It sounds crazy, but Apple could actually revive the famous “C64” in the future. At least the iPhone manufacturer would imitate the well-known form factor and simply put an entire Mac in a keyboard for this purpose.
Apple currently offers three forms of chassis for its desktop Macs – all-in-one (iMac), tower (Mac Pro), and compact (Mac mini). But at some point in the next few years, another, fourth form factor could be added. Evidence of this can be found in a patent specification that has now become public and was filed by Apple in early August last year (source: US Patent and Trademark Office via iMore).
Apple “reinvents” the C64
In it we find the description for the Possibility of a calculator completely housed in a keyboard, to be precise within a new Magic Keyboard. Such a compact computer would also have a battery and possibly a trackpad and would therefore be ready for use wherever external displays are available. If necessary, there is also a TV set.
Looks familiar somehow. Apart from the integrated trackpad and the battery, the description also applies to the cult computer Commodore 64. The home computer of the eighties, also known as the “bread box”, is probably the best-known keyboard calculator in history. If Apple now implements the new patent, there would be a revival of the once popular housing shape – childhood memories will be awakened.
Back to the roots
Of course, the C64 wasn’t the only keyboard computer. The Amiga 500, for example, was also created by Commodore. The Atari ST and the Sinclair ZX81 with the legendary membrane keyboard should also be mentioned. But Apple itself has also used such a design for years. Not with the Mac, but very well with its predecessors (Apple II and Apple III). With such a computer, the iPhone manufacturer would not only quote the well-known C64, but also go back to its own roots.
In the meantime there is already a smaller retro version of the C64:
It remains questionable, however, whether the patent will actually be implemented in practice. As always, there is no guarantee. Patents are often used simply to protect against competitors. Nevertheless: The thought and maybe also the will at Apple is obviously there, C64 fans can hope a little. Only the systems “Commodore Basic V2” and “GEOS 64” would then have to be emulated, As is well known, Apple relies on macOS.