'd like to see the 2020's equivalent of a Commodore 64 or Commodore Amiga: what kind of machine would you end up with by appealing to everyday people and not worrying so much about standards? THAT is what made those machines special. We don't need a re-creation of those machines; we need new machines embodying those ideals.
If Commodore decides to take this route, then they can give me a call!
taylodl•7mo ago
Apple used to market computers "for the rest of us" and created machines geared more towards creatives. They've largely abandoned that market and nobody has swept in to take it. That market aligns well with Commodore's legacy.
I would also focus on machines for the tween market, i.e. 8-12 year olds. The Commodore 64 introduced many of us to computing. Make a simple machine these kids can use and have fun with. Even better, "lego-ify" it and make it a machine they can build!
What we don't need - another Linux box with a UI looking like it came straight out of the 80s. We don't need that nostalgic, kitschy crap. We need real machines for today addressing needs others have abandoned or never even developed.
amichail•7mo ago
taylodl•7mo ago
I guess what I'm getting at is if Commodore just wants to re-hash their glory days in a modern context, then that's an extremely limited market. I'd like to see the 2020's equivalent of a Commodore 64 or Commodore Amiga: what kind of machine would you end up with by appealing to everyday people and not worrying so much about standards? THAT is what made those machines special. We don't need a re-creation of those machines; we need new machines embodying those ideals.
If Commodore decides to take this route, then they can give me a call!