Commodore comes back as a handheld

COMMODORE, FAMOUS FOR revolutionalizing the personal computer space, has had many ups and downs.

But now the name is back, emblazoned on a handheld that does the lot - the Commodore Combo.

The Combo is a portable NAV / MP3/MP4/CE device based on a Windows CE platform. If you threw an Ipod Video and a Garmin portable GPS into a blender, plus added removable media and allowed the device to be upgraded you would have the Commodore device.

The Commodaor name has been used and abused like a rented mule, but its latest owner hopes to change that. The company is now based in the Netherlands, and has started to penetrate into the European market by providing both hardware and content and enabling the retailer to earn some money on the content as well through an innovative kiosk-based content delivery model.

Each Commodore product is able to download content from kiosks at a vendor's retail outlet, with a percentage of the purchases staying with the vendor.

The Combo will ship with a 20GB 1.8" hard drive. The intent is to create a device that is largely open with the exception of the DRM, and allow plug-ins to be developed and software to be installed. Another unique feature is the built in ability to play games. The device will ship with 5 NES titles, with an additional 90 titles available online.

The Combo device seeks to be all things to all people, but historically products like that have come with a premium. With the price not yet set, but at a likely $700, the device may be attractive enough from a functionality perspective to make it worthwhile. µ