Retro Dream Machines: Inside the DIY Quest to Build a Commodore 64 Laptop

Imagine if, at the tail end of the 1980s, Commodore had managed to squeeze its iconic C64 into a sleek, portable laptop - changing the course of computing history. That alternate timeline never materialized, but for one intrepid maker, the dream was too compelling to ignore. Enter Kevin Noki’s custom Commodore 64 laptop: a meticulously engineered homage to retro tech, built with modern tools, and fueled by equal parts nostalgia and innovation.

Reimagining a Legend

The Commodore 64, released in 1982, remains the world’s best-selling single computer model. Yet, despite its immense popularity, Commodore’s only real attempt at portability - the SX-64 - was more “luggable” than truly mobile. Hopes for a genuine C64 laptop died with the abandoned Commodore LCD project. But what if the company had pressed on?

Kevin Noki’s answer is a striking blend of retro inspiration and modern engineering. Instead of simply mimicking the original, Noki borrowed cues from Apple’s Macintosh Portable, merging it with the familiar “breadbin” aesthetic of the C64. The result: a custom 3D-printed enclosure, reinforced with metal dowels and glued seams, that looks like it could have rolled off an '80s assembly line.

Under the hood, however, the build is thoroughly 21st century. A Raspberry Pi 5 acts as the computational heart, running the Vice C64 emulator - delivering more power than the original C64 ever dreamed of. The keyboard is a marvel in itself: custom keycaps, a new PCB, and a Raspberry Pi Pico as controller. For purists, there’s a catch: this setup means no direct compatibility with vintage C64 cartridges or peripherals. Noki implemented a complex workaround using adapters and microcontrollers, but full cartridge support couldn’t be achieved.

This isn’t the first time a portable C64 has been realized. In 2009, Ben Heck’s celebrated build used an actual C64C motherboard and keyboard, achieving near-total hardware authenticity. Noki’s approach, by contrast, is a love letter to the possibilities of modern prototyping - where 3D printers and single-board computers revive the ghosts of hardware that never was.

Reflections: Nostalgia Meets Innovation

As retro computing enjoys a renaissance and Commodore’s brand stirs once more, projects like Noki’s reveal the enduring allure of classic machines, and the ingenuity of today’s makers. Will we see an official FPGA-based C64 laptop in the future? For now, the DIY spirit keeps the dream alive - one layer of plastic filament at a time.

WIKICROOK: Glossary

Commodore 64 (C64)

An 8-bit home computer released in 1982, famed for its affordability and vast software library.

Raspberry Pi

A low-cost, credit-card-sized single-board computer used for education, prototyping, and hobbyist projects.

Emulator

Software that mimics the functions of one computer system on another, allowing old programs to run on new hardware.

FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array)

A type of integrated circuit that can be programmed to replicate the hardware logic of other systems, often used in retro computing recreations.

3D Printing

A manufacturing process where objects are built layer by layer from digital models, enabling rapid prototyping and custom builds.