A person can learn everything about the Commander X16. This is in contrast to modern systems that it would take years of study to fully understand and even then, you can't; much of it is proprietary and it is always changing. The Commander X16 is an educational tool to learn about computers (8-bit computers). It is a hobbyist computer for software tinkering. And, much like the Commodore 64 and VIC-20, the Commander X16 is a full computer intended to run utilities, productivity and entertainment software. It is not primarily a gaming device, but is pretty good at it anyhow.

Commander X16p
MSRP: $200-300. Pre-assembled ready to use boards. This initial version of the X16 is for early adopters. Have fun. Good luck.

Commander X16c
A cost reduced variant.

Commander X16e
A further cost reduced variant.

Commander X16 is what the Commodore 64 would be if it were made entirely with off-the-shelf parts, added VGA, and added 2D graphics acceleration functions that one might expect to find included a blitter unit. Commodore code is used with permission in the ROM but an Open Source alternative is planned. The memory layout is similar to a Commodore VIC-20. The ROM boots to a BASIC based operating system that is equivalent to Commodore BASIC 2.0 but with added commands specific to the CX16 hardware. A monitor application in the ROM is for viewing and modifying machine code directly. Finally, GEOS recreated from source code from reverse-engineering the original GEOS 64 2.0 and GEOS 128 (freeware), is built-in to the ROM. Reverse-engineering GEOS is in the Public Domain (other versions of GEOS are proprietary)

An SD card reader and floppy disk controller (for Commodore drives) is built-in to the system.

The CX16 has 4 expansion slots. 32k of memory can be dedicated to each slot. So expansions aren't required to have the added expense of onboard memory.

There are two joystick ports immediately compatible with SNES gamepads. Two more of these ports can be easily added by the end-user (open case, plug in extra ports). Keyboard and mouse inputs are PS/2 ports. These are complexity, cost, and space saving features for the CX16 that benefit developers and users as well while not over-reducing functionality (plenty of buttons, many types of controllers to choose from).

The CX16 uses VGA output. Once again this is to reduce cost and complexity without sacrificing too much image quality. VGA is good for 640x480x256. The choice of VGA happens to be a good middle ground for cost and complexity if a user wishes to adapt upwards to DVI and HDMI or downwards to Component, Composite, S-Video, and RF. These adapter options are relatively inexpensive off-the-shelf items and downward DIY adapters would be more difficult if users had to start from a newer connector type.

The CX16 has an RS232 port for all RS232 needs. The motive for including the port is communicating to other computer systems. Specifically, aiding cross-system development. Simple, cheap, communication with 60 years of computers and accessories. Modern systems might require a USB adapter ($6 new, $3 DIY).

The CX16 is not for running Commodore 64 and VIC-20 applications. Binary executable are generally incompatible. BASIC applications will run, except that most PEEK, POKE, SYS, and the WAIT commands will fail on the CX16. CX16 applications directly using the graphics hardware are generally not suitable to backport.

The cc65 application can compile C and Assembly for the CX16. 64tass and acme have also been used to develop games for CX16.

Modern operating systems often have software updates daily and new versions every few years. One goals of the Commander X16 is to create a system that does not change. To accomplish this, two things were specifically avoided in the creation of the CX16; FPGA and Linux. Eventually it was conceded to use FPGA in the Video hardware.

The Commander X16 is in no way related to Linux by any measure (Until someone ports Linux to it).
#