C64x Unboxing videos

[Iggy]

it would appear from this video that they haven't:

http://www.youtube.com/user/EternalPtah#p/u/0/a53UOSotyas

I am pretty sure that there is a picture floating around of the factory doing the vic-slims showing a bios screen with the commodore logo on it. But for the life in me I can't find it now.

===Edit===

Found it. You can see from the pic ,that the Chinese facility dealing with the vic-slim's has provided, the bios displaying the Commodore logo. Which makes me wonder why they have put it on the slims and not the flagship C64X.




http://www.commodore-amiga.org/forum/27-commodore-usa/4257-more-photos-from-cusa?limit=15&start=30&lang=en#4443


Maybe thats another thing that will come on the COS 1.X disk lol.

Considering how easy this would be to do, you have to wonder why they didn't bother. Or , for that matter, why they didn't use a board with an option to bypass POST messages and display a graphics image instead (then they could have had a very colorful Commodore4 startup screen)

[CritAnime]

Considering how easy this would be to do, you have to wonder why they didn't bother. Or , for that matter, why they didn't use a board with an option to bypass POST messages and display a graphics image instead (then they could have had a very colorful Commodore4 startup screen)

You would think that they would, in the very least, want it on the ultimate editions. After all it's $900 worth of computer. I would want Commodore logos flashing at me the moment it start up too.

Every PC I have ever bought came with a fancy logo on boot.

[commodorejohn]

Yeah, OEM BIOS screens have been near-omnipresent since about 2005, really. It'd be one thing if the demoed machine has just been switched to verbose mode (I do this on all my computers, but then I'm weird like that,) but if they actually didn't even bother...that's just pretty lazy.

[Iggy]

You would think that they would, in the very least, want it on the ultimate editions. After all it's $900 worth of computer. I would want Commodore logos flashing at me the moment it start up too.

Every PC I have ever bought came with a fancy logo on boot.

Yes, I can't think of any name brand PC that I ever seen that didn't have start up logos.
I even had one ASUS P4 board that had an optional splash screen.

[Iggy]

Yeah, OEM BIOS screens have been near-omnipresent since about 2005, really. It'd be one thing if the demoed machine has just been switched to verbose mode (I do this on all my computers, but then I'm weird like that,) but if they actually didn't even bother...that's just pretty lazy.

At the very least, they could have modified the OEM BIOS to include a Commodore USA tag line.

[CritAnime]

Yeah, OEM BIOS screens have been near-omnipresent since about 2005, really.

Even earlier than that. I had a packard bell from 93 that had a modified BIOS screen.

But I know what you mean about verbose mode. I run mine in verbose. But the Boot Screen is still there if I want it.  

At the very least, they could have modified the OEM BIOS to include a Commodore USA tag line.

Yeah that would have been a little bit of polish. Still not enough to make me want to ever buy one. But just a little bit of polish.

[commodorejohn]

Even earlier than that. I had a packard bell from 93 that had a modified BIOS screen.

Well, yeah, but as far as I saw they didn't start doing the full-screen bitmaps until some time later (probably didn't want to shell out for the ROM space or something...)

Yeah that would have been a little bit of polish. Still not enough to make me want to ever buy one. But just a little bit of polish.

And that's the weird part - polish (or at least the perception thereof) has been pretty much their entire marketing strategy - "buy it, it's got a nice reproduction case and a nice keyboard!" Quite an oversight, considering...

[Iggy]

And that's the weird part - polish (or at least the perception thereof) has been pretty much their entire marketing strategy - "buy it, it's got a nice reproduction case and a nice keyboard!" Quite an oversight, considering...

Yes, design a really high quality custom keyboard and a pretty  well done reproduction case, then slap in a standard motherboard.
Truly an odd decision.

[CritAnime]

Just going OT a little for this but...

BIOS is now decades old, which I know is nothing bad because I love my amiga and such, but I am interested in this Coreboot thing. BIOS uses 8086 assembler language, which is a bitch to code for, where coreboot uses C and is easier to code for and make new plugins.

Which, bringing it into top again...

Would make stuff like customizing the boot screen easier. And letting them add the polish they need.

==edit==

Just thought. Why are they sending disks with the OS on for you to install. Have they never heard of ghosting?

Even if they can't afford Norton then there is free alternatives.

[Darrin]

I am pretty sure that there is a picture floating around of the factory doing the vic-slims showing a bios screen with the commodore logo on it. But for the life in me I can't find it now.

===Edit===

Found it. You can see from the pic ,that the Chinese facility dealing with the vic-slim's has provided, the bios displaying the Commodore logo. Which makes me wonder why they have put it on the slims and not the flagship C64X.

Maybe thats another thing that will come on the COS 1.X disk lol.

If I was a real cynic, I might suggest that their picture was a mock-up or perhaps they asked someone to produce a graphical BIOS, asked for pictures of the work and then refused to pay for it.  

Alternatively, perhaps the current boards were made in that huge German plant several years ago and don't have the new BIOS that the 100,000 boards from the Chinese plant have been fitted with.

[fishy_fiz]

Maybe the more expensive models use a different mobo who's default bios gives no option to change the post pic, whereas the cheaper versions do contain a bios whos picture is easily changeable. I may be mistaken of course, but minus the case they so far seem to have done nothing that doesnt use pre-existing hard/soft ware.

Slightly off topic, but my old amithlon box had the option to change boot pic/splash screen/whatever you want to call it. Was quite cool. I took a picture of my desktop (minus Amidock and icons) and used that. Would get a pic of my system as soon as I turned on the pc and 10-15 seconds later the icons, mouse and dock would appear, indicating the system was ready to go  

[commodorejohn]

Slightly off topic, but my old amithlon box had the option to change boot pic/splash screen/whatever you want to call it. Was quite cool. I took a picture of my desktop (minus Amidock and icons) and used that. Would get a pic of my system as soon as I turned on the pc and 10-15 seconds later the icons, mouse and dock would appear, indicating the system was ready to go  

Heh, nice

[DyLucke]

I wish I could cut and paste that onto the "About Us" section of the C-USA website......

OWNED!

Spihunter 1 - Bazza 0

By the way, my netbook has the same overall specs than the basic C64X model, and it costed less than 400$
... And, ehem... It has screen, battery, and only 10" size, enough to carry it everywhere.

There's no way this product can be competitive, on the other hand there's no way it could be called C64.
Somebody should teach these guys from CUSA what was the Commodore 64 Web-it, and why it became a failure.

[CritAnime]

The overheating issue is should be looked at properly. several people have voiced their concern over the venting placements. Only for good ol Bazza to launch into replay with

Meat:
Have you done an airflow analysis before posting your comment? Where did you get your degree in thermo dynamics? Have you seen the unit, and have you examined it and taken temps while it was running? And were you trying to be cute with your comment "...did we do any testing?"

There are no heating problems. The temps are well within spec. This is a keyboard computer, not a refrigerator. The units were and have been tested with a variety of motherboards, Since many different motherboards can and will be used with this case, it was critical that proper ventilation/ air flow/ exchange be maintained. The fan sucks air out of the case, creating negative pressure within. The CFM, along with ambient temps, CPU load etc all contribute to the mix, but the most critical factor is that the sum total of the area created by the various openings and slotted vents allow for the unit to run properly. I have units that have been running almost non stop for months. Depending on what they are running, they get warm, they run cool, they get hot, and the fan cycles up and down as it should. There have been no failures of any kind. I have a MacBook Pro that can fry eggs and create red welts on your lap....and that too, is within spec. Computers, laptops, keyboard units...they generate heat. If you wish to eliminate the heat, just place a 40mm x40mm x 10mm fan on top of the CPU heatsink, blowing down, and the temps will drop. Not needed...not required....but if you are that concerned, that is the simple, inexpensive solution.

http://www.commodore-amiga.org/forum/27-commodore-usa/4928-fan-and-different-function-keys?limit=15&start=15&lang=en#5957

[Darrin]

The overheating issue is should be looked at properly. several people have voiced their concern over the venting placements. Only for good ol Bazza to launch into replay with

http://www.commodore-amiga.org/forum/27-commodore-usa/4928-fan-and-different-function-keys?limit=15&start=15&lang=en#5957

It does make you wonder where Bazza got his degree in Thermodynamics.  I'm sure he took a 3 year course in it 40 years ago to help him sell furniture.

"Well, you see by placing a large ceiling fan here, it helps to keep the kitchen countertop cool during the warm summer months."

Same principle I guess...

[CritAnime]

Must be where he got his customer service skills from too.