The Commodore 900: A Look at a Rare Prototype
A rare prototype, the Commodore 900, based on Zilog Z8001 CPU for UNIX workstations, was never sold despite OS porting. Commodore's focus on home computers and acquisition of Amiga influenced its cancellation. The C900's Z8000 CPU couldn't compete, leading to missed market opportunities.
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The article discusses the rare prototype of the Commodore 900, a microcomputer based on the 16-bit Zilog Z8001 CPU intended for businesses as a UNIX workstation. Only fifty prototypes were built, and the hardware was never sold despite the UNIX-based OS being ported to the Z8000. The cancellation of the C900 development was likely influenced by Commodore's focus on home computers and the acquisition of Amiga at the time. The Z8000 CPU in the C900, although promising, could not compete with other CPUs like the Motorola 68000 and Intel 8086/8088. The article provides a detailed history of the C900, its features, and the hardware inside one of the prototypes. The author reflects on how Commodore almost entered the workstation market alongside giants like Sun and HP but ultimately failed to establish a clear direction after the departure of Jack Tramiel. Various comments in the article discuss the significance of UNIX in computing history and the challenges faced by Commodore in diversifying its product line.
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