Commodore Clubs?

[rbernardo]

Happy 4th of July, C= and Ami aficionados!

The next meeting of the Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network is Saturday, July 12, from 2 to 5+ p.m. at

Panera Bread Restaurant
19662 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, California
(818) 407-9400

For discussion we'll talk about the Pacific Commodore Expo NW which just happened in Seattle and the upcoming Amiga 40th which is happening on August 1 and 2 at the Vintage Computer Festival West in Mountain View, California.

In hardware, we'll look at Tom M.'s Amiga 3000 which was very dead but has been brought back to life, thanks to the efforts of Duncan MacDougall of RELICS (Retro Equipment Lovers International Society) in San Jose, CA. The Ultimate 64 reappears with the latest C64 software from Itch.io and the updated TeensyROM C64/128 cartridge. And if I have the energy for it, the Miracle Piano Teaching System will reappear, too.

If you have any software and/or hardware that you'd like us to see, bring it along!

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

P.S. Our September meeting is planned for the 20th, the weekend before the Bay Area Maker Faire!

[rbernardo]

Happy National Mac and Cheese Day, C= and Ami aficionados!

The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 2:30+ p.m., Sunday, July 20, at

Panera Bread Restaurant
3590 W. Shaw Ave. (corner of W. Shaw Ave. and Marty Ave.)
Fresno, CA 93711
(559) 271-0104
http://www.dickestel.com/meet_loc.htm

We'll talk about Seattle Pacific Commodore Expo NW that happened a few weeks ago and about my visit to C= repair tech, Ray Carlsen (he has a new project!). We’ll talk about the August 1-2 Amiga 40th that’s happening during the Vintage Computer Festival West at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View. Also we’ll discuss how the Commodore trademark has been bought and how that trademark is already impacting items, the Commodore 64U (formerly, the Ultimate 64) and the Commodore 64X (formerly, the 64 PC).

The Miracle Piano Teaching System returns for presentation part 3, along with TeensyROM 64/128. We’ll check out a rebuilt Amiga 3000, before it is returned to its owner. And the Ultimate 64 will appear, running classic and new software.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group -
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

[rbernardo]

Happy National Milk Chocolate Day, C= and Ami aficionados!

The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 2:30+ p.m., Sunday, August 3, at

Panera Bread Restaurant
3590 W. Shaw Ave. (corner of W. Shaw Ave. and Marty Ave.)
Fresno, CA 93711
(559) 271-0104
http://www.dickestel.com/meet_loc.htm

Note the changed meeting date which is not our usual third Sunday of the month.

In discussion we'll talk about the new, resurrected Compute's Gazette magazine. Also we'll be talking about Amiga 40th which will have happened on August 1 and 2 at the Vintage Computer Festival West in the Computer History Museum, Mountain View, CA. And the Bay Area Maker Faire happening in September.

In hardware, the Ultimate 64 returns with a bunch of new games from Itch.io as does the A600GS with a bunch of new games, too!

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group -
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

[rbernardo]

Happy Positive Thinking Day, C= and Ami comrades!

The next meeting of the Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network is Saturday, Sept. 20, from 2 to 5+ p.m. at

Panera Bread Restaurant
19662 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, California
(818) 407-9400

If I seem a bit loopy, that is probably the result of jet lag. Please forgive me.

For discussion we'll talk about the HomeComputerMuseum (an official Commodore museum), the recent HCC Commodore Meeting (Netherlands Commodore Show), the recent Swedish CommodoreTraffen meeting, the recent Amiga North Thames meeting, and the upcoming Bay Area Maker Faire, Rocklin Maker Faire, and Amiwest Show 2025. Naturally, we will talk about the new Commodore Corporation (nearly 9,800 Commodore 64 Ultimates pre-ordered, as of today!).

In hardware/software, we'll look the Freeway Pro Lite USB board for big-box Amigas. Also we'll have the A600GS, newly updated with Amibrower. Maybe we can get it connected to the wi-fi in our venue! Also the Ultimate 64 returns, also newly updated and having the latest game software.

If you have any software and/or hardware that you'd like us to see, bring it along!

Writing from Haywards Heath, England,
Robert Bernardo
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

[rbernardo]

Happy National Eat a Hoagie Day, C= and Ami aficionados!

The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 2:30+ p.m., Sunday, September 21, at

Panera Bread Restaurant
3590 W. Shaw Ave. (corner of W. Shaw Ave. and Marty Ave.)
Fresno, CA 93711
(559) 271-0104
http://www.dickestel.com/meet_loc.htm

In discussion we'll talk about issue #2 of the resurrected Compute's Gazette magazine. We'll also take a look at motherboard photos of the new Commodore 64 Ultimate and the A1222NG. Naturally, we'll be talking about the Amiga 40th even which happened a few weeks ago at the Vintage Computer Festival (West), the Bay Area Maker Faire which is happening in a few days, the Rocklin Maker Faire in October, and the Amiwest Show in November. Also I'll give a brief rundown of my visits to the Archive of Retro Computing in Kingston, London, England; the HomeComputerMuseum in Helmond, the Netherlands; the HCC Commodore (Netherlands Commodore Show), the SCK CommodoreTraffen (Swedish Commodore Show), and the Amiga North Thames meeting in Enfield, London, England.

In hardware, the Ultimate 64 returns with a bunch of new games from Itch.io as does the A600GS newly-updated with more games, demos, and Amibrowser.

Writing from Haywards Heath, England,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group -
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

[rbernardo]

Happy National Gumbo Day, C= and Ami aficionados!

The Fresno Commodore User Group has its annual "picnic" lunch at 11 a.m. on Sunday, October 19, at

El Rodeo Mexican Restaurant
40 West Shaw, Suite 101 (southwest corner of Shaw and Minnewawa in the Wild West Shopping Center)
Clovis, CA

Bring good cheer and bring yourselves! We won't necessarily be talking about computers, but we will be munching down on good food! As always, the club will pay the lunch for all club members and their guests!

Truly,

[rbernardo]

Happy National Cappuccino Day, C= and Ami comrades!

The next meeting of the Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network is Saturday, Nov. 15, from 2 to 5+ p.m. at

Panera Bread Restaurant
19662 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, California
(818) 407-9400

For discussion we celebrate the club being 20 years old! Who wants cake?! We'll talk about the recent Amiwest Show and the announcements made there.'

In hardware/software, Tom M. might be coming all the way from Las Vegas in order to show us a classic Amiga video digitizer. The AmigaOne A1222+ returns, now with Final Edition update 3 and with more software from OS4Depot.com. Also the Ultimate 64 returns, also firmware-updated and having the latest game software and a new text editor.

If you have any software and/or hardware that you'd like us to see, bring it along!

Writing from Seattle, Washington,
Robert Bernardo
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

[rbernardo]

Happy World Kindness Day, FCUG members and guests!

The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 2:30+ p.m., Sunday, November 16, at

Panera Bread Restaurant
3590 W. Shaw Ave. (corner of W. Shaw Ave. and Marty Ave.)
Fresno, CA 93711
(559) 271-0104
http://www.dickestel.com/meet_loc.htm

In discussion we'll look at the newest issue of Compute's Gazette magazine. Also we’ll see raw footage for the *2026* commercial for the Commodore Los Angeles Super Show! I will tell of the recent developments that occurred or were announced at the Nov. 1-2 Amiwest Show.

In hardware, we’ll look at a European, plastic C128D, which was modded by Ray Carlsen to have a modern, North American power supply. Also we’ll try to run the newest version of TRIANGULAR microOS on the C128 (our previous tries failed due to an error code in the other versions). The Ultimate 64 returns, as does the AmigaOne A1222+ which has been updated to Final Edition update 3 and also few more OS4 games/apps.

Back in California,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group -
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

[rbernardo]

Happy National Chocolate Covered Anything Day, C= and Ami aficionados!

The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 2:30+ p.m., Sunday, December 21, at

Panera Bread Restaurant
3590 W. Shaw Ave. (corner of W. Shaw Ave. and Marty Ave.)
Fresno, CA 93711
(559) 271-0104
http://www.dickestel.com/meet_loc.htm

In club matters, we’ll be deciding which worthy charity will get our club donation, and we’ll be electing officers for 2026. In discussion we'll look at the newest issues of Compute's Gazette magazine, now with more Commodore and Amiga coverage than ever before!

For this Christmas meeting, we have an overabundance of software to go through! We may have to extend the software presentations into the January meeting! As consumers start receiving their Commodore 64 Ultimates this season, we’ll go over the list of games and other apps included with the machine. Since all the software is easily available, we’ll run several of them from the Ultimate 64. Most notable is GUI64, a desktop environment which comes with every C64U; we’ll be trying out v1.81, the older version of the C64U’s v1.95. https://www.c64-wiki.com/wiki/GUI64

Not only we will be going over C64U software but we will also look at the newest C64 game software from itch.com Plus three, new, productivity apps, Jas Word word processor, Whisper64 text editor, and the Kaleidoscope v4 screen editor.

Due to my travel schedule over the last few months, I’ve been lax in updating my Amiga computers. Well, not anymore! The AmigaOne A1222+ will be at the meeting, now with over three dozen, new and updated games/apps for OS 4.1 (like Polar Paint, Connect 4, AmiBrixx, 3D Converter...) and OS 1.3/3.1 (like Submarine Attack, Hyper Sports, Moon Patrol 500, Switcher Boy…). Too much!

Merry Christmas!
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group -
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

[rbernardo]

Happy New Year, C= and Ami comrades!

The next meeting of the Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network is Saturday, January 10, from 2 to 5+ p.m. at

Panera Bread Restaurant
19662 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, California
(818) 407-9400

With over 19,000 Commodore 64 Ultimates ordered so far, we’ll run some of the demos included with the machine. Since most of the software is easily available, we’ll run them from the older Ultimate 64, demos such as 2025's Commodore JollyDisk, Nine, and Parallax Tribute to the 1990's Mentallic, Seal of Focalor, and Unsound Minds.

The AmigaOne A1222+ and/or A600GS return, the A1222+ with new and updated games/apps for OS 4.1 (A1222+ only), like AmiBrixx, Connect4, and 3D Converter; and for OS 1.3/3.1 (A1222+ or A600GS), games like Submarine Attack, Hyper Sports, Moon Patrol 500, and Switcher Boy.
If you have any software and/or hardware that you'd like us to see, bring it along!

Writing from Tucson, Arizona,
Robert Bernardo
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

P.S. Sunday we'll have filming at the Burbank VFW for our Commodore L.A. Super Show commercial 2026!

[rbernardo]

Happy New Year, FCUG members and guests!

The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 2:30+ p.m., Sunday, January 18, at

Panera Bread Restaurant
3590 W. Shaw Ave. (corner of W. Shaw Ave. and Marty Ave.)
Fresno, CA 93711
(559) 271-0104
http://www.dickestel.com/meet_loc.htm

For discussion we'll talk about the April 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show (CLASS). Once again we'll look at the newest issues of Compute!'s Gazette magazine.

At our Christmas meeting, we had so much software to go through that we ran out of time, so we'll continue looking at C64 and Amiga software this time! Last month GUI64 v1.81 kept crashing; this month we'll see if GUI64 v 1.95 is more stable. Last month were the games on the C64 Ultimate; this month we'll go over the demos that were included in the C64U.

The AmigaOne A1222+ returns, and we'll concentrate on games that run on classic OS 1.3/3.1, like SubA1200, Whack-a-Skull, and Chaotic Crazy Castle.

After being away for some time, the Mini PET from Tynemouth Software also returns. We'll run some of the latest programs for it -- Radar Rat Race, PET Invaders, and Berserk.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group -
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

[rbernardo]

Happy almost Valentine's Day, C= and Ami aficionados!

The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 2:30+ p.m., Sunday, Feb. 15, at

Panera Bread Restaurant
3590 W. Shaw Ave. (corner of W. Shaw Ave. and Marty Ave.)
Fresno, CA 93711
(559) 271-0104
http://www.dickestel.com/meet_loc.htm

Once again for discussion we'll talk about the April 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show (CLASS). Also I will show off the CLASS commercial 2026 which has not been officially released yet. Note: If you haven't paid your club membership, please do so!

At the last meeting, we ran out of time to go over the Mini PET from Tynemouth Software but not this time! We'll run some of the latest programs for it -- Radar Rat Race, PET Invaders, and Berserk -- and dig into some of its public domain disks saved on its SD2PET drive. For those who were not at the last meeting, the Ultimate 64 returns with its "cassette" drive of programs from the C64 Ultimate. The Blizzard 68060 Amiga 1200 makes an appearance (the first time?) at our meeting; it runs OS 3.9 and has 192 megs of Fast RAM. We'll look at the drawer labeled, "TOGA games," games transferred from the floppy disks of The Other Group of Amigoids (now known as RELICS - Retro Equipment Lovers International Computer Society).

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group -
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

[rbernardo]

Happy almost St. Patrick's Day, C= and Ami comrades!

The next meeting of the Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network is Saturday, March 14, from 2 to 5+ p.m. at

Panera Bread Restaurant
19662 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, California
(818) 407-9400

The big topic of discussion will be the April 25-26 Commodore Los Angeles Super Show at the Burbank VFW Hall, 1006 W. Magnolia in Burbank! Remember that our set-up day is on Friday, April 24. We'll be watching the 2 1/2 minute CLASS 2026 commercial for Youtube. If you have any further CLASS presentations or exhibits, tell about them at the meeting!

The Ultimate 64 returns, this time with firmware update 3.14d, and the A600GS returns with the Feb. 27 firmware update. The Ultimate 64 will be running some of the latest games; the A600GS will not only be running the latest software but also classic CAD programs. Just for good measure, I'll bring along the A1200 '060 running OS 3.9, AGS, and some games from The Other Group of Amigoids (TOGA, now called RELICS).

If you have any PET, VIC-20, C64/128, C16/Plus4, or Amiga software and/or hardware that you'd like us to see, bring it along!

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Southern California Commodore & Amiga Network
http://www.portcommodore.com/sccan

[rbernardo]

Happy almost St. Patrick's Day, C= and Ami aficionados!

The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 2:30+ p.m., Sunday, March 15, at

Panera Bread Restaurant
3590 W. Shaw Ave. (corner of W. Shaw Ave. and Marty Ave.)
Fresno, CA 93711
(559) 271-0104
http://www.dickestel.com/meet_loc.htm

April is coming up fast, and the Commodore Los Angeles Super Show is on the 25-26th of that month. If you have any ideas for CLASS presentations and exhibits, please tell them to us at the FCUG meeting!

In hardware, the Mega65 (Commodore 65 enhanced replica) returns after being away for some time! Of course, we will look at some of its game/demo/application software found at https://files.mega65.org/html/main.php (Check out that C128 emulator for the Mega65!) The A600GS returns, and we'll look at some of the newest software (like Strike Force Omega) and some of the classic software (like 3-D CAD programs).

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group -
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm

[rbernardo]

Happy Income Tax Day, C= and Ami aficionados!

The Fresno Commodore User Group has its next meeting from 11 a.m. to 2:30+ p.m., Sunday, April 19, at

Panera Bread Restaurant
3590 W. Shaw Ave. (corner of W. Shaw Ave. and Marty Ave.)
Fresno, CA 93711
(559) 271-0104
http://www.dickestel.com/meet_loc.htm

The April 25-26 the Commodore Los Angeles Super Show is so close that you can smell it. Any last minute idea for the show is greatly appreciated! As it stands right now, the CLASS guest presentation list is full. See

https://www.portcommodore.com/dokuwiki/ ... ons_guests

For our FCUG meeting this time, we have a bit of everything. For the VIC-20, we'll look at Vicstrip, and sent in from Eric Blase in San Diego, there is a mysterious tape game that he programmed. The Ultimate 64 will have a variety of new games downloaded from itch.io. Previously a C64 game, H.E.R.O Is Back now is a C128 game, and we'll see how it plays. We examine some C16/Plus4 adapters from Ray Carlsen and try them out. Finally, the A600GS has some of the latest Amiga game downloads from itch.io , too.

Truly,
Robert Bernardo
Fresno Commodore User Group -
http://www.dickestel.com/fcug.htm