Commodore (redirected from Commodores)

One of the first personal computer companies. In 1977, Commodore Business Machines, West Chester, PA, introduced the PET computer and launched the personal computer industry along with Apple and Radio Shack. In 1982, it introduced the Commodore 64 (64K RAM) and later the Commodore 128. These were popular home computers, and over 10 million were sold.

In 1985, the Amiga series was introduced, which continued to offer advanced imaging and video capabilities at affordable prices. A line of IBM-compatible PCs was also introduced, but the Amiga series was Commodore's mainstay until May 1994, when it went into bankruptcy. See Amiga.

The Commodore PET

In 1977, the Commodore PET, Apple II and TRS-80 launched the personal computer industry. The $595 PET, which stood for Personal Electronic Transactor, contained its own tape cassette (on the left) and a whopping 4K of memory. (Image courtesy of Commodore Business Machines, Inc.)

The Amiga and Video Toaster

The Amiga, combined with NewTek's Video Toaster system, was often considered the most affordable broadcast-quality video system on the market. Digital effects are created in the Amiga and converted back out to the analog tape decks in real time. (Image courtesy of NewTek, Inc.)