Bill Loguidice Posted February 2, 2018 Author Share Posted February 2, 2018 Am I understanding correctly that the keyboard buttons on the "Mini" aren't actually functional? Rather, you need to plug a PC keyboard into the USB port? If that's the case, I don't see any advantage of this over buying a Cloanto "C64 Forever" license... ...In fact, with the software, it's one less thing to "plug in" to my HDMI TV. How could they be functional? It's only a little bigger across than a large cell phone. It's just a cosmetic design. They're coming out with a full-sized, fuller function model at some point that will have a functional keyboard. C64 Forever is a great product, but it's not really the same type of thing as this. Some people just want a little plug and play device with an interesting look to it. This fits that desire at a reasonable price. While it's not for me, I can definitely see the appeal. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted February 2, 2018 Share Posted February 2, 2018 (edited) Yeah, it is like comparing dried apples to bottled orange juice. Both are made from fruit, but quite different in taste and texture. Edited February 2, 2018 by carlsson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Yeah, one totally sucks and the other does not ::snicker:: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToddL Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 How could they be functional? It's only a little bigger across than a large cell phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Loguidice Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 A perfect example of why it's not functional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Flame Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 I've used some cheap small remote keyboards, and they're surprisingly very comfortable and quick to use. The C64 also only has 66 keys, so it doesn't need all the function chording as most remote PC keyboards do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eightbit Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Save some money, get a Pi3 and use combian: https://cmaiolino.wordpress.com/combian-64-v2/ And then print yourself a case: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1954782 You will end up with a cute tiny C64 that can do almost everything the real thing can do...and you will have Vic, Pet, etc to boot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Loguidice Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 Save some money, get a Pi3 and use combian: https://cmaiolino.wordpress.com/combian-64-v2/ And then print yourself a case: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1954782 You will end up with a cute tiny C64 that can do almost everything the real thing can do...and you will have Vic, Pet, etc to boot. Exhibit A, the classic "Pi" post when anything like this is being sold. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 It is similar to "Why pay for Itunes when I can use sound rippers to get MP3's out of YouTube videos?". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OLD CS1 Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Exhibit A, the classic "Pi" post when anything like this is being sold. There are enough of these to write your next book 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eightbit Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) Well, I am not sure I can compare this scenario to iTunes and sound rippers, but I can say that if they see nothing wrong with using an all winner soc and emulation I see nothing wrong with using a Pi and emulation and making it myself. Their product will be great for people who do not know any better. Edited February 8, 2018 by eightbit 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 I would like to say that Allwinner SoC and R-Pi are good entry-level devices for emulation. But I can't. Unlike other things, you don't want anything "entry-level" when it comes to emulation. Anything "entry-level" is going to be a suboptimal, frustrating, and tedious experience. You want something deluxe from the get go. Entry-level, in emulation, is better referred to as starting out with one or two emulators and then adding more. As you gain appreciation and experience you add more. You might even connect them with virtual networking tools, or build bartop, or partake in dozens of other emulation related activities. But always remember, you're starting with respectable hardware, not something that comes out of gumball machines! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Loguidice Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 Well, I am not sure I can compare this scenario to iTunes and sound rippers, but I can say that if they see nothing wrong with using an all winner soc and emulation I see nothing wrong with using a Pi and emulation and making it myself. Their product will be great for people who do not know any better. It's not necessarily even for people who don't know any better. Certainly most people on here "know better," but many still don't want to be bothered doing it themselves. I know I'm in one or the other camp depending upon mood. Certainly I appreciate someone - or some company - doing the dirty work and then packaging it all up in a nice case. There's something to be said for plug and play. I've built my own Raspberry Pi table top arcade machine, and, while I liked the experience overall, I certainly can't say I enjoyed the configuration or was able to make it quite as slick software-wise as I would have liked. That's why I appreciate devices like the Retro Freak or the upcoming Dreamcade Replay. While this mini C64 is not for me for various reasons, I can certainly understand the appeal versus a "better" roll-your-own solution. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Perhaps it is also a product for the few who once in a while entertain the idea of respecting old but still active copyrights. I can't say I'm particularly good in that respect myself, as I download cracked versions of whatever I need at the moment, but then again I never donate money to charity neither so I know I'm a bad person relying on others in the society to be more of role models. I'll admit that I don't know where those pennies in license fees end up, perhaps Andrew Braybrook, Peter Liepa, Shaun Sothern and all the others I can't name without looking them up will spend it on beer and potato chips (or worse) and in that case they probably were better off without earning beer money for 30 year old software, which they won't from your DIY Raspberry Pi solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 Perhaps it is also a product for the few who once in a while entertain the idea of respecting old but still active copyrights. I can't say I'm particularly good in that respect myself, as I download cracked versions of whatever I need at the moment, but then again I never donate money to charity neither so I know I'm a bad person relying on others in the society to be more of role models. I wouldn't worry about it. I'm sure society is likely benefiting off of you in some way.. There you go.. I'll admit that I don't know where those pennies in license fees end up, perhaps Andrew Braybrook, Peter Liepa, Shaun Sothern and all the others I can't name without looking them up will spend it on beer and potato chips (or worse) and in that case they probably were better off without earning beer money for 30 year old software, which they won't from your DIY Raspberry Pi solution. Who knows? Who cares.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Flame Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I would like to say that Allwinner SoC and R-Pi are good entry-level devices for emulation. But I can't. Unlike other things, you don't want anything "entry-level" when it comes to emulation. Anything "entry-level" is going to be a suboptimal, frustrating, and tedious experience. You want something deluxe from the get go. I can't tell if you're trying to be for or against TheC64, as it is an Allwinner SoC emulation device. What counts as "deluxe", the FPGA/ASIC clones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5200Fanatic Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 What bothers me most about The64 project is that the retail space is getting the item sooner than those who backed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thetick1 Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 (edited) I can't tell if you're trying to be for or against TheC64, as it is an Allwinner SoC emulation device. What counts as "deluxe", the FPGA/ASIC clones? My old motorola phone makes a pretty good C64 portable. Frodo works great, free and I can cast to a new TV. It's a nice old piece of hardware put to good use. I have no need to for an ASIC C64 in a plastic printed case unless the price was dirt cheap around $30. Then it would just be a cool tchotchke on my desk. Edited February 19, 2018 by thetick1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted February 19, 2018 Share Posted February 19, 2018 I can't tell if you're trying to be for or against TheC64, as it is an Allwinner SoC emulation device. What counts as "deluxe", the FPGA/ASIC clones? All these SoCs are entry-level devices. They are ok for casual usage. And if one is in TheC64, then so be it. Not really for or against them. Just that people getting into emulation seem to want more sophisticated stuff soon enough. ASIC clones are a step below SoC. ASIC clones always seem to have a lot of subtle issues. They're more like approximations and not real clones. Then there's the bux deluxe stuff like FPGA or a hi-powered x86 rig. The true emulation enthusiast will end up here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Flame Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 From the board shots that have been posted, TheC64 seems to run an Allwinner A20. Really, the only question is if the A20 is powerful enough to run VICE at full speed, with good SID emulation options enabled. (As they're Cloanto licensed, I presume they'll be using VICE internally.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy Zapp Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 What bothers me most about The64 project is that the retail space is getting the item sooner than those who backed it. What retail stores are going to carry them? I have not seen anything mentioned about the USA distribution, except preorder on Amazon, but they do not exist on the US Amazon. It would be nice to go into a Target or some big store and see it on the shelf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillLoguidice Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 What retail stores are going to carry them? I have not seen anything mentioned about the USA distribution, except preorder on Amazon, but they do not exist on the US Amazon. It would be nice to go into a Target or some big store and see it on the shelf. US distribution is still being discussed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zippy Zapp Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 US distribution is still being discussed. Hmm. You would think that since they announced a release date and all that, they would have plans by this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5200Fanatic Posted February 24, 2018 Share Posted February 24, 2018 Hmm. You would think that since they announced a release date and all that, they would have plans by this time. Release date is reported to be March 29th for the UK retail and backer version. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Loguidice Posted February 24, 2018 Author Share Posted February 24, 2018 Hmm. You would think that since they announced a release date and all that, they would have plans by this time. As 5200Fanatic pointed out, it's only for backers and the UK at this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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