Hacker News Reader

Comment by ghusto | Hacker News Reader

I get how they're using nostalgia, but it doesn't seem to be coming from a cynical place. The transformation of technology from a utility to a nuisance at best and a disease at worst, strikes a chord for me.

Computers used to be fun and yet require actual interest and effort, it's why I ended where I am. What a bait and switch.

View on HN

It reads like Mark Fisher’s observation about capitalism absorbing all resistance. Resistance becomes the next market. So it’s doubly cynical as it’s a cash grab of sorts hoping to ride on everyone’s burnout from modern tech. I agree, it’d be better to just ride the nostalgia itself and let others come to their own conclusions about why they are nostalgic.

All that said I do miss this era of computing greatly where one could understand it inside out and that was encouraged. I loved the C64 demo scene in the 80s.

I've been watching the new CEO's videos for a few years. He seems like a genuine person who isn't cynical about this at all. I don't think it's a cash grab, but a real hope that a community and something wholesome can be created around this nostalgic company. Either way, it's never going to be a huge cash cow, only a quiet niche.

That’s cool and I hope it works out then. The C64 is my favorite computing device ever produced since it’s how I learned to program and introduced me to music trackers. The marketing made it feel like a cash grab since there is another wave of retro revival going on.

Its the cynical people who believe everything else is always cynical. If somebody wants to do a crash grab they could do crypto or some AI scam with much less effort.

> absorbing all resistance

Because its was not resistance in the first place ...

> hoping to ride on everyone’s burnout from modern tech

And with 'everybody' you mean a tiny group of nerds who know what a C64 is?

Ok? If you’re going to make accusations that I think everything is cynical for critiquing their marketing I don’t know what to tell you. People are allowed to do that.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com