During the X2010 numerous variations of our very much beloved hardware models entered the stage… I have seen stock VIC20 (still in original packaging), customized C64, stock SX64 and also very modern equipment belonging to Datucker.
Datucker was very unfortunate as the fancy and hip equipment that he brought turned into a Murhpy’s-Law-home-wrecker while entering the stage. Several tryout didn’t let Jarno down but when he was set to get busy on the virtual turntables the hardware/software didn’t talk the same language anymore. This was very unfortunate.
Also the goold old soldering iron was set to maximum power the repair some C64-wrecks and do some last-minute cable manufacturing.
The SX64, which is in brisk demand nowadays, also flaunted it’s business like suit. This unit is still on the wish-list.
The bigger brother C128D didn’t sport that nice colour monitor inside… but still remains having it’s charms.
I must admit that i am thrilled to see that there is so many new hardware and software still being released for the C64, dating from way back… 1983 to be exact. I have seen several 1541Ultimate and 1541UltimateII, IDE64 and several Retro Replay which 95% of the cases was fitted with a RRnet interface for speedy floppy copy by the Transfer Team using WarpCopy64 to preserve software.
The transfer team consist of among others the following members: Mace\Secure, Mason\Unicess and Maestro\Avatar. They are really working like looneys get as much disks as they can throught the open-heart 1541-II. It is a noble job and we should all donate our disks (yes… me too!).
Also softwise there are nowadays many roads to take. I have seen from old-skool C64 music tracker composing to cross-platform compiling the sources. I have got a crash course KickAssembler using KickVICE from Daison/Avatar.