Added: Dec 14, 2007
From: ComputerHistory
Duration: 92:16
[Recorded Dec 10, 2007] The Commodore 64 was an 8-bit home computer released by Commodore International in August, 1982, and during it's lifetime (between 1982 and 1994), sales totaled close to 17 million units, making it the best-selling single personal computer model of all time. Approximately 10,000 commercial software titles were developed for the Commodore 64 including development tools, office applications, and games. The C64 made an impressive debut at the 1982 Winter Consumer Electronics Show, as recalled by Production Engineer David A. Ziembicki: All we saw at our booth were Atari people with their mouths dropping open, saying, 'How can you do that for $595?' The term personal computer was a common term in the early 80's and was used as early as 1972 to characterize Xerox PARC's Alto. During this era of microcomputer innovation, the market was dominated by the IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC), the Commodore 64, the Atari 8-bit family, the Apple II, Tandy Corporation's TRS-80s, and various CP/M machines. Although the history of the Commodore is rich, the histories of the people and the companies that developed these early personal computers are also critical to the personal productivity tools and business solutions we often take for granted in our daily lives. This panel discussion is a celebration of the Commodore 64 computer and how it spawned a tremendous market for home, small business, distributed and networked technology.
Channel: Tech
Tags: 64 commodore computer history jack pc steve tramiel wozniak
Rating: 4.70 (167 ratings) Views: 38949' favoriteCount='239 Comments: 25
ataricharles Says:
Apr 10, 2008 - I did notice that Jack avoided answering the question posed by an open source programmer on open source. I think Jack really isn't interested or knows much about open source pertaining to modern computers.I would have liked to hear someone ask Jack Tramiel, "If you were going to release a computer with an operating system now, what do you think you'd release and would you stick with the Bringing Computers to the Masses and not the Classes philosophy?" And,"What do you use at home a Mac or a PC?"
Aki80 Says:
May 12, 2008 - Yeah Jack Tramiel is realy a polish guy named: Idek Trzmiel!!! After 2 war he goes to USA. I'm polish men so I'm really proud of Idek!!! He's like a dream of poor guy that if You want to achive something... You can if You really want!!!
pawlo233 Says:
May 16, 2008 - Idek Tramielski :)
uggla03 Says:
May 30, 2008 - great video very interesting c64 ruled
vjvis2 Says:
Jun 1, 2008 - And then the 1541 was invented. :)
conradhw Says:
Jun 18, 2008 - I was brought up using a C64 and I've experienced, and watch computers evolve up to today. But the C64 is where it all started, it familiarized people with computers that are programmable, utilizing its full potential in sound and graphics. The Amiga was a natural successor. Both were equally good and impressive in their time. Atari was comparable to amiga in some ways (amiga being more popular/superior except for MIDI).
conradhw Says:
Jun 18, 2008 - C64 got me familiar to the world of computing (and programming from magazines, and the world of hex/dec), and games - I had a SX-64 (upgraded with high-speed diskdrive, and final cardridge 3). Amiga took it another step further with the graphics and music capabilities (I learned to write music using protracker) - I had an A500 and eventually the more perfected A1200 (with HD). And I had an Atari Mega-STE running CUBASE, and music equipment (Roland synth/module).
conradhw Says:
Jun 18, 2008 - Eventhough my dad had a PC, eventually I got one myself (when Doom came out). DOS, Norton Commander are all too familiar to me. Today I have a Intel Quad Core 2.4 Ghz, EVGA 680i SLI, Nvidia Geforce 8800GT, 2GB 800Mhz DDR2, 600GB WD Stripe, Samsung 22" SyncMaster, Logitech Z10, Logitech G7.
conradhw Says:
Jun 18, 2008 - I've also experienced MSX, the old Atari 2600 eventhough I didn't have them. Same goes for Playstation (and PS2), Xbox (and 360). I considered buying a PS3 (technically superior), but my mind is set on Xbox360 just to play games. But you can do so much with a PC nowadays, you'd be stupid to neglect yourself to excell in a certain area (for instance music).
Keeper1st Says:
Jun 26, 2008 - Ah yes, the 1541... the noisiest space heater ever made! My TV to this day consists of a VCR connected to my Commodore 1702 monitor. VCRs have come and gone, but the monitor is as good as new -- well, the plastic case was broken when it flew across the room and smashed into a solid oak desk during the 1989 earthquake (I was three miles from the epicenter; it was like a bomb -- no warning -- but went on for 30 seconds). They don't make monitors like that workhorse these days!
Gaz134 Says:
Jul 15, 2008 - C64 came out (retail) about 5 months after I was born... by the time I was 3 I was playing batman the caped crusader (and finishing the thing) on the C64. It was my first step into gaming and something that will stick with me forever, amazing computer and i'm made up Commodore are back!
joxter74 Says:
Jul 23, 2008 - Amen :)
lonelyroflknife Says:
Aug 2, 2008 - that guy is a tool
26589580 Says:
Aug 16, 2008 - I'm proud to have a C64 under my bed.
ARInternetTelevision Says:
Aug 22, 2008 - He definitely a tool in defining the history of the Commodore! Smart man, indeed!
delRDBsol Says:
Sep 16, 2008 - lol he is a Tool. John Tool :P
silversilver1975 Says:
Sep 19, 2008 - I have bought recently C64 and C128 with cassette player,diskette drive and joysticks,just for my nostalgic needs.I do have an Amiga500 and bunch of other,now calle vintage electronics.I really wanted those things back,and there they are...
ghanditw Says:
Sep 20, 2008 - dont seem 25 years since i was writing demos for a 64 guess im getting old lol
Commodorian Says:
Sep 20, 2008 - I'm still coding demos on mine but nowadays I'm using a cross assembler.
Edwing77 Says:
Oct 8, 2008 - C128 rulez! (Oh, C64 too of course ;~)
tw1nk3rs Says:
Oct 11, 2008 - Any of you guys know where I could be able to buy a Commodore at?
00spydaman Says:
Oct 14, 2008 - does anhyone have msn!!! msg me jane23belle
Drpepper99uk Says:
Oct 29, 2008 - I've still got my olf C64 and Plus4(remember those) in the loft somewhere........Classics for sure!!!
zedrein18 Says:
Nov 7, 2008 - Man I wish I could get my hands on a Commodore 1084 monitor for cheap, that would be the tops *wink* *wink*
ataricharles Says:
Apr 10, 2008 - Very nice to see Jack after all these years of being out of the spotlight. I did a mock review in 2005 with Jack Tramiel published on The Atari Times, which features questions I feel they should have asked. Some of you may be interested for kicks.