=================================================================
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
/ __| / __| / __| / __| / __| / __|
\__ \ \__ \ \__ \ \__ \ \__ \ \__ \
|___/ |___/ |___/ |___/ |___/ |___/=================================================================
The classic is reborn not as nostalgia alone —
but as a fully modern machine with a collector’s soul.
—————————————————————–
01. A LEGEND REBORN
—————————————————————–
Some early units of the Commodore 64 Ultimate are already in the hands of users, but many of us — myself included — are still
counting the days until March, when my Founders Edition arrives.
This isn’t merely a remake — it’s an evolution of a legend. Housed in a translucent amber case with real 24 k gold-plated Commodore and Power badges, the Founders Edition evokes the historic spirit of the millionth C64 of old without misclaiming precious metal housing.
Golden-tone, PVD-coated keycaps gleam under illuminated legends, and the glow of reactive LEDs lets the machine *pulse* with each game or tune.
While the keyboard evokes classic tactile charm, the technology inside
has grown up from 1982 constraints — bringing a familiar face into a modern era where HDMI output, Wi-Fi, USB, and Ethernet are standard, not luxuries.
—————————————————————–
02. UNDER THE HOOD — THEN & NOW
—————————————————————–
Original C64 Specs (1982) Ultimate Founder Edition (2025)
CPU : MOS 6510 @ ~1 MHz AMD Xilinx Artix-7 FPGA core
RAM : 64 KB 128 MB DDR2
Flash : None 16 MB NOR flash
Video : Composite/RF HDMI 1080p w/ DIN-8 legacy support
Audio : SID 6581/8580 FPGA-emulated SID w/ UltiSID core
Storage: Cassette / 5.25″ floppy 64 GB USB “cassette” preloaded drive
Keyboard: Membrane 66-key mechanical w/ RGB LEDs
Peripherals: Joystick/Datasette USB-A, USB-C, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and legacy ports.
The result? Authenticity with modern convenience. Over 10 000 classic games are playable directly, plus custom features like 48 MHz Turbo, modern file browsing, and even keyboard macros.
—————————————————————–
03. WHAT’S IN THE BOX — COLLECTOR’S PACKAGE
—————————————————————–
Unlike the original beige breadbin, the Founders Edition is a limited run of 6 400 units worldwide.
Included in the collectible package:
* The Commodore 64 Ultimate machine itself
* Translucent amber collector’s case w/ gold badges
* Commemorative Commodore gold seal “share” certificate
* 24 k gold Commodore badges “dog tag” necklace
* Spiral-bound user guide
* 64 GB cassette-style USB thumbdrive packed with games, music & demos
* Stickers, HDMI cable, power supply, quick start guide
Every detail — from the holographic serial sticker to the retro packaging — reflects both craftsmanship and heritage.
—————————————————————–
04. REAL EXPERIENCE — CLASSIC WELCOME, MODERN PLAY
—————————————————————–
Power on and you’re greeted with the iconic BASIC prompt, just like yesterday — but now with the ability to load games straight from the USB drive, save to microSD, and transfer files via Wi-Fi.
All original peripherals — cartridges, drives, joysticks, even old CRT connections — still work (at least 99 % compatibility claimed).
Reactive LEDs dance with every sound from the SID emulation, while the translucent amber case lets the machine look alive — an aesthetic both retro and futuristic at once.
« LOAD »* »,8,1 — still works.
Except the game loads before you finish typing it.
—————————————————————–
05. WHY THIS MATTERS
—————————————————————–
This machine isn’t simply a new gadget — it’s a bridge between generations of coders, gamers, makers, and storytellers.
It keeps the spirit of hacking, creating, and playing alive, while bringing classic 8-bit charm into an era where HDMI, RGB, and Wi-Fi are expected.
—————————————————————–
READY.
█
=================================================================
