# Commodore International

> former North American home computer and electronics manufacturer

**Wikidata**: [Q208305](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q208305)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodore_International)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/commodore-international

## Summary
Commodore International was a former North American home computer and electronics manufacturer that operated from 1958 to 1994, founded by Jack Tramiel. The company became renowned for producing iconic home computers including the Commodore 64, VIC-20, and the Amiga line of personal computers.

## Key Facts
- Founded on October 10, 1958, by Jack Tramiel
- Dissolved on April 29, 1994
- Headquarters located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States
- Also known as Commodore, Commodore Business Machines, and CBM
- Operated in the video game industry and consumer electronics industry sectors
- Subsidiary of MOS Technology
- Replaced by Escom and Gateway
- Products included Commodore 64, Commodore VIC-20, Commodore Amiga, Commodore PET, Commodore 128, and various floppy disk drives
- Key personnel included Jack Tramiel, Shiraz Shivji, Irving Gould, and Bil Herd
- Developed AmigaOS operating system
- Owned MOS Technology semiconductor company
- Created KERNAL operating system for multiple Commodore platforms
- Developed Commodore DOS for floppy disk drives
- Produced Amiga Advanced Graphics Architecture chipset
- Manufactured Commodore Datasette magnetic tape storage device
- Created CBM-Bus serial bus system
- Developed Amiga Unix operating system
- Owned by MOS Technology
- Located in United States
- Sitelink count: 43
- Wikipedia title: Commodore International
- Freebase ID: /m/0248b

## FAQs
### What was Commodore International's most famous product?
The Commodore 64 was the company's most famous product, an 8-bit home computer introduced in 1982 that became one of the best-selling computers of all time. The company also gained significant recognition for the Amiga line of personal computers launched in 1985.

### Who founded and led Commodore International?
Commodore International was founded by Jack Tramiel, an American businessman born in 1928 and died in 2012. He served as the company's director and manager, leading it from its inception in 1958 until its dissolution in 1994.

### What happened to Commodore International after it closed?
After Commodore International dissolved in 1994, its assets and intellectual property were acquired by other companies. Escom and Gateway were among the entities that replaced Commodore International in the market, continuing some of its product lines and technologies.

### What operating systems did Commodore develop?
Commodore developed several operating systems including AmigaOS for its Amiga computers, Commodore DOS for its floppy disk drives, KERNAL as a low-level operating system kernel for multiple platforms like the PET, VIC-20, and C64, and Amiga Unix as a Unix-based system for the Amiga platform.

### What companies was Commodore International affiliated with?
Commodore International owned and operated MOS Technology, a semiconductor design and fabrication company founded in 1969. The company was also affiliated with Amiga Corporation, which was founded in 1982 and operated in the United States.

## Why It Matters
Commodore International fundamentally shaped the personal computer revolution of the 1980s and early 1990s, making computing accessible to millions of households worldwide. The company's Commodore 64 sold over 17 million units, making it the best-selling single computer model of all time for decades. Commodore's Amiga line introduced groundbreaking multimedia capabilities that were years ahead of competitors, featuring advanced graphics and sound that revolutionized home computing, gaming, and creative applications. The company's business model of selling computers at low prices to increase market penetration established a template that influenced the entire industry. Commodore's innovations in custom chipsets, operating systems, and peripheral integration created an entire ecosystem of compatible hardware and software that fostered a vibrant community of users and developers. The company's legacy continues today through the active retro computing community, emulation projects, and the enduring influence of AmigaOS on modern operating system design. Commodore's rise and fall also serves as a case study in the volatile nature of the technology industry, demonstrating how rapidly market leaders can be displaced by changing consumer preferences and competitive pressures.

## Notable For
- Producing the Commodore 64, the best-selling single computer model of all time with over 17 million units sold
- Developing the Amiga line of computers with revolutionary multimedia capabilities in the mid-1980s
- Creating the first affordable home computer with the Commodore PET in 1977
- Pioneering the use of custom chipsets in personal computers with Original Chip Set, Enhanced Chip Set, and Advanced Graphics Architecture
- Acquiring and operating MOS Technology, the semiconductor company that designed the 6502 processor
- Manufacturing the Commodore VIC-20, the first computer to sell one million units
- Developing AmigaOS, an advanced multitasking operating system with multimedia capabilities
- Creating the KERNAL operating system kernel used across multiple Commodore computer platforms
- Producing the Commodore Datasette, a dedicated magnetic tape storage device for home computers
- Being one of the first companies to successfully market personal computers to consumers rather than businesses
- Establishing the concept of "computers for the masses" with Jack Tramiel's philosophy of affordable computing
- Developing Commodore DOS as a proprietary disk operating system for its floppy drives
- Creating the CBM-Bus serial bus system for connecting peripherals to home computers
- Manufacturing the Amiga CD32, one of the first 32-bit CD-based video game consoles
- Being founded by Jack Tramiel, a Holocaust survivor who transformed from typewriter repairman to computer industry pioneer

## Body
### History and Foundation
Commodore International was founded on October 10, 1958, by Jack Tramiel, who served as the company's director and manager. The company originated in West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States, and initially operated in the consumer electronics industry before transitioning to home computers. Jack Tramiel, born in 1928 and deceased in 2012, was an American businessman who survived the Holocaust and built Commodore into a major player in the personal computer market. The company dissolved on April 29, 1994, ending its 36-year run in the technology industry.

### Corporate Structure and Ownership
Commodore International was a subsidiary of MOS Technology, a semiconductor design and fabrication company founded in 1969 with headquarters in Norristown, Pennsylvania. MOS Technology was instrumental in developing the 6502 processor used in many Commodore computers. The company was also affiliated with Amiga Corporation, founded in 1982 and operating in the United States within the computer industry sector. Key figures in the company included Jack Tramiel, Shiraz Shivji, Irving Gould, and Bil Herd.

### Product Portfolio
Commodore International produced a wide range of home computers and peripherals. The company's flagship products included the Commodore 64, an 8-bit home computer introduced in 1982 that became the best-selling single computer model of all time. Other significant computers included the Commodore VIC-20 (launched in 1980), Commodore PET (introduced in October 1977), Commodore 128, and the entire Amiga family of personal computers launched in July 1985. The company also manufactured various floppy disk drives including the Commodore 1540, 1541, 1571, 1581, and 4040 models.

### Operating Systems and Software
Commodore developed multiple operating systems for its hardware platforms. AmigaOS was the native operating system for Amiga computers, first released on July 23, 1985, and known for its advanced multimedia capabilities and multitasking features. The company created KERNAL as a low-level operating system kernel used across multiple Commodore platforms including the PET, VIC-20, Commodore 64, Plus/4, 16, and 128. Commodore DOS served as the disk operating system for Commodore's floppy disk drives, running on models such as the 1540, 1541, 1570, 1571, 1581, 4040, and 8050. The company also developed Amiga Unix, an operating system based on UNIX System V for the Amiga platform.

### Hardware Architecture and Chipsets
Commodore was renowned for its custom chipsets that provided advanced multimedia capabilities. The Original Chip Set (OCS) formed the foundation of early Amiga computers including the Amiga 500, Amiga 1000, Amiga 2000, and CDTV. The Amiga Enhanced Chip Set (ECS) succeeded OCS and was implemented in the Amiga 3000, Amiga 500 Plus, and Amiga 600. The Advanced Graphics Architecture (AGA) followed ECS and was integrated into Amiga 4000, Amiga 1200, and Amiga CD32 systems. The company also developed the Amiga Advanced Architecture chipset as a computer hardware prototype that never reached mass production.

### Storage Solutions and Peripherals
Commodore created specialized storage solutions for its computer systems. The Commodore Datasette was a dedicated magnetic tape data storage device commercialized in 1978, compatible with multiple platforms including the Commodore PET, VIC-20, Commodore 64, Commodore 16, Commodore 116, Commodore Plus/4, and Commodore 128. The company developed the CBM-Bus as a serial bus system for connecting peripherals to its home computer series. Various floppy disk drives were manufactured to complement different computer models, each running on Commodore DOS.

### Market Impact and Competition
Commodore International revolutionized the personal computer market by making computing affordable for average consumers. The company's strategy of selling computers at low prices to increase market penetration established a template that influenced the entire industry. The Commodore 64 sold over 17 million units, while the VIC-20 became the first computer to sell one million units. Commodore competed with companies like Apple, IBM, and Atari in the home computer market, and later with Microsoft Windows-based systems in the multimedia computing space through its Amiga line.

### Legacy and Successor Organizations
After Commodore International dissolved in 1994, its assets and intellectual property were acquired by other companies. Escom and Gateway emerged as entities that replaced Commodore International in the market. The Amiga brand and technology continue to be maintained by Hyperion Entertainment, which acquired the rights to AmigaOS and continues to develop updates. The Commodore brand has been revived multiple times by different companies attempting to capitalize on its nostalgic value, though none have achieved the original company's level of success. The company's influence persists through the active retro computing community, emulation projects, and the enduring impact of its innovations on modern computing.

## References

1. Commodore Business Machines, Inc.. MobyGames
2. [Source](http://www.pcmuseum.ca/Brochures/WOCProgram.pdf)
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. [Source](http://www.filfre.net/2013/07/a-computer-for-every-home/)
6. [The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/29/business/gateway-2000-to-add-amiga-technologies.html)
7. Quora
8. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
9. KBpedia
10. Video Games Chronicle