Commodore International facts for kids
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| Traded as | AMEX: CDRL |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronics Computer hardware Computer software |
| Fate | Bankruptcy |
| Founded | 1954 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Founder | Jack Tramiel |
| Defunct | April 29, 1994 |
| Headquarters | West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States |
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Key people
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Jack Tramiel Irving Gould (Main investor and Chairman) |
| Products | Commodore PET Commodore VIC-20 Commodore 64 Commodore 128 Amiga Amiga CD32 |
Commodore was a very important company that made electronics and computers. Its full name was Commodore International Limited. The company was based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Commodore first made things like adding machines and calculators. Later, they became famous for their home computers. Commodore helped make computers popular for families in the late 1970s and 1980s.
Contents
The Start of Commodore
Commodore was started by a person named Jack Tramiel. He founded the company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1954. At first, Commodore focused on office machines. These included typewriters and then adding machines.
Moving into Calculators
By the 1970s, Commodore began making electronic calculators. These were very popular at the time. They made many different models. This helped the company grow and learn about electronics.
Pioneering Home Computers
Commodore played a huge role in bringing computers into homes. They wanted to make computers affordable for everyone. This idea changed how people thought about technology.
The Commodore PET
One of their first important computers was the Commodore PET. It came out in 1977. The PET was mainly for schools and businesses. It was one of the first all-in-one personal computers.
The VIC-20: Color for Everyone
In 1981, Commodore released the Commodore VIC-20. This was a big deal because it was the first color computer sold for under $300. This low price made it possible for many more families to own a computer. The VIC-20 was very popular.
The Amazing Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 was introduced in 1982. It became the best-selling single computer model in history. Commodore sold about 22 million of these machines. The Commodore 64 was known for its great graphics and sound. It was perfect for playing games and learning to program. Many people still remember it fondly today.
The Powerful Amiga Series
Commodore continued to innovate with the Amiga computers. The first Amiga was released in 1985. Amiga computers were very advanced for their time. They had amazing graphics and sound capabilities. This made them popular with artists, designers, and serious gamers. The Amiga line included models like the Amiga 500 and the Amiga 1200.
The Amiga CD32
Later, Commodore even made a game console called the Amiga CD32. It came out in 1993. This console used CDs for games. It was one of the first CD-ROM based game consoles.
The End of an Era
Despite its success, Commodore faced many challenges. The computer market became very competitive. New companies and technologies emerged quickly. Sadly, Commodore went bankrupt on April 29, 1994. This marked the end of a very important company in computer history.
Images for kids
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Minuteman MM3S calculator
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Commodore PET 2001 (1977)
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Commodore 64 (1982)
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An early prototype circuit board for the Commodore 16. This shows how Commodore tried to save money.
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Amiga 500 (1987)
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Commodore PC20 (1992)
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Amiga CD32 (1993)
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A modified Commodore 64 Web-it PC
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The Commodore 64 at its 25th anniversary event at The Computer History Museum
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Commodore PR-100 programmable calculator
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See also
In Spanish: Commodore International para niños
