While the familiar clunky beige box is all present and correct, replete with rainbow logo, inside things have changed somewhat.
The new C64 comes kitted out as a modern-day PC, running Linux but capable of handling the Windows 7 operating system. It's hardware has also been given a boost - it sports a 1.8 gigahertz processor (rather more powerful than the original's 1 megahertz), built in Wi-Fi, and a DVD player.
When it was first launched in 1982, the Commodore 64 was a massive hit and was arguably the first computer to bring gaming to the mass market by undercutting rivals Atari and Apple on price. It came with a then-massive 64 kilobytes of memory and included an integrated graphics card - all the better for displaying those wondrous 16 colours in all their glory.
It could be plugged into the television set for home gaming and could also be set up with higher quality monitor for more serious applications. It's 2011 revival, however, comes with an HDMI cable for high-definition output. The basic version is to be sold for $595, the same price as the original.
In the UK the C64's only serious rival was the Sinclair ZX Spectrum (remember mashing those rubbery keys to Daley Thompson's Decathalon?) but the C64's superior power saw it overtake its rivals towards the end of the 1980s.
The C64 has been rescued from history by a group which has bought the rights to both the Commodore and AMIGA brand names, and has plans to reboot the AMIGA too at some point.
Read more at New Scientist
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