Star Trek's William Shatner shills for Commodore Computers' VIC-20 - "The wonder computer of the 1980s" - in this vintage commercial from around 1981. Gotta love the cutting-edge video "transporter" effect!
I used to have the VIC-20 when I was a lad. I played "Cosmic Cruncher" on it, a Commodore logo version of Pac-Man. When I finally got the Commodore 128, then I had REAL video game fun!
I remember how people used to look at computers and scratch their heads in confusion. And early-on, Hollywood didn't have a clue about the technology. That's why you had TV shows featuring a kid that was a "computer whiz" and ridiculous movies like "Superman III" and "The Net." It's almost comical to go back to the 80's and 90's and look at Hollywood's interpretation of computer technology. Heck, some of the rear-projected screens in "2001: A Space Odyssey" look better than the stuff we've seen on TV and cinema.
My father bought us the Commodore VIC=20 and a Datasette drive in 1983, and we used it exclusively for about 7 years or so, until we finally bought a Commodore 64C and 1841-2 diskette drive, which still runs to this day. I used to have a subscription to Family Computing Magazine, and kept those issues until about 10 years ago when I finally had to get rid of them. :( Those two computers were the most fun I had, learning Commodore BASIC and writing programs. In a way, I miss those days. But there are some good emulators for the Mac/iPad that I can still tinker around and play in the BASIC world.
I also had the games Omega Race, Captain Blood, BAAL, and the old Gort & The Microchips.
I loved my Commodore computers as a kid. My favorite was the cutting edge Commodore 64 which bosted 64 colors! I love how in the commercial he has to hold completely still and pretend he can see something next to him. The Geek Twins @thegeektwins @mauricem1972
I coveted the Commodore line, mainly because they had Omega Race for it. Shallow motivation to have one, but that was irresistable to me.
ReplyDeleteThey are now making computers using the Commodore case style now.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.commodoreusa.net/CUSA_C64.aspx
its a wonder isn't it
ReplyDeleteI used to have the VIC-20 when I was a lad. I played "Cosmic Cruncher" on it, a Commodore logo version of Pac-Man. When I finally got the Commodore 128, then I had REAL video game fun!
ReplyDeleteI remember how people used to look at computers and scratch their heads in confusion. And early-on, Hollywood didn't have a clue about the technology. That's why you had TV shows featuring a kid that was a "computer whiz" and ridiculous movies like "Superman III" and "The Net." It's almost comical to go back to the 80's and 90's and look at Hollywood's interpretation of computer technology. Heck, some of the rear-projected screens in "2001: A Space Odyssey" look better than the stuff we've seen on TV and cinema.
ReplyDeleteI'm suprised the machine doesn't respond in a monotone female voice and say, "Working..."
ReplyDeleteMy father bought us the Commodore VIC=20 and a Datasette drive in 1983, and we used it exclusively for about 7 years or so, until we finally bought a Commodore 64C and 1841-2 diskette drive, which still runs to this day. I used to have a subscription to Family Computing Magazine, and kept those issues until about 10 years ago when I finally had to get rid of them. :( Those two computers were the most fun I had, learning Commodore BASIC and writing programs. In a way, I miss those days. But there are some good emulators for the Mac/iPad that I can still tinker around and play in the BASIC world.
ReplyDeleteI also had the games Omega Race, Captain Blood, BAAL, and the old Gort & The Microchips.
I loved my Commodore computers as a kid. My favorite was the cutting edge Commodore 64 which bosted 64 colors! I love how in the commercial he has to hold completely still and pretend he can see something next to him.
ReplyDeleteThe Geek Twins
@thegeektwins
@mauricem1972
I remember this commercial...my eight-year old mind thought it was so cool that Captain Kirk (and T.J. Hooker) was talking about this computer.
ReplyDelete