Friday, December 7, 2007

Commodore 64

This morning when I received an email from Computer History Museum and read about Commodore64, it was kind of great feeling about what we have today and matter of proud how did they start computing... 64KB memory computer, costing $595 in 80s. When I searched on google there were already many news stories all around.

Commodore 64 still loved after all these years is a story on CNN by Peggy Mihelich, also read some of the user comments at the end. Worth reading experience of its users.

Here is the email about the 25th anniversary event -

Lead Sponsor: Liquid Computing, Inc.
Co-Sponsors: ATA Ventures, VenGrowth Asset Management, Inc., Sage Communications, and Viewstream

Featuring

Adam Chowaniec Chairman of the Board, Liquid Computing, Inc.
(Former VP of Technology at Commodore and Developer of Amiga)
William Lowe Chief Executive Officer and President, NEPS
(Former President of the Entry Systems Division at IBM)
Jack Tramiel Founder and CEO, Commodore International
(Former President and CEO of Atari Corp.)
Steve Wozniak Co-Founder, Apple Computer (now Apple, Inc.)
John Markoff Moderator, New York Times Journalist, Lecturer and Author

The Commodore 64 (C64) was an 8-bit home computer released by Commodore in August, 1982, and during it’s lifetime (between 1982 and 1994), sales totaled tens of millions of units, making it one 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.

Early entrants of microcomputers began as early as 1975, with the first models available in retail stores around 1977. In 1981, The IBM PC release legitimized and expanded the market. During this era of microcomputer innovation, the market was dominated by the IBM PC, the Commodore 64, the Atari 8-bit family, the Apple II, and Tandy Corporation's TRS-80.

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?'"

Although the history of the Commodore 64 is rich, the history of the people and the companies that developed these early personal computers is also critical to the personal productivity tools and business solutions we often take for granted in our daily lives.

Join us for a well-deserved celebration that spawned a tremendous market for home, small business, distributed and networked technology uses. These technology advances provided a foundation for many companies and technologies driving the Internet, wireless, social networking and other innovative technologies underway.

We thank our panelists in advance for providing recollections and perspectives from their early experiences and welcome their stories from a time that produced the foundation of our current technological society.


Where
Computer History Museum
Hahn Auditorium
1401 N Shoreline Blvd
Mountain View, CA 94043
Directions

When

Monday, December 10, 2007
4:30 - 5:30 pm Press Reception
6 pm Member Reception
7 pm Panel Discussion
Wine provided by The Mountain Winery


Registration

Free. Members should register early, as this event will sell out. Suggested donation of $10.00 at the door from non-members. To register, click here RSVP
or Call (650) 810-1005.


Background

About the Computer History Museum
The Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a 25-year history as part of the former Boston Computer Museum. CHM preserves and presents the artifacts and stories of the information age and is dedicated to exploring the social impact of computing. CHM's diverse collection of computing-related artifacts is the largest and most significant in the world. CHM brings computing history to life through an acclaimed speaker series, dynamic website, and onsite tours and exhibits. Current exhibits include "Mastering the Game: A History of Computer Chess," "Innovation in the Valley," and "Visible Storage, featuring 600 key objects from the collection. A signature "Timeline of Computing History" exhibit will open in the fall of 2009. For open hours and more information, call +1 650 810 1010. or visit: computerhistory.org



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