Forget the Ultrabook — Go With the New Commodore!

Why buy a modern computer with a standard operating system, keyboard and display, when you can buy a Commodore Amiga?

Commodore USA, the Florida-based start-up company that has been producing replicas of the popular Commodore computers of the 1980s, has introduced a new Commodore Amiga Mini, a 7.5-inch by 3-inch computer with an Intel i7 quad-core processor. Unlike the much, much earlier Amiga models, this one features two Wi-Fi antennae and Bluetooth capabilities.

This is clearly a product for, shall we say, enthusiasts. As with the original Amiga, the new version doesn’t come with a keyboard or display screen. It runs a Linux OS, and ranges in price from $1,995 to $2,495 (see update below).

Commodore USA says it plans to serve up more nostalgia in aluminum housings. It will put out more Amiga models in the next month or so, timed around the anniversary of the release of the Commodore Amiga 1000 in April 1985.

In addition to the Amiga, the company has announced a new “supreme” C64x, with 4 gigabytes of memory, an Intel D27000 dual core processor and an Nvidia GeForce GT 520 graphics card for “enhanced gaming capability.” This one comes with a mechanical keyboard, WiFi and Bluetooth capablilities, and HDMI and USB ports, so there are some modern touches to this retro piece.

In 2010, Commodore USA put out a replica of the popular Commodore 64 computer due to “high demand” and lots of emails from C64 fans, Commodore USA CEO Barry Altman said at the time.

Update: A day after Commodore USA announced the new Amiga Mini, it lowered the price of the computer due to “overwhelming outpouring of customer comments, along with those posted on the major tech blogs”. The starting price point of the Amiga Mini is now $1495. At the high end, however, an Amiga with a 600 GB solid state drive and 16GB of memory will still cost $3000.