It's a blast from the past as the Commodore 64 returns to the computer market next week.

The computer that was the Apple of its day has now been upgraded for modern users with a more powerful processor and modern features. PC users yearning for the good old days of floppy disks will have this unique piece of history but with a more modern take. Let's face it nostalgia can only take you so far when you want the faster processors once again.

The Commodore company, not the original one but the ones who bought the name is accepting orders for customers who want custom C64 units, pre-configured models are also available.

The new version of the C64 comes with a 1.8Ghz Atom D525 processor, 4 Gb of DDR2 RAM and Nvidia Ion GPU. Other features include an Ethernet port, 160 Gb hard drive, USB ports, WiFi capability, Blu-ray drive and HD output compatability. This basic package will cost $595 but for more exacting users an additional $300 will get you: 4Gb of RAM and 1Tb of hard drive space. The Wi-Fi adapter comes with the upgraded package.

This modern processor comes in the classic Commodore case with the beige colored plastic and the iconic chunky black keys. The operating system included is the Ubuntu Linux 10.10 or you could install Windows as an alternative OS. For those really going for the full C64 experience the original C64 OS is available as well.