>> Scorpio_ny said:

I had also built as well a couple of years back. They were fun to build. Here is my build with full mechanical keyboard: View attachment 24527 View attachment 24528 I am building a second soon with all modern replacements for the custom chips Click to expand...

Here is a photo of mine during testing, lots of errors on the screen but this is normal due to lack of testing harness and missing basic rom. I went for the original PAL modulator for use on my mid 80s Sanyo CRT TVs.

>> muse said:

I think I'd have purchased one by now had I not already had 3 units already. Click to expand...

Do you have the same joystick shown in my photos?

I've read THE MANUAL for the ArcardR joystick I received, but I am not seeing any mention about what in the world this round piece of plastic is for, although the hole suggests it goes on the stick itself?



I'm also curious as to why a "shorter shaft" was included:

>> JDW said:

Do you have the same joystick shown in my photos? I've read THE MANUAL for the ArcardR joystick I received, but I am not seeing any mention about what in the world this round piece of plastic is for, although the hole suggests it goes on the stick itself? View attachment 24785 I'm also curious as to why a "shorter shaft" was included: View attachment 24786 Click to expand...

No sorry. I wasn't clear in my response. I was talking about the Ultimate 64.

Im still using an original Wico Command Control joystick which has leaf style switches, its an original from the 80s.

I think the round flat piece is a substitute/alternative to the piece thats already on there, like on most arcade control panels.

Yes shaft is a bit short for larger hands. I suspect the flat round piece would help. It is primarly used for dust protection

@muse
I was guessing that was the case, but if the use of the FLAT round plastic piece is going to make it better for big, fat-fingered hands, why don't they all ship that way? Is the DOME shaped plastic that's installed by default on there purely for aesthetics? Or does it enhance the joystick somehow?

My questions may seem dumb to people in-the-know, but I am not a gamer AT ALL, and I know really nothing about joysticks, and I only bought it because I think that will be part of the C64 experience.

The documentation is quite lacking, I must say. I didn't mind using the QR code, but I did really hope the answers would be there.

>> JDW said:

@muse I was guessing that was the case, but if the use of the FLAT round plastic piece is going to make it better for big, fat-fingered hands, why don't they all ship that way? Is the DOME shaped plastic that's installed by default on there purely for aesthetics? Or does it enhance the joystick somehow? My questions may seem dumb to people in-the-know, but I am not a gamer AT ALL, and I know really nothing about joysticks, and I only bought it because I think that will be part of the C64 experience. The documentation is quite lacking, I must say. I didn't mind using the QR code, but I did really hope the answers would be there. Click to expand...

I think i'm wrong about this. It seems that the rubber washer is to prevent the dome from moving up and down.

>> muse said:

...the rubber washer is to prevent the dome from moving up and down. Click to expand...

"Rubber"?

Theres a rubber sleeve which comes with this product ( I'm not seeing it in your package though ) that fits over the shaft to prevent the cover from flapping up and down as you use it.

You have the option to install fhe flat dust cover in place of the domed one original already there. I dont think it makes much difference, its there mainly to keep dust out and provide a smooth surface for the shaft to move against, and I suppose for aesthetics as well.

Correct in that my joystick kit does NOT include the "rubber sleeve" that slides onto the shaft.

I found a YouTube video with a greed colored rubber sleeve on the shaft as shown below...



Again, mine didn't include that at all. Not sure if that's good or bad, but the product page shown below shows a photo of exactly what I received (the bare naked metal shaft)...

>> JDW said:

Correct in that my joystick kit does NOT include the "rubber sleeve" that slides onto the shaft. I found a YouTube video with a greed colored rubber sleeve on the shaft as shown below... View attachment 24789 Again, mine didn't include that at all. Not sure if that's good or bad, but the product page shown below shows a photo of exactly what I received (the bare naked metal shaft)... https://www.commodore.net/product-page/arcader-joystick Click to expand...

More recent gamers might be able to comment. But I've never known it to be common on any joysticks I've ever used.

I also prefer the flat dust cover that came with yours over the one placed on there. Try both and see which one feels better to you.

@JDW It looks tempting but I already have 3 original units. Maybe I should just bite the bullet and justify it by saying that the chips in my current units will die someday :)

My C64 Ultimate arrived today, and here are the unboxing pics...

[Image: ShippingBox1.jpg] [Image: ShippingBox2.jpg]
[Image: ShippingBox3.jpg] [Image: ShippingBox4.jpg]

[Image: ProductBox1.jpg] [Image: ProductBox2.jpg]
[Image: ProductBox3.jpg]

[Image: ProductBox_Inside1.jpg] [Image: WarppedContents.jpg]
[Image: UnwrappedContents.jpg]
[Image: C64U_Bottom.jpg]

[Image: UserPort.jpg] [Image: CassettePort.jpg]
[Image: VideoSerialPorts.jpg] [Image: H-L_RF_Ports.jpg]
[Image: MemoryExpansionPort.jpg] [Image: Power_and_ControlPorts.jpg]

[Image: StickerSheet.jpg] [Image: AC_Adapter.jpg] [Image: AC_Adapter2.jpg]

[Image: HDMIcable.jpg]

[Image: DummyCassetteTape.jpg][Image: CassetteTapeContents.jpg]

[Image: CassetteUSB.jpg][Image: CassetteUSBcloseup.jpg]

The print quality of the spiral-bound manual is very good and the following photo doesn't do it justice...

[Image: UsersGuideInside.jpg]

My cassette case came cracked, despite having been shrink-wrapped. Probably done at the factory by young folks unfamiliar with how to handle such things. No big deal, but something a guy like me takes note of:

[Image: CassetteTapeCaseCRACK.jpg]


And here's a short video showing you how the keyboard keys sound when typed on....


Too late in the evening for me to connect it to my TV, but I'll do that tomorrow.

Congrats on getting one! I am so tempted in getting one, but I already have several original C64's that I have acquired and maintained.

The C64 Ultimate uses Gateron Pro 3.0 switches, definitely not your Alps. The Alps found in Apple keyboards have a very distinct acoustic character when pressed. I'm convinced it comes from the higher grade plastics absorbing and shaping the sound, something I can clearly hear on my SE/30 and esepcially the Apple IIe.

The original C64 keyboards weren't mechanical at all. They used a Mitsumi hybrid switch.. a plunger that presses a conductive pad onto a membrane. I'd describe the feel as slightly mushy, with a sudden stop and a bit of spring bounce after release. Perfectly usable, but nowhere near as satisfying as typing on an Atari 800 or an Apple IIe keyboard. Membrane hybrid switches were common in low end computers of the day however, some early production Amiga keyboards did use cherry mx switches but quickly switched to Mitsumi or Samsung hybrid switches to cut costs.

A lot of the people complaining about the "issues" probably never owned an original machine, there were many slight imperfections as a result of the injection moulding process. The gap before the function keys is completely normal. Case colours were inconsistent back in the day with some units leaned towards grey, others a deeper brown and varying shades. The biggest difference with the new cases is the texture.. they're finer, slightly rougher, and have a subtle reflective sheen under light. Personally, I'm very happy with mine. I bought it to replace my original case after the PCB and keyboard mounts started disintegrating and wouldnt hold together. The Retro Fuzion cases include brass screw inserts to prevent that problem from happening again.

I don't have a C64 Ultimate yet, but I'm sure I'll end up with one eventually.

Yeah, I broke down and pre-ordered a Founders Edition. I suppose it's part of the history now, and I do like that it's very self-contained.

Never enjoyed the 64's original keyboard, I agreed with people who called it "overinflated." I prefer the 128 keyboard, but then, I also just prefer the 128 overall.

The breadbin design actually helps with typing because you have more space to anchor your wrists. The wedge cases made that harder IMO.

I've been reading what other C64 Ultimate buyers have been saying, and apparently the Starlight and/or Founders edition(s) have a keyboard that flexes. Video here:


It's not clear why that is. Some people say it's because it's transparent, while the other say it's because the PCB is too thin.

I asked a question in one of the Facebook groups why they didn't just make the PCB thicker, and only one guy replied by saying they want to make more profit, which doesn't seem correct to me because I've not seen any evidence they cut corners in order to enhance profits on the machine that I have. I have not seen corner cutting in any of the photos and videos I've seen of the other machines either. So that one guy who replied back to me was probably just a cynic spreading negative speculation.

All I can say is that when typing in a normal way on my beige colored machine, I'm not noticing any keyboard flex under my fingers on my model, which I guess is nice. But again, I didn't use the C64 back in the day so I don't have that frame of reference.

You read and hear all kinds of things on the Web, the c64 community can be quite toxic at times and theres definitely a lot of negativity and hate directed at Christian Simpson aka Perifractic. People are complaining that they are using DB9 pcb mount for joystick ports instead of the original plastic DE-9 Atari style, others complaints are the about the tansparent control plate vs original metal plate. We are lucky to have these things but people will always find something to whinge about.

I've heard about the keyboard flex, I think it's probably a detail they overlooked and will have to improve that in later revisions.

Original keyboards had no flex at all, they were tough.