When I first started out using a computer the big choice was between a Spectrum and a Commodore. I went for the Spectrum and hours upon hours of happy Matchday and Jet Set Willy games proved that I had made a good decision.

However, friends who had gone the other way and bought the Commodore 64 were always keen to point out that I had made the wrong choice and had in fact missed out on a superior machine with more power and better graphics. I always harboured a tiny regret that I would never get to own one…until now.

If you see a familiar, beige keyboard being sold as a nettop package then don’t rub your eyes in disbelief, it really is a brand new and quite powerful nettop which has been cleverly packaged with the retro look of a computer which holds special memories for many people. I can even imagine a tear welling up in a few people’s eyes as they use this machine.

It is called the Commodore 64x and included in the package there is an Atom 525 processor, 6 USB ports, Wi-FI, Bluetooth and a Nvidia Ion 2 graphics processor. As a special bonus it has a Commodore 64 emulator built into it, so you can play these games from yesteryear and attempt to beat your high scores which have probably stood unchallenged for a couple of decades.

The keyboard looks exactly the same as the original, although we are promised a better feel to the keys. The manufacturer advises that you can install Windows or any other type of modern software on it if you want to use it as an everyday home or work PC rather than simply an 80s throwback.

The price and the availability of the Commodore 64x haven’t yet been revealed but we expect it to be popular.

We looked in our last feature at the two top reasons for choosing a nettop (size and price). While those benefits are undoubtedly the main ones for most of us you should be aware of the remaining advantages which are commonly given for choosing this kind of computer over bigger, bulkier alternatives. Here are the remaining 3 from our top 5 list.

3. Power consumption. A standard home computer will consume around 100 watts of power, while a nettop usually comes it around a tenth of that figure, or less. This means that you use less power to do the same things you would do on a bigger, more conventional PC. This will mean a saving on your electricity bill and a small step towards being more environmentally friendly.

4. Style. Small, sleek and slim are the in thing with gadgets these days, and the nettop is up there with best of them in this respect. The eye catching design and smooth lines mean that this machine will definitely attract admiring glances from your visitors. It also means that it can fit in seamlessly in any modern, cutting edge room.

5. Lack of noise. One of the benefits of the lower power consumption we mentioned earlier on is that these machines tend not to need fans to keep them cool. This in turn means that there is little or no noise generated by them.

No matter which of those benefits appeal to you the next step is to take a look through the models which we have reviewed on the site to see if there are any which you particularly like the look of. New models are being released all the time and we will aim to keep you updated with all the best reviews and articles on the latest features which are added to the latest nettops.

Buying a personal computer used to be easy, as the brand name and the memory were the two factors which were generally used to make a decision on which one to purchase. Not only do we now all know a lot more about current technology but we also have to decide between desktop PCs, laptops, netbooks and now nettops as well.

If you are wondering whether a nettop might suit you then you might be interested in seeing the following list of benefits:

1. Size. This is a big concern for many computers users who work or play in a small space, and a nettop is often seen as an ideal compromise between having a machine which is small enough to fit in just about anywhere and still having a good processing speed and decent storage capacity. If you simply don’t have the room for a full size computer, or you want something which you can easily be moved from room to room, then this is a good choice for you to look at. While they aren’t nearly as portable as netbooks their slimness and lightness mean that you can easily hook one up in your bedroom and then transport it to another room to carry on your work when you want a change of scenery. The best thing is that the top models pack a lot more power into their small frames than you might expect.

2. Price. Nettops are substantially less expensive than full sized computers. You can generally find one which suits you for under $200 / £125 / €150. If you want a really top of the range all in one nettop with a touch screen and more power and storage than the standard ones then you should be looking at paying a bit more than double that price.