Are You Keeping Up With The Commodore?
Originally known as a manufacturer of typewriters, mechanical calculators and other office equipment, Commodore became one of the most wildly-successful computer companies in the world through the 1980’s and early 1990’s.
The Commodore 64 was a runaway smash hit, and remains one of the best-selling computers of all time. Featuring advanced color graphics and powerful audio capabilities, the C64 remains the focus of a highly-dedicated global enthusiast community, who continue to find new ways to push the hardware. The Retro Roadshow's C64 is one of the most popular exhibits and is a frequent attraction for visitors of all ages.
Hoping to capitalize on the smash-hit 64, Commodore's engineering team set about converting the system into a portable format. The resulting machine is the Commodore SX-64, a 23lbs block of advanced 1980's technology. Featuring a surprisingly-sharp full-color 5" CRT monitor and integrated 5.25" floppy drive, the SX-64 is a full-featured desktop computer that just happens to be shaped like a suitcase. These machines were not especially durable and (as a portable computer) were subject to significantly more "wear and tear" than comparable desktop setups, so we are very pleased to have a fully-functional example available for Retro Roadshow attendees.
The Commodore 128 was a strange computer, which combined compatibility with the original "C64" with a range of updated and enhanced capabilities. While not nearly as successful as the C64, the C128 was nevertheless an influential and interesting machine. Its sophisticated hardware design allowed it to run several operating systems, including Commodore BASIC, Digital Research CP/M and GEOS, an early mouse-drive Graphical User Interface.
It's almost impossible to over-state the significance of the original Amiga 1000, which took the mouse-driven "GUI" concept that Apple pioneered with the Macintosh, and expanded upon it with superior color graphics, rich audio and a robust library of productivity and entertainment software. Beloved by artists and musicians around the world, the Amiga was found in homes, schools, TV stations and film productions houses in roughly-equal quantities - a remarkable achievement for a machine of this era.
The Amiga 500 took the hardware architecture of the original Amiga 1000, and repackaged it into a more-affordable, consumer-friendly "all in one" system. The Retro Roadshow is proud to have an Amiga 500 with various upgrades and enhancements, and its deep library of games makes it a very popular attraction at our events.
The Amiga 2000 further expanded the original Amiga design, repurposing it into a chassis carefully designed to meet the needs of high-end professional users. With ample internal space and numerous expansion options, the A2000 was a big hit with artists, graphic designers, recording artists and perhaps especially, early digital video editors. The Retro Roadshow's A2000 has been expanded to a significant degree, with an upgraded 33MHz CPU, internal solid-state storage, Ethernet networking, internal CD-ROM drive, enhanced high-resolution graphics capabilities, and a USB-based floppy disk emulator which makes it simple to download apps and games from the Internet.