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CommodoreInternational
FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia

CommodoreInternational(orCommodore
InternationalLimited)wasaNorthAmericanhome
computerandelectronicsmanufacturer.Commodore
International(CI)alongwithitssubsidiaryCommodore
BusinessMachines(CBM)participatedinthe
developmentofthehomepersonalcomputerindustryin
the1970sand1980s.Thecompanydevelopedand
marketedoneoftheworld'sbestsellingdesktop
computers,theCommodore64(1982)andreleasedits
Amigacomputerlinein1985.

CommodoreInternational

Industry

Computerhardware
Electronics
Computersoftware

Fate

Bankruptcy

Founded

1954
Toronto,Ontario,Canada

Defunct

1994

Contents
1 History
1.1 Foundingandearlyyears
1.2 "Computersforthemasses,notthe
classes"

Headquarters WestChester,Pennsylvania,
UnitedStates
Keypeople

JackTramiel(Founder)
IrvingGould(Maininvestorand
chairman)

Products

CommodorePET
CommodoreVIC20
Commodore64
Commodore128
Amiga
Others

1.3 TramielquitstheAmigavs.STbattle
1.4 Demise
1.5 PostCommodoreInternationalLtd.
2 Productline
2.1 Calculators
2.2 Computers
2.3 Gamesconsoles
2.4 Monitors
2.5 Software
3 Seealso
4 References
5 Externallinks

History
Foundingandearlyyears
ThecompanythatwouldbecomeCommodoreBusinessMachines,
Inc.wasfoundedin1954[1]inTorontoastheCommodorePortable
TypewriterCompanybyPolishimmigrantandAuschwitzsurvivor
JackTramiel.ForafewyearshehadbeenlivinginNewYork,
drivingataxicabandrunningasmallbusinessrepairingtypewriters,
whenhemanagedtosignadealwithaCzechoslovakiancompanyto
manufacturetheirdesignsinCanada.HemovedtoTorontotostart
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OriginalCommodorelogo:all
lowercasecompanyname(1962
1984).

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production.Bythelate1950sawaveofJapanesemachinesforced
mostNorthAmericantypewritercompaniestoceasebusiness,but
Tramielinsteadturnedtoaddingmachines.
In1955,thecompanywasformallyincorporatedasCommodore
BusinessMachines,Inc.(CBM)inCanada.In1962,Commodore
wentpublicontheNewYorkStockExchange(NYSE)underthe
nameofCommodoreInternationalLimited.Inthelate1960shistory
repeateditselfwhenJapanesefirmsstartedproducingandexporting
addingmachines.Thecompany'smaininvestorandchairman,
IrvingGould,suggestedthatTramieltraveltoJapantounderstand
howtocompete.Instead,hereturnedwiththenewideatoproduce
electroniccalculators,whichwerejustcomingonthemarket.

CommodorePR100programmable
calculator

Commodoresoonhadaprofitablecalculatorlineandwasoneofthemorepopularbrandsintheearly
1970s,producingbothconsumeraswellasscientific/programmablecalculators.However,in1975,Texas
Instruments,themainsupplierofcalculatorparts,enteredthemarketdirectlyandputoutalineofmachines
pricedatlessthanCommodore'scostfortheparts.CommodoreobtainedaninfusionofcashfromGould,
whichTramielusedbeginningin1976topurchaseseveralsecondsourcechipsuppliers,includingMOS
Technology,Inc.,inordertoassurehissupply.[2]HeagreedtobuyMOS,whichwashavingtroublesofits
own,onlyontheconditionthatitschipdesignerChuckPeddlejoinCommodoredirectlyasheadof
engineering.
Throughthe1970s,Commodorealsoproducednumerousperipheralsandconsumerelectronicproducts
suchastheChessmate,achesscomputerbasedaroundaMOS6504chip,releasedin1978.
InDecember2007whenTramielwasvisitingtheComputerHistoryMuseuminMountainView,
California,forthe25thanniversaryoftheCommodore64,hewasaskedwhyhecalledhiscompany
Commodore.Hesaid:"IwantedtocallmycompanyGeneral,butthere'ssomanyGeneralsintheU.S.:
GeneralElectric,GeneralMotors.ThenIwenttoAdmiral,butthatwastaken.SoIwindupinBerlin,
Germany,withmywife,andwewereinacab,andthecabmadeashortstop,andinfrontofuswasan
OpelCommodore."[3]Tramielgavethisaccountinmanyinterviews,butOpel'sCommodoredidn'tdebut
until1967,yearsafterthecompanyhadbeennamed.[4]

"Computersforthemasses,nottheclasses"
OnceChuckPeddlehadtakenoverengineeringatCommodore,he
convincedJackTramielthatcalculatorswerealreadyadeadendand
thattheyshouldturntheirattentiontohomecomputers.Peddle
packagedhissingleboardcomputerdesigninametalcase,initially
withakeyboardusingcalculatorkeys,laterwithafulltravel
QWERTYkeyboard,monochromemonitor,andtaperecorderfor
programanddatastorage,toproducetheCommodorePET
(PersonalElectronicTransactor).FromPET's1977debut,
Commodorewouldbeacomputercompany.

CommodorePET2001(1977)

CommodorehadbeenreorganizedtheyearbeforeintoCommodore
International,Ltd.,movingitsfinancialheadquarterstotheBahamasanditsoperationalheadquartersto
WestChester,Pennsylvania,neartotheMOSTechnologysite.Theoperationalheadquarters,where
researchanddevelopmentofnewproductsoccurred,retainedthenameCommodoreBusinessMachines,
Inc.
By1980Commodorewasoneofthethreelargestmicrocomputercompanies,andthelargestinthe
CommonMarket.[5]BYTEstatedofthebusinesscomputermarket,however,that"thelackofamarketing
strategybyCommodore,aswellasitspastnonchalantattitudetowardtheencouragementanddevelopment
ofgoodsoftware,hashurtitscredibility,espeiallyincomparisontotheothersystemsonthemarket".[6]
ThePETcomputerlinewasusedprimarilyinschools,whereitstoughallmetalconstructionandabilityto
shareprintersanddiskdrivesonasimpleLocalAreaNetworkwereadvantages,butPETsdidnotcompete
wellinthehomesettingwheregraphicsandsoundwereimportant.Thiswasaddressedwiththe
introductionoftheVIC20in1981,whichwasintroducedatacostofUS$299andsoldinretailstores.
CommodoretookoutaggressiveadsfeaturingWilliamShatneraskingconsumers"Whybuyjustavideo
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game?"ThestrategyworkedandtheVIC20becamethefirstcomputertoshipmorethanonemillionunits.
Atotalof2.5millionunitsweresoldoverthemachine'slifetime[7]andhelpedCommodore'ssalesto
Canadianschools.[8]Inanotherpromotionaimedatschools(andasawayofgettingridofoldunsold
inventory)somePETmodelslabeled"Teacher'sPET"weregivenawayaspartofa"buy2get1free"
promotion.
In1982,CommodoreintroducedtheCommodore64asthe
successortotheVIC20.Thankstoawelldesignedsetof
chipsdesignedbyMOSTechnology,theCommodore64,
(alsoreferredtoasC64),possessedremarkablesoundand
graphicsforitstimeandisoftencreditedwithstartingthe
computerdemoscene.ItsUS$595pricewashighcompared
withthatoftheVIC20,butitwasstillmuchlessexpensive
thananyother64Kcomputeronthemarket.EarlyC64ads
boasted,"Youcan'tbuyabettercomputerattwicethe
Commodore64(1982)
price."
Australianadvertsinthemid1980susedatunespeaking
thewords"AreyoukeepingupwiththeCommodore?BecausetheCommodoreiskeepingupwithyou."[9]
In1983,TramieldecidedtofocusonmarketshareandcutthepriceoftheVIC20andC64dramatically,
startingwhatwouldbecalledthe"homecomputerwar".TIrespondedbycuttingpricesonitsTI99/4A,
whichhadbeenintroducedin1981.SoontherewasanalloutpricewarinvolvingCommodore,TI,Atari,
andpracticallyeveryvendorotherthanAppleComputer.CommodorebegansellingtheVIC20andC64
throughmassmarketretailerssuchasKMart,inadditiontotraditionalcomputerstores.Bytheendofthis
conflict,Commodorehadshippedsomewherearound22millionC64smakingtheC64thebestselling
computerofalltime.
AttheJune1983ConsumerElectronicsShowCommodoreloweredtheretailpriceofthe64to$300,and
storessolditforaslittleas$199.Atonepointthecompanywassellingasmanycomputersastherestof
theindustrycombined.[10]ItspricesfortheVIC20and64were$50lowerthanAtari'spricesforthe
600XLand800XL.[11]Commodore'sstrategywasto,accordingtoaspokesman,devote50%ofitsefforts
totheunder$500market,30%onthe$5001000market,and20%ontheover$1000market.Itsvertical
integrationandTramiel'sfocusoncostcontrolhelpedCommodoredowellduringthepricewar,with$1
billionin1983sales.[12]Byearly1984SynapseSoftwarethelargestproviderofthirdpartyAtari8bit
softwarereceived65%ofsalesfromtheCommodoremarket,[11]andCommodoresoldalmostthreetimes
asmanycomputersasAtarithatyear.[13]
Despiteitsfocusonthelowerendofthemarket,Commodore'scomputerswerealsosoldinupmarket
departmentstoressuchasHarrod's.[14]Thecompanyalsoattractedseveralhighprofilecustomers.In1984,
thecompany'sBritishbranchbecamethefirstmanufacturertoreceivearoyalwarrantforcomputer
businesssystems.[15]NASA'sKennedySpaceCenterwasanothernotedcustomer,withover60
Commodoresystemsprocessingdocumentation,trackingequipmentandemployees,costingjobs,and
ensuringthesafetyofhazardouswaste.[16]

TramielquitstheAmigavs.STbattle
Althoughbyearly1984CreativeComputingcomparedCommodore
to"awellarmedbattleship[which]rulesthemicrowaves"and
threatenedtodestroyrivalslikeAtariandColeco,[17]Commodore's
SecondCommodorelogo,with
boardofdirectorswereasimpactedasanyoneelsebytheprice
mixedcasecompanyname(1985
spiralanddecidedtheywantedout.Aninternalpowerstruggle
1994).
resultedinJanuary1984,Tramielresignedduetointense
disagreementwiththechairmanoftheboard,IrvingGould.Gould
replacedTramielwithMarshallF.Smith,asteelexecutivewhohadnoexperiencewithcomputersor
consumermarketing.[18][19][20]Tramielfoundedanewcompany,TramelTechnology(spelleddifferentlyso
peoplewouldpronounceitcorrectly),andhiredawayanumberofCommodoreengineerstobeginworkon
anextgenerationcomputerdesign.

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NowitwaslefttotheremainingCommodoremanagementtosalvagethecompany'sfortunesandplanfor
thefuture.ItdidsobybuyingasmallstartupcompanycalledAmigaCorporationinAugust1984,for$25
million($12.8millionincashand550,000incommonshares)whichbecameasubsidiaryofCommodore,
calledCommodoreAmiga,Inc.[21]Commodorebroughtthisnew32bitcomputerdesign(initially
codenamed"Lorraine",laterdubbedtheAmiga1000)tomarketinthefallof1985forUS$1295.
ButTramielhadbeatenCommodoretothepunch.Hisdesignwas95%completedbyJune(whichfueled
speculationthathisengineershadtakentechnologywiththemfromCommodore).InJuly1984hebought
theconsumersideofAtariInc.fromWarnerCommunicationswhichallowedhimtostrikebackandrelease
theAtariSTearlierin1985forabout$800.
Duringdevelopmentin1983,Amigahadexhaustedventurecapitalandwasdesperateformorefinancing.
JayMinerandcompanyhadapproachedformeremployerAtari,andtheWarnerownedAtarihadpaid
Amigatocontinuedevelopmentwork.[22]InreturnAtariwastogetoneyearexclusiveuseofthedesignas
avideogameconsole.AfteroneyearAtariwouldhavetherighttoaddakeyboardandmarketthecomplete
Amigacomputer.TheAtariMuseumhasacquiredtheAtariAmigacontractandAtariengineeringlogs
revealingthattheAtariAmigawasoriginallydesignatedasthe1850XLD.AsAtariwasheavilyinvolved
withDisneyatthetime,itwaslatercodenamed"Mickey",andthe256Kmemoryexpansionboardwas
codenamed"Minnie".[23]
Thefollowingyear,TramieldiscoveredthatWarnerCommunicationswantedtosellAtari,whichwas
rumoredtobelosingabout$10,000aday.InterestedinAtari'soverseasmanufacturingandworldwide
distributionnetworkforhisnewcomputer,heapproachedAtariandenterednegotiations.Afterseveralon
again/offagaintalkswithAtariinMayandJune1984,TramielhadsecuredhisfundingandboughtAtari's
ConsumerDivision(whichincludedtheconsoleandhomecomputerdepartments)inJuly.
AsmoreexecsandresearchersleftCommodoreaftertheannouncementtojoinupwithTramiel'snew
companyAtariCorp.,Commodorefollowedbyfilinglawsuitsagainstfourformerengineersfortheftof
tradesecretsinlateJuly.Thiswasintended,ineffect,tobarTramielfromreleasinghisnewcomputer.
OneofTramiel'sfirstactsafterformingAtariCorp.wastofiremostofAtari'sremainingstaff,andto
cancelalmostallongoingprojects,inordertoreviewtheircontinuedviability.InlateJuly/earlyAugust,
TramielrepresentativesdiscoveredtheoriginalAmigacontractfromthepreviousfall.Seeingachanceto
gainsomeleverage,TramielimmediatelyusedthecontracttocountersueCommodorethroughitsnew
subsidiary,Amiga,onAugust13.
TheAmigacrew,stillsufferingseriousfinancialproblems,hadsoughtmoremonetarysupportfrom
investorsthatentirespring.AtaroundthesametimethatTramielwasinnegotiationswithAtari,Amiga
enteredintodiscussionswithCommodore.ThediscussionsultimatelyledtoCommodore'sintentionsto
purchaseAmigaoutright,whichwould(fromCommodore'sviewpoint)cancelanyoutstandingcontracts
includingAtariInc.'s.This"interpretation"iswhatTramielusedtocountersue,andsoughtdamagesandan
injunctiontobarAmiga(andeffectivelyCommodore)fromproducinganyresemblingtechnology.This
wasanattempttorenderCommodore'snewacquisition(andthesourceforitsnextgenerationof
computers)useless.Theresultingcourtcaselastedforseveralyears,withbothcompaniesreleasingtheir
respectiveproducts.ByMarch1987theyhadsettledoutofcourt,withallsuitsagainstTramiel'sengineers
dropped.His"BusinessisWar"tacticshadsucceededagain.
ThroughoutthelifeoftheSTandAmigaplatforms,a
ferociousAtariCommodorerivalryraged.Whilethisrivalry
wasinmanywaysaholdoverfromthedayswhenthe
Commodore64hadfirstchallengedtheAtari800(among
others)inaseriesofscathingtelevisioncommercials,the
eventsleadingtothelaunchoftheSTandAmigaonly
servedtofurtheralienatefansofeachcomputer,whofought
vitriolicholywarsonthequestionofwhichplatformwas
superior.Thiswasreflectedinsalesnumbersforthetwo
platformsuntilthereleaseoftheAmiga500in1987which
ledtheAmigasalestoexceedtheSTbyabout1.5to1,
despitereachingthemarketlater.However,thebattlewasin
Amiga500(1987)
vain,asneitherplatformcapturedasignificantshareofthe
worldcomputermarketandonlytheAppleMacintosh
wouldsurvivetheindustrywideshifttoMicrosoftWindowsrunningonPCclones.
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Demise
AdamOsbornestatedinApril1981that"themicrocomputerindustryaboundswithhorrorstories
describingthewayCommodoretreatsitsdealersanditscustomers."[24]Manyintheindustrybelieved
rumorsinlate1983thatCommodorewoulddiscontinuethe64despiteitsgreatsuccessbecausethey
dislikedthecompany'sbusinesspractices,includingpoortreatmentofdealersandintroducingnew
computersincompatiblewithexistingones.Onedealersaid"It'stoounsettlingtobeoneoftheirdealersand
notknowwhereyoustandwiththem."[25]AfterTramiel'sdeparture,anotherjournalistwrotethathe"had
neverbeenabletoestablishverygoodrelationswithcomputerdealers...computerretailershaveaccused
Commodoreoftreatingthemasharshlyasiftheyweresuppliersorcompetitors,andasaresult,manyhave
becomedisenchantedwithCommodoreanddroppedtheproductline".[12]However,uponthe1987
introductionoftheAmiga2000,Commodoreretreatedfromitsearlierstrategyofsellingitscomputersto
discountoutletsandtoystores,andnowfavoredauthorizeddealers.[26][27][28]Softwaredevelopersalso
dislikedthecompany,withonestatingthat"DealingwithCommodorewaslikedealingwithAttilathe
Hun."[29]Atthe1987Comdex,aninformalInfoWorldsurveyfoundthatnoneofthedeveloperspresent
plannedtowriteforCommodoreplatforms.[30]AlthoughComdexwasorientedtowardbusinesscomputing,
notCommodore'straditionalconsumermarket,sucharesponsedidnotbodewellforCommodore'sefforts
toestablishtheAmigaasabusinessplatform.
Commodorefacedtheproblem,whenmarketingtheAmiga,ofstillbeingseenasthecompanythatmade
cheap,disposablecomputerslikethe64andVICwereperceivedtobe.[31][32]Bythelate1980s,the
personalcomputermarkethadbecomedominatedbytheIBMPCandAppleMacintoshplatformsand
Commodore'smarketingeffortsfortheAmigawerelesssuccessfulinbreakingthenewcomputerintothis
nowestablishedmarketthanitspromotionsforthe8bitlinehadbeeninmakingCommodorethehome
computerleader.Thecompanyputeffortintodevelopingandpromotingconsumerproductsthatwouldnot
beindemandforyears,suchasanAmiga500basedHTPCcalledCDTV.Asearlyas1986,the
mainstreampresswaspredictingCommodore'sdemise,[33]andin1990ComputerGamingWorldwroteof
its"abysmalrecordofcustomerandtechnicalsupportinthepast".[34]Nevertheless,asprofitsandthestock
pricebegantoslide,ThePhiladelphiaInquirer'sTop100Businessesannualcontinuedtolistseveral
Commodoreexecutivesamongthehighestpaidintheregionandthepaperdocumentedthecompany's
questionablehiringpracticesandlargebonusespaidtoexecutivesamidshareholderdiscontent.[35][36]
CommodorefailedtoupdatetheAmigatokeeppaceasthePCplatformadvanced.[37]CBMcontinued
sellingAmiga2000swith714MHz68000CPUs,eventhoughtheAmiga3000with25MHz68030was
onthemarket.Applebythistimewasusingthe68040andhadrelegatedthe68000toitslowestendmodel,
theblackandwhiteMacintoshClassic.The68000wasusedintheSegaGenesis,oneoftheleadinggame
consolesoftheera,whichsurpassedtheAmiga'sgamingcapabilities.[38]PCsfittedwithhighcolorVGA
graphicscardsandSoundBlaster(orcompatible)soundcardshadfinallycaughtupwiththeAmiga's
performance[39][40]andCommodorebegantofadefromtheconsumermarket.[41]AlthoughtheAmigawas
originallyconceivedasagamingmachine,CommodorehadalwaysemphasizedtheAmiga'spotentialfor
professionalapplications.[42][43]ButtheAmiga'shighperformancesoundandgraphicswereirrelevantfor
mostoftheday'sMSDOSbasedroutinebusinesswordprocessinganddataprocessingrequirements,and
themachinecouldnotsuccessfullycompetewithPCsinabusinessmarketthatwasrapidlyundergoing
commoditization.CommodoreintroducedarangeofPCcompatiblesystemsdesignedbyitsGerman
division,andwhiletheCommodorenamewasbetterknownintheUSthansomeofitscompetition,the
systems'priceandspecswereonlyaverage.[44]
In1992,theA600replacedtheA500.Itremovedthenumerickeypad,Zorroexpansionslot,andother
functionality,butaddedIDE,PCMCIAandatheoreticallycostreduceddesign.DesignedastheAmiga
300,anonexpandablemodeltosellforlessthantheAmiga500,the600wasforcedtobecomea
replacementforthe500duetotheunexpectedhighercostofmanufacture.Productivitydevelopers
increasinglymovedtoPCandMacintosh,whiletheconsolewarstookoverthegamingmarket.David
Pleasance,managingdirectorofCommodoreUK,[45]describedtheA600asa'completeandutterscrew
up'.[46]
Inlate1992,CommodorereleasedtheA4000andA1200computers,whichfeaturedanimprovedgraphics
chipset,theAGA.ThecustomdesignedandcustombuiltAGAchipsetcostCommodoremorethanthe
commoditychipsusedinIBMPCs,despitelaggingtheminperformance.TheadventofPCgamesusing
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3DgraphicssuchasDoomandWolfenstein3DspelttheendofAmigaasagamingplatform,asitsgraphic
chipsetcouldn'tkeepup.[47][48]
In1993,the'makeorbreak'system,accordingtoPleasance,[49]wasa32bitCDROMbasedgameconsole
calledtheAmigaCD32,butitwasnotsufficientlyprofitabletoputCommodorebackintheblack.
Inthe1992,allUKservicingandwarrantyrepairswereoutsourcedtoWangLaboratories.,whowere
replacedbyICLafterfailingtomeetrepairdemandduringtheChristmasrush1992.[50]By1994,onlyits
operationsinGermanyandtheUnitedKingdomwerestillprofitable.Commodoredeclaredbankruptcyon
April29,1994andceasedtoexist,[51]causingtheboardofdirectorsto"authorizethetransferofitsassets
totrusteesforthebenefitofitscreditors",accordingtoanofficialstatement.[52]
Thecompany'scomputersystems,especiallytheC64andAmigaseries,retainedacultfollowingdecades
afteritsdemise.[53][54]

PostCommodoreInternationalLtd.
Followingitsliquidation,Commodore'sformerassetswenttheirseparateways,withnoneofthe
descendantcompaniesrepeatingCommodore'searlysuccess.BothCommodoreandAmigaproductlines
wereproducedinthe21stcentury,butseparatelywithAmiga,Inc.beingitsowncompanyandCommodore
computersbeingproducedbyCommodoreUSA,anunrelatedFloridabasedcompanythathadpurchased
thebrandname.Othercompaniesdevelopoperatingsystemsandmanufacturecomputersforboth
CommodoreandAmigabrandsaswellassoftware.

"Commodore'shigh
pointwastheAmiga
1000(1985).The
Amigawassofar
aheadofitstimethat
almostnobody
including
Commodore's
marketing
departmentcould
fullyarticulatewhatit
wasallabout.Today,
it'sobvioustheAmiga
wasthefirst
multimediacomputer,
butinthosedaysit
wasderidedasagame
machinebecausefew
peoplegraspedthe
importanceof
advancedgraphics,
sound,andvideo.
Nineyearslater,
vendorsarestill
strugglingtomake
systemsthatworklike
1985Amigas.
ByteMagazine,
August1994

CommodoreUKwastheonlysubsidiarytosurvivethebankruptcy
andevenplacedabidtobuyouttherestoftheoperation,oratleast
theformerparentcompany.Foratimeitwasconsideredthefront
runnerinthebid,andnumerousreportssurfacedduringthe1994
1995timeframethatCommodoreUKhadmadethepurchase.
CommodoreUKstayedinbusinessbysellingoldinventoryand
makingcomputerspeakersandsomeothertypesofcomputer
peripherals.However,CommodoreUKwithdrewitsbidatthestart
oftheauctionprocessafterseverallargercompanies,including
GatewayComputersandDellInc.,becameinterested,primarilyfor
Commodore's47patentsrelatingtotheAmiga.Ultimately,the
successfulbidderwasGermanPCconglomerateEscom,and
CommodoreUKwentintoliquidationonAugust30,1995.
In1995EscompaidUS$14millionfortheassetsofCommodore
International.[55]ItseparatedtheCommodoreandAmigaoperations
intoseparatedivisionsandquicklystartedusingtheCommodore
brandnameonalineofPCssoldinEurope.However,itsoon
startedlosingmoneyduetooverexpansion,wentbankruptonJuly
15,1996,andwasliquidated.
InSeptember1997,theCommodorebrandnamewasacquiredby
DutchcomputermakerTulipComputersNV.

InJuly2004,Tulipannouncedanewseriesofproductsusingthe
Commodorename:fPET,aflashmemorybasedUSBFlashdrive
mPET,aflashbasedMP3PlayeranddigitalrecordereVIC,a20
GBmusicplayer.Also,itlicensedtheCommodoretrademarkand
"chickenlips"logototheproducersoftheC64DTV.

Inlate2004,TulipsoldtheCommodoretrademarkstoYeahronimoMediaVenturesfor22million.[56]
ThesalewascompletedinMarch2005aftermonthsofnegotiations.YeahronimoMediaVenturessoon
renameditselftoCommodoreInternationalCorporationandstartedanoperationintendedtorelaunchthe
Commodorebrand.ThecompanylauncheditsGravellineofproducts:personalmultimediaplayers
equippedwithWiFi,withthehopetheCommodorebrandwouldhelpthemtakeoff.TheGravelwasnever
asuccessandwasdiscontinued.OnJune24,2009,CICrenameditselftoReuniteInvestments.[57]CIC's
founder,BenvanWijhe,boughtaHongKongbasedcompanycalledAsiarim,.[58]Thebrandisnowowned
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byC=Holdings(formerlyCommodoreInternationalB.V.):[59][60]Reunitebecamethesoleownerofitin
2010,afterbuyingtheremainingsharesfromthebankruptNedfield,[61]thensoldittoCommodore
LicensingBV,asubsidiaryofAsiarim,laterin2010.[60]Itwassoldagainon7November2011:this
transactionbecamethebasisofalegaldisputebetweenAsiarim(which,evenafterthatdate,made
commercialuseoftheCommodoretrademark,amongothersbyadvertisingforsaleCommodorebranded
computers,anddealinglicensingagreementsforthetrademarks)andthenewowners,thatwasresolvedby
theUnitedStatesDistrictCourtfortheSouthernDistrictofNewYorkon16December2013infavourof
thenewowners.[59]
TheCommodoreSemiconductorGroup(formerlyMOSTechnology,Inc.)wasboughtbyitsformer
managementandin1995,resumedoperationsunderthenameGMTMicroelectronics,utilizingatroubled
facilityinNorristown,PennsylvaniathatCommodorehadclosedin1992.By1999ithad$21millionin
revenuesand183employees.However,in2001theUnitedStatesEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyshut
theplantdown.GMTceasedoperationsandwasliquidated.
OwnershipoftheremainingassetsofCommodoreInternational,includingthecopyrightsandpatents,and
theAmigatrademarks,passedfromEscomtoU.S.PCclonemakerGateway2000in1997,whoretained
thepatentsandsoldthecopyrightsandtrademarks,togetherwithalicensetousethepatents,toAmiga,
Inc.,aWashingtoncompanyfounded,amongothers,byformerGatewaysubcontractorsBillMcEwenand
FleecyMossin2000.OnMarch15,2004,Amiga,Inc.announcedthatonApril23,2003ithadtransferred
itsrightsoverpastandfutureversionsoftheAmigaOS(butnotyetoverotherintellectualproperty)toItec,
LLC,lateracquiredbyKMOS,Inc.,aDelawarecompany.Shortlyafterwards,onthebasisofsomeloans
andsecurityagreementsbetweenAmiga,Inc.andItec,LLC,theremainingintellectualpropertyassetswere
alsotransferredfromAmiga,Inc.toKMOS,Inc.OnMarch16,2005,KMOS,Inc.announcedthatithad
completedallregistrationswiththeStateofDelawaretochangeitscorporatenametoAmiga,Inc.The
Commodore/AmigacopyrightswerelatersoldtoCloanto.[62]AmigaOS(aswellasspinoffsMorphOSand
AROS)isstillmaintainedandupdated.Severalcompaniesproducerelatedhardwareandsoftwaretoday.
TheCommodorePetPDAwasannouncedin2015fromCommodoreBusinessMachinesLTD,London.[63]

Productline
ThisproductlineconsistsoforiginalCommodoreproducts.

Calculators
774D,9R23,C108,C110,F4146R,F4902,MM3,Minuteman6,P50,PR100,SR1800,SR4120D,
SR4120R,SR4148D,SR4148R,SR4190R,SR4212,SR4912,SR4921RPN,SR5120D,SR5120R,
SR5148D,SR5148R,SR5190R,SR59,SR7919,SR7949,SR9150R,SR9190R,US*3,andTheSpecialist
series:M55(TheMathematician),N60(TheNavigator),S61(TheStatistician).[64]

Computers
(listedchronologically)
CommodoreKIM1singleboardcomputer(1976)
CommodorePET/CBMrange(1977)
CommodoreVIC20a.k.a.VC20andVIC1001(1980[VIC1001]/1981)
CommodoreCBMIIrangea.k.a.Brangea.k.a.600/700range(1982)
CommodoreMAXMachinePredecessortoC64(1982)
Commodore64includingC64C(1982/1986)
CommodoreEducator6464inaPET40xxcase(1983)
CommodoreSX64allinoneportableC64includingscreenanddiskdrive(1984)
Commodore16includingC116,incompatiblewithC64(1984)
CommodorePlus/4compatiblewithC16(1984)
CommodoreLCDLCDequippedlaptop(neverreleased)
Commodore128including128Dand128DCR(1985/1985/1986)
Commodore65C64successor(neverreleased)
Commodore900workstation(neverreleased)
CommodoreAmigarange
Amiga1000(1985)
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Amiga500inclA500+(1987/1991)
Amiga2000inclA2000HD(1987)
Amiga2500(1989)
Amiga1500(1990)
Amiga3000inclAmiga_3000UX&Amiga_3000T(1990/1990/1991)
CommodoreCDTV(1991)
Amiga600(1992)
Amiga1200(1992)
Amiga4000inclAmiga_4000T(1994/1996)
CommodorePCcompatiblesystemsCommodoreColt,PC1,PC10,PC20,PC30,PC40,...,
486SXLTC

Gamesconsoles
CommodoreTVGame2000K/3000H(1975)
Commodore64GamesSystem(1990)
AmigaCD32(1993)

Monitors
1000,1024,1070,1080,1081,1083S,1084,1084S,1084ST,1085S,1201,1402,1403,1404,1405,1407,
1428,1428x,1432D,1432V,1701,1702,1703,1801,1802,1803,1900M/DM602,1901/75BM13/M1,
1902,1902A,1930,1930II,1930III,1934,1935,1936,1936ALR,1940,1942,1950,1960,1962,2002,
A2024,2080,76M13,CM141,DM14,DM602[1]
(http://gona.mactar.hu/Commodore/monitor/Commodore_monitors_by_model_number.html)[2]
(https://www.c64wiki.com/index.php/Computer_Monitor)[3]
(http://www.bigbookofamigahardware.com/bboah/CategoryList.aspx?id=26)

Software
Commodore'sownsoftwarehadapoorreputationInfoWorldin1984,forexample,statedthat"sofar,the
normalstandardforCommodoresoftwareismediocrity".[65]Thirdpartiesdevelopedthevastmajorityof
softwareforCommodorecomputers.
AmigaOSOperatingsystemfortheAmigarangemultitasking,microkernel,GUI
AmigaUnixOperatingsystemfortheAmiga,basedonUnixSystemVRelease4
CommodoreBASICBASICinterpreterforthe8bitrange,ROMresidentbasedonMicrosoft
BASIC
CommodoreDOSDiskoperatingsystemforthe8bitrangeembeddedindiskdriveROMs
KERNALCoreOSroutinesforthe8bitrangeROMresident
Simons'BASICBASICextensionfortheC64cartridgebased
SuperExpanderBASICandmemoryextensionfortheVIC20cartridgebased
SuperExpander64BASICextensionfortheC64
SmartphonesJuly2015[66]
CommodorePet5.5",3GBRAM,32GB,13MPCamera

Seealso
WorldofCommodore
Amigamodelsandvariants

References
1."CommodoreInternationalB.V.:PrivateCompanyInformation".Investing.businessweek.com.20080917.
Retrieved20090810.
2."Calculatormakerintegratesdownwards".NewScientist.Vol.71no.1017.September9,1976.p.541.
ISSN02624079.
3.SoftwareDevelopmentTimes(January1,2008),Page10.
4.Kretzinger,Boris:CommodoreAufstiegundFalleinesComputerriesen,Morschen2005,p.14,Fn18.ISBN3
938199040
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5.Hogan,Thom(19810831)."FromZerotoaBillioninFiveYears".InfoWorld.pp.67.Retrieved15February
2015.
6.Dickerman,Harold(August1982)."TheCommodore8032BusinessSystem".BYTE.p.366.Retrieved
16January2016.
7.Bagnall,Brian(2006).OntheEdge:TheSpectacularRiseandFallofCommodore,VariantPress.Page221.
ISBN0973864907
8."RUNMagazineIssue30June1986".
9."ComputerCommercial:AreYouKeepingUpWithYourCommodore(1983)(Commodore)(AU).mp4".Internet
Archive.Retrieved29November2015.
10.Mitchell,PeterW.(19830906)."AsummerCESreport".BostonPhoenix.p.4.Retrieved10January2015.
11.Mace,Scott(19840227)."CanAtariBounceBack?".InfoWorld.p.100.Retrieved18January2015.
12.Leeman,Sheldon(May1984)."TheFutureofCommodore?".Ahoy!.p.44.Retrieved27June2014.
13.Kleinfield,N.R.(19841222)."TradingUpinComputerGifts".TheNewYorkTimes.Retrieved5February
2015.
14.Garamszeghy,Mikos(1987)."CommodoreinEurope:AnInternationalComparisonofPriceandAvailability"
(PDF).TheTransactor(TransactorPublishing)7(6):2123.Retrieved5December2015.
15."NewsBRK"(PDF).TheTransactor(TransactorPublishing)5(2):614.1984.Retrieved1January2015.
16."NewsandNewProducts"(PDF).TheTransactor(CanadianMicroDistributors)4(2):49.1983.Retrieved
5December2015.
17.Anderson,JohnJ.(March1984)."Commodore".CreativeComputing.p.56.Retrieved6February2015.
18.Maher,Jimmy(20130728)."AComputerforEveryHome?".TheDigitalAntiquarian.Retrieved10July2014.
19.Herzog,Marty(January1988)."NeilHarris".ComicsInterview(54)(FictioneerBooks).pp.4151.
20.(1985).JackTramielInterview(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NImJFV3wH88#t=9m25s)onYouTube
21.DavidNeedle."SpecialReport"p.90PersonalComputing,(August1985)
22."TOPSECRET:ConfidentialAtariAmigaAgreement".AtariHistoricalSociety.November1983.Retrieved
20060723.
23." "ConfidentialAtariAmigaAgreement"and"Afterthoughts:TheAtari1600XLRumor" ".
Archives.atarimuseum.com.Retrieved20090810.
24.Osborne,Adam(19810413)."ThePortableOsborne".InfoWorld.pp.4243.Retrieved1January2015.
25.Wierzbicki,Barbara(19831205)."LongevityofCommodore64,VIC20questioned".InfoWorld.p.24.
Retrieved13January2015.
26."Commodore'sBackOnLine,AndAmiga'sTheReason".
27."TheGreatAmigaReboot".
28."1987CommodoreadinInfoWorldtargetedatdealers".
29.Chin,Kathy(19850128)."AtariPromisesSoftwareForST".InfoWorld(IDG).p.17.Retrieved20110319.
30."OS/2'sArrivalMarkstheDawnofaNewEra".
31.Dvorak,JohnC.(September1985)."Image".Ahoy!.p.5.Retrieved27June2014.
32."Amiga:25YearsLater".
33."Adios,Amiga?".Time.February24,1986.
34."TheMaturationofComputerEntertainment:WarmingTheGlobalVillage".ComputerGamingWorld.199007
08.p.11.Retrieved16November2013.
35."PayWentUpAsProfitsPlungedProxyRevealsBigSalariesAtCommodore".
36."ExecutiveBenefitsQuestionedCommodoreHurting,ButOfficialsAren't"."Ali'sminimum$2millionannual
combinedsalaryandbonuswillcertainlyearnhimaplaceamongthemostrichlyrewardedtechnologycompany
executivesinthecountry."
37."TheAmigaStory:ConceivedatAtari,BornatCommodore"."Commodorebegantofalterintheearly90sas
WindowsPCsbecamemoreadvanced.Themultimediafeaturesthatwowedaudiencesin1985werecommonplace
ineveninexpensivecomputersoftheearly90s."
38."What'shot:AmigaorSega?"."Still,Amigaownerscouldtakeconsolationinthefactthattheirsystemplayed
thebestgamesaround.Butthat'snolongerthecase.ThreenewvideogamesystemstheSegaGenesis,NEC
TurboGrafix,andSNK'sNeoGeohavesurpassedtheAmigaasagamemachine.Anotherupandcomer,the
NintendoSFX(knowninJapanastheSuperFamicom),willblowitaway.Meanwhile,aftersevenyearsthe
Amigastillhasthesamepalette,thesameeightsprites,andthesamefouraudiovoices."
39."TakingthePCPlunge!".
40."AhistoryoftheAmigaPart8:Thedemoscene".
41."MULTIMEDIAANDTELECOMMUNICATIONS,19972002:PERSPECTIVESAND
RECOMMENDATIONS.".
42."Looksgreat,Manny,butwillitsell?".
43."PERIPHERALSCOMMODOREINTRODUCESNEWAMIGA"."...asanew,untestedmachinefroma
companythathaspreviouslysolditsproductsintoystores,Amigafacesatoughchallengeincrackingthe
conservativebusinessmarket.CommodoreofficialsvowthatAmigaistheflagshipofanarmadaofbusiness
productsthatwilltransformthecompanyintoamajorinternationalforceintechnology."
44."RUNMagazineissue42".
45."AMultimediaGemCommodoreIsDead.LongLiveTheAmiga.Suddenly,It'sAHotItem."."DavidPleasance,
jointmanagingdirectorofCommodore'sUnitedKingdomsubsidiary..."
46.TimSmithandChrisLloyd(1994),"ChewingtheFacts",'AmigaFormat'Annual1994,106111,107.
47."TheFutureWasHere:TheCommodoreAmiga".
48."NatamiProjectHomePage".
49."AmigaShopperFeb1995".
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50.CTW16/8/1993
51.http://emp.byui.edu/haderlieb/LDS_Mindset2012.htm
52."CommodoreSinks".GamePro(60)(IDG).July1994.p.168.
53."Kidnapper'sretrocomputeroffersscantclues"."Thebeigecolouredmachinewaspopularinthe1980sbutis
nowconsideredanantique,thoughsomeelectronicdanceactsstilluseitandithasacultfollowingamongsome
fansofretrocomputers."
54."CedKurtz'sTechmanTexts:AndysAmigaacultcomputerfavorite".
55."CommodoreAuctionReport".Retrieved29November2015.
56."TulipoffloadsCommodorebrand".Retrieved29November2015.
57."CommodoreInternationalCorporationChangedItsCompanyNametoReuniteInvestments,Inc.".Reuters.June
24,2009.
58."EDGARFilingDocumentsfor000145786009000002".Sec.gov.RetrievedNovember29,2012.
59.C=HoldingsBVv.AsiarimCorp.(UnitedStatesDistrictCourt,SouthernDistrictofNewYorkDecember16,
2013).Text(http://www.crisona.com/iplaw/cases/12cv928.pdf)
60.FaillissementsverslagCommodoreLicensingB.V.(http://www.curatoren.nl/fo/affilliate_verslag.php?
a=130&b=14260935)
61.NedfieldPersbericht
(http://www.afm.nl/registers/kgi_documents/201002090000000012_Nedfield%20persbericht%20090210%20%28f
inaal%29.PDF),NetherlandsAuthorityfortheFinancialMarkets,9February2010
62."CloantoconfirmstransfersofCommodore/Amigacopyrights".amiganews.de.Retrieved20150220.
63."WelcometoCommodoreCBM|DiscoverCommodorePet".
64.http://www.datamath.net/Leaflets_Others/C76_US.pdf
65.Mace,Scott(19840409)."Atarisoftvs.Commodore".InfoWorld.p.50.Retrieved4February2015.
66."CommodoreSmartphonesrelaunched".SmartFoneArena.Retrieved29November2015.

Externallinks
CommodoreWorld(http://www.commodoreworld.com/)
SoftwareArchive(http://www.c64.com/)
ChronologicalHistoryofCommodoreComputer

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PhiladelphiaInquirerarticlesaboutIrvingGould(http://articles.philly.com/keyword/irvinggould)
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