Commodore, the American firm that revolutionized computing with its legendary Commodore 64went from leading technological innovation in the 80s to disappearing amid internal conflicts and changes in the industry. With his legacy now forgotten, his story is a reminder of the instability in the technological world.
The company was founded in 1958 by Jack Tramiel a Holocaust survivor who began selling typewriters. After expanding into calculators and other office products, Commodore made a crucial pivot by entering the personal computer market. In 1977, he launched the Commodore PET, which would be the precursor to his most emblematic success: the Commodore 64.
The Commodore 64, introduced in 1982, combined advanced design with an affordable price, earning it a Guinness Award for becoming the best-selling personal computer in history. Equipped with 64 KB of RAM and an 8-bit processors, came to compete with giants such as IBM and Apple. Expansion to other models, such as the Commodore VIC-20 and the Amiga, consolidated its position in the market.
However, Commodore’s fortunes began to change. Internal disputes between Tramiel and the main investor, Irving Gould, led to the former’s departure in 1984. This moment marked the beginning of a series of business decisions that led the company to face financial problems. The subsequent purchase of Amiga gave it a break, but failed to save it.
Over the years, Commodore attempted to diversify, launching products such as the Amiga 500 and Amiga 2000, and even entering the video game market with the CD32 console. Despite the enthusiasm of users, the company was unable to renegotiate its debts or keep pace with technological competition.
In 1994, Commodore declared bankruptcy. Its assets were acquired by the German firm Escom, which attempted to keep the Amiga legacy alive. However, it also fell in 1996. Since then, the brand has changed hands several times, and although some companies such as Hyperion Entertainment continue to develop the Amiga OS operating system, the essence of Commodore faded.
The story of Commodore is an example of the dizzying pace of the technological world, where innovation can make a difference, but internal conflicts and a lack of long-term vision can lead even giants to their downfall.