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Yes, I could buy a desktop, but I want an integrated keyboard with no screen.

You mean a PC built into a keyboard chassis, Commodore 64 or Apple IIc style? A quick Google search for keyboard pc turns up this one. Just add monitor.

Or you could look at something like a zero footprint pc, looks like they are now called all-in-ones: http://www.cybernetman.com/

**BUT** from those I've talked to that have used them, they don't last very long and the power is low just like the one you list is a netbook = low power CPU.

...why doesn't anyone make a single piece keyboard like the old Atari 800, or C=64, or Amiga 500?

They're out there.

Don't get too impressed with yourself. You missed the obvious part. Look at the filename.

    http://www.commodoreusa.net/i//zpc9100_full.jpg

    It's over 3 years old, and has nothing to do with Commodore, except someone set up a crappy site with the name on it to get the Commodore fans all wound up.

    A 2007 article about the ZPC9100

    Or the real manufacturer site

    I'm not surprised it was shot with an expensive camera, the *REAL* manufacturer had those done by a professional, I'm sure.

    Any of the rest of the crap in the summary or on their site can be assumed to be absolute BS. But hey, for those interested I have a 16 core 4THz machine with 32TB RAM that's the size of a matchhead. It runs off of a patented method for gathering and storing static electricity from the air, and interfaces to all external devices (display, HID, etc) wirelessly. I'll start selling them for $1,950,000. If I sell one I can move to a nice island. If I sell 1000 I'll buy the island. Err, I mean, ummm, we'll reinvest in the company to make our products even better. :)

Actually, I'm pretty sure it's the exact same product as the Zero Footprint PC, exept, maybe they put a Commodore C= Sticker on it, and market it as a new Commodore 64.

Seriously, compare these two pictures: Zero Footprint PC and "new" Commodore 64. Looks similar?

Actually, I'm pretty sure it's the exact same product as the Zero Footprint PC, exept, maybe they put a Commodore C= Sticker on it, and market it as a new Commodore 64.

Seriously, compare these two pictures: Zero Footprint PC and "new" Commodore 64. Looks similar?

Wouldn't say it's a hoax... This keyboard PC has been on the market for years. This company sells it as the ZPC (for Zero-footprint PC).

Frankly, I wondered why it took so long for someone to decide to rebadge one as a Commodore. It was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw it.

Circa March 2008:
http://www.cybernetman.com/en/products/zero-footprint-pc/zpc-gx31.cfm
They even reused the stock footage.
Should cost at least $700, according to Gizmodo Australia:
http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2008/03/cybernet_zpcgx31_a_pc_in_a_keyboardsized_case-2/

http://www.cybernetman.com/en/products/zero-footprint-pc/ hell, they didn't even bother to change the filenames for the images they nicked off the site

I see no reason for this particular outfit to succeed(keyboard computers are a niche, the C64 name isn't worth paying any extra for, Asus's oddball EEEboard will be out real soon now, etc.); but, the product itself has been around for some years now, which suggests that it is still making money, albeit in a niche.

Unless the latest outfit wearing a mask made from Commodore's flayed face is simply stealing clip art, what they are selling is a simple rebadge of Cybernet's "ZPC". Those things have been around at least since the P4 was the face of "intel inside" possibly earlier. Unless Cybernet is an ass about small quantities or something, there is absolutely no reason to order from some fly-by-night rebadge house; but the product is real enough, and presumably has enough of a niche(probably space constrained POS applications and similar) to justify the engineering costs of shoving a laptop motherboard into a keyboard housing for the past few generations of x86 hardware.

This is interesting seeing as how for over a decade in PC Magazine (maybe in their last issue too, I don't have it handy) some company called Cybernet has been marketing "zero footprint" PC's in the classified ads in the back of the magazine.

Similar to the Craftmatic Adjustable Bed and most of the things Billy Mays pimps on television, it's one of those things I've seen advertised to death but I've never known anyone who has owned one, nor have I seen one in use, ever.

So given that this is not a new idea at all I'm curious to see how Asus will fare with this thing...

http://www.cybernetman.com/default.cfm?DocId=8001

Big flipping deal. These PCs are not the Commodore that I knew and loved from my teenage years.

The only way I'll buy another Commodore computer for gaming is if it's a PC in an original-looking Commodore 64-style case. There have been PCs-in-a-keyboard for a while now, and the C64 was a hefty-sized unit. Modding a PC into a C64-style case should be completely possible, barring some necessary key changes, like F1-F12 keys instead of the C64's F1-F8. Slim-line DVD drives and 2.5" hard drives should make it that much more likely to be a successful mod. Put USB ports where the joyticks ports were, ExpressCard port or extra PCI slot where the cartridge port was, and so on. Hell, I wouldn't doubt if someone's already done it.

Needless but appropriate extras like a Commodore emulator and C64-like startup screen would be great, kitsch add-ons. I know, these can be added by some downloads from numerous places, but it would be cool to add it.

Otherwise, the only people who are old enough to remember the golden days of the C64 are most likely building their own PCs and therefore have no need for these "Commodore" computers. Don't bother whistling Bach's Invention #13. This is a Commodore in name only.

only be a matter of time before we start seeing PCs that look like C64's or Atari 600XLs i.e. size of a thick keyboard with a few ports at the back.

A company has already gotten rid of the "big bad box" and put an entire computer into the keyboard. They are calling it the zero footprint pc. It has a cd-drive on the side, usb ports, and flash card readers on the front, just like many other people have already suggested for computer designs. Why not just give them the $1Mil and call it good?

Really now. Isn't it about time they started building low-end computers the way they did in the 1980's? It's possible, once again, to put the entire guts of the computer inside the keyboard. Just plug in your mouse, screen, power, and maybe a network cable ... turn it on and get to work.

Full-height hard disks and insanely hot Intel CPU's made this form factor disappear in the 1990's, but it's time to bring it back. It makes sense for a lot of installations -- homes, schools, cubicles ... let's ditch the "box" altogether. The iMac is great, but do you really want to have to throw away a perfectly good LCD monitor every time you want a faster computer?

The Zero Footprint PC is a good idea, now let's start seeing them in volume and in the mainstream.

Note: subject line is deliberately provocative. I don't actually want a Commodore 64. I want most non-poweruser, non-gamer computers to go to the Commodore 64 form factor, though.

Basically, I want all major manufacturers to build something like the Zero Footprint PC. This is where the "desktop replacement" market should be going -- not towards this silly idea that everyone should have a laptop. Look at what Apple and others are doing: every time you upgrade your computer, you have to throw away a perfectly good LCD monitor?!? What's up with that? Seriously -- how many desktop users (excluding gamers and serious power users -- in other words, about 80-90 percent of them -- Slashdot users are not a representative sample) ever add or change PCI cards during the lifetime of their PC? Everything is USB or FireWire these days.

Dell and HP should ditch the mini-towers and build their low-end desktops with everything built right into the keyboard. It would make things a lot simpler, while creating less environmental waste, and everyone would save money on each upgrade. Furthermore, since there'd be more space to work with, they wouldn't have to use expensive laptop-grade parts.

OK, all but the monitor and storage.

I sure miss the "keyboard with a Computer in them" computers of yore.

Oh well, mabye Santa Clause will get me one that runs Linux.

Look's like Moore's law's at work here:
The first link is to the Sinclair ZX80, a 1980 Z80 box with 4KB ROM and 1KB RAM. It sold for about $99.

5KB total memory 24 years ago compared to about 256MB on a stripped down "$99 Walmart Special Linux Box," more if you count video and other RAM. Hmm, that's 16 iterations of Moore's law, which would put us at 327680KB, which is pretty darned close. If only portables and slimline PCs were this cheap.

You mean like this?

Bring back the Commodore 64! ;-).

These guys Cybernet Manufacturing have advertised their zero-footprint PCs in the back of PC Magazine for years. They build the PC into the keyboard and thus are pretty much what you describe, w/o the built in UPS (battery).

Their Deskbook is also a strange beast. And end-user upgradeable portable P4 desktop. Again the only thing you lose over a real notebook is the built-in "UPS", but it does have the built in LCD. And they're not hideously expensive compared to many "desktop replacement" notebooks.

something like this you mean

I paid around $1000 for a 1GHz (PIII) + 512MB Ram + 40GB + DVD/CD-RW version. They're pretty modular so you can pick and choose the CPU/RAM/HD etc.

Needs a separate display - get a nice 15/17" LCD to go with it.

Also - Mandrake 8.1 installed on it faster (and no hiccups) than W2K. It was simply a case of shove the CD's in the drive.

V.cool.

The processor maxes out at 233MHz Pentium MMX. With 128MB-EDO RAM and 6.4GB EIDE they charge $1172. There is no Windows tax, you buy that extra if you want it. In addition to the usual ports it has IR & USB, a built-in Realtek 10BT controller and an ISA slot.

It weighs 6.6lbs (3kg) but needs a 1lb. power brick. Most of the components seem to be standard, but old, desktop stuff rather than laptop. If they want to make PII, PIII models they'll probably have to use more laptop-style parts.

http://www.cybernetman.com

Try http://www.cybernetman.com/. They have what's called the "Zero Footprint PC" in both 486 and 586 flavors. Entire PC fits under your Keyboard.