The retrocomputing revival age
The sudden rise of the hardware startup and the perfect storm between the abundance of knowledge, low-cost electronics, cheap fabrication, crowd funding and viral media, caused both excitement and pain over the last years to a lot of founders and consumers.
One of the great outcomes, though, especially to a particular group from my generation, the geeks of the 80s, which I proudly belong to, is the retro-computing revival age we’re living now.
We’ve passed the DIY emulation stage, and vintage computing is now heading towards a thirsty nostalgia market with ready to use replicas that just work, off the shelf, no assembly required.
The ZX Vega and Vega+ started the trend, with a handheld computer based on Sir Clive’s hugely successful Spectrum products from the past.
Then Nintendo released an NES clone, the NES Classic Edition, a miniature version of its old one, complete with a gray finish, ports for controllers, and everything else you loved about the good old days of gaming. It sold well too.
THE 64 is a new version of the global bestselling computer, the Commodore 64. You can either get it in the form of a desktop computer, mimicking the old C64 breadbox or as a handheld console. To be released soon.
Multiple successful campaigns are trying to resuscitate old yellowed plastic cases and keycaps for the C64, Amiga. You can buy a brand new case for your A1200, complete with a colourful, creative keyboard to go along.
And now, finally, HMD just announced they’re going to dig one of their Nokia’s most iconic products of all time and bring back the one and only Nokia 3310. I’d personally prefer an Ericsson GA 628, but the 3110 is great too.
The list goes on and on, and I suspect we’ll keep seeing more of this to come this year. Call it a marketing stunt if you will, but I’m sold, take my money, I want one of each.
