Blog
04.14
Totally 80s: Commodore Makes a Comeback
What once was old is new again with the news last week of the resurgent Commodore 64.
It appears folks in their 30s and 40s - as well as our Thomas Moore, who wrote this gem - are about to get their 80s on, with the classic look and feel of one of the first true computers.
Even though it was bulky and the CPU resided in the keyboard, it was a classic in every sense. From games to other software, plus that awesome flight stick, it helped shape an entire demographics’ opinion of what technology could be on a very personal level.
While the news brings back a flood of warm and fuzzies, this isn’t just a reissue of rotting surplus: According to reports, the taupe case of the CPU/keyboard remains intact, but the hardware has major upgrades. With up to 1T of memory and a modern Blu-ray or rewritable DVD optical drive, this machine is far from antiquated. It will be somewhat pricy ($250-$900), but it’s a great indication that once great tech favorites can be made viable even today.
This looks to be a growing trend that will spread to other technology gadgets and mediums.
With classics like Speak & Spell available through an Android app, product developers and marketers should consider this a call to arms. As the prominence and buying power of GenXers gains momentum, updating first generation technology with a modern twist to capitalize on nostalgia is an appealing way to win hearts and minds of the newest class of “adults.”
It’s just weird that we’re not talking about poodle skirts and bobby socks in that sense any longer. Now, its Rubik’s Cube and Coca-Cola rugby jerseys for the new “old fogies.”
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