Commodore impresses with prototypes at IFA, really

While the idea of Commodore showing off some early prototype devices isn't exactly the sort of thing that'd normally get many folks' hopes up, the never-say-die company looks to have managed to impress the doubters at IFA, where it had a number of intriguing-looking concepts on hand in addition to that soon-to-be-released netbook we saw yesterday. That includes two Pocket PC devices -- one with a sliding QWERTY keypad and one that opts for a folding design (pictured above) -- as well as a much slicker-looking netbook than the one that is actually going to be released, naturally (check it out after the break). Of course, specs for any of those are virtually non-existent, although there's apparently some talk that the Pocket PCs could sell for between €100 and €150 (or roughly $220 to $290) whenever they're actually released. Be sure to hit up the gallery below for plenty more shots courtesy of Engadget Spanish.

Gallery: Commodore impresses with prototypes at IFA, really

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[Karl Hackswell @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:35PM]

This is interesting and all but why haven't you guys posted news on Chrome yet?

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:47PM]

I'm using it now. The best browser so far but still really slow. Almost as slow as IE7. Scary thing though. I went to post my first comment using chrome and it new my login details for engadget. Must have imported it from firefox. Hopefully it'll have all the extensions from firefox. And in answer to your question its software not a gadget. Which is funny because they'll talk about apple appstore.

[Yay. @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:45PM]

Dell netbook.

[Karl Hackswell @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:02PM]

Yeah, I know its not a gadget but im sure they will say *something* about it.

Yeah, im posting from it right now. I find it pretty quick, actually. To me it seems faster than FF3.

[phanbouy @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:31PM]

i've been running FF3-Minefield for x64. Hellof fast, fwiw.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:36PM]

I'm using it to post these comments too and to me it's the as slow as internet explorer 8 beta 2. Firefox 3 is way faster than chrome.

[Jeremy K. @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:00PM]

Interesting that you mention Chrome as slow. For me it's faster than both Firefox and IE.

Compare the speeds of javascript rendering: http://celtickane.com/webdesign/jsspeed2007.php

[Geir E @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:18PM]

Everybody knows about Chrome already? ;)

But I like Chrome. Not that it will replace firefox as my browser anytime soon, but because it is a webkit-browser that is a joy to use on windows. Safari is great on mac but a dog on windows - at least on my computer.

I still want a Commodore netbook with Intel Atom and not this as-if-atom-wasnt-slow-enough-via-chip.

[Karl Hackswell @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:37PM]

Sorry, you can all say what you want but Ive been using it since it came out this afternoon and ive already replaced FF3! It is so much faster for me. This thing is just so slick and it blends perfectly with gmail and google calendar.

If you use alot of google web apps its great!

But its all in user preference.

[Wormbolt @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:41PM]

Chrome is WebKit, and therefor carp.

[Mez Jr @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:43PM]

Chrome looks fine and all, but one thing that FF has done for awhile that nobody seems to want to do (that I can tell) is the RSS reader drop downs. Looks like a bookmark folder in my bookmarks toolbar, I click it and it shows me the headlines of all the articles in a given feed, makes feedsurfing SOOO fast and easy. Way better than having to load a page with your favorite feeds.

That, and FF has bad-ass tools for web designers/developers. Firebug & Web Dev toolbar!

[Tim Brown @ Sep 2nd 2008 9:08PM]

If your interested in Chrome, check out this http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/

[phanbouy @ Sep 2nd 2008 9:55PM]

Thanks Tim. useful link. here are my results

Chrome 477ms
FF3 x64 (Minefield) 489
IE x64 801
IE x32 1150

open source FTW

[lorddshadow @ Sep 2nd 2008 11:58PM]

@ Karl

+1 for the Gir avatar

but -1 if you started liking Zim after it became a goth fad

oh and on topic, FF3 is a bit slower for me too. chrome is cool imo.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:47PM]

The first one looks broken

[thebigDallas @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:20PM]

i was about to say the same thing

[ivanotter @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:21PM]

Rather interesting. I actually LIKE that little UMPC with the webcam...

[Zeyza @ Sep 2nd 2008 9:08PM]

me too, if dell's netbook goes over 300, i might get one. i might get one just to have one :)

[TheRedMonkey @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:51PM]

I got told about this from a Commodore guy at Nvision, he was just hanging out. He said spread the word! I thought someone was Bullshiating me and trying to make me look like a fool. I stand corrected.

[teamclinic @ Sep 2nd 2008 5:58PM]

Doesn't look that impressive.

[wojtek @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:02PM]

does it have a tape player for your old games ?

[hiko36 @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:02PM]

So it measures, what, about 1 and a 1/3 iPhones? This is getting ridiculous...

[Biyloi @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:15PM]

Damn I miss my ol' Commodore 64... I played the heck out of that thing... didn't know Commodore was still around.

[Phoenix987 @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:14PM]

Looking at the first one, I don't know what to say. I hope that's a prototype that gets scrapped, because I see so many keys they need to add. Numbers? Tab?

As for the others, they look decent enough. The one pic (#9) that shows the basic specs says 448MB of RAM. Please tell me they're not putting just 512MB in the thing, because that would definitely deter me from buying one...

[myrmidon @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:15PM]

Some of the devices look great, but where is the 'Commodore Key'? (you old-schoolers will know exactly what I mean).

That 'circle-of-dots' button beside the space bar on the pocket PC devices really should have been a Commodore key. Or, at a minimum, the 'Windows' keys on the notebooks should rather have a Commodore logo on them (even if they are still effectively 'Windows' keys).

[jbcaro @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:19PM]

It's not a "never say die company". It's a why won't it die company name.

[Eric Cotton @ Sep 2nd 2008 6:38PM]

Commodore died in 1994. As a 13 year veteran ('81 - '94) of the real Commodore, I can tell you any company with that moniker today is Commodore in name only. Long live the Pet, VIC-20, Commodore 64 and Amiga!

[Onetrack @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:09PM]

Of course the best looking one isn't going to be released...
It has the same curved top of the msi wind, but that sexi commodore logo (be even better if it was an Amiga logo or a boing ball or something)

But alas..
the ugly one is going to be released
the ugly one is going to be released where no-one could buy one
It'll be forgotten quickly.


Damnit Commodore.. replace the windows keys with amiga keys, release it where I can buy it, and you have a sale (but only the good looking one..)

[Spork @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:18PM]

So when did the Iphone become a standard unit of measurement?

[Zeyza @ Sep 2nd 2008 9:09PM]

since people were obsessed about the size changes of the iphone 3g.

[Freakin Ijit @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:31PM]

I have special place in my heart for Commodore.

[legget @ Sep 2nd 2008 7:45PM]

Left ventricle?

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 3rd 2008 8:55AM]

Aneurysm

[fastolfe @ Sep 2nd 2008 10:37PM]

So is there any compelling reason to purchase besides nostalgia? I thought they were working on their own updated OS? Also, damn them for putting the function key to the left of the ctrl key.

[Trevor @ Sep 3rd 2008 6:08PM]

The new Commodore is known for selling overpriced underpowered computers. I'm not excited. Chances are these things are going to be ridiculously priced.

[Waverider @ Sep 3rd 2008 4:14AM]

I would buy one if it came with a free copy of Mule.

[cwk @ Sep 3rd 2008 10:03AM]

i'll buy the first one that runs Lakers v Celtics & Sword of Sodan in VGA.

[Gabriel @ Sep 3rd 2008 11:49AM]

would u stop using the Iphone as a ruler? Its stupid.

[Chris @ Sep 5th 2008 1:47PM]

The Pocket PCs look pretty cool...and none of the profits will go to Jobs!!!

I just wish they had kept the multi-color = in their logo...that is quintessentially Commie...

For under $250, depending on specs, I'd consider the Pocket PC to replace my old iPaq.