While the focus of the C64 Walkabout is usually on enjoying C64 programs on modern computers, sometimes the reverse can be just as fun, if you have the time and the old hardware to enjoy it.

This article from techrepublic.com introduces something that is bound to wow your friends with intense geekery, and is just plain awesome:

"The first browser I found for the Commodore 64 is called Hyperlink 2.5e. It works with both the Commodore 64 and the follow-on, the Commodore 128. Supposedly it will display JPG, GIF, and TIFF images as well as standard HTML 1.0 forms and colors. The Web site has some screenshots showing the C64 connected to such sites as Slashdot.

To make it work, you need a device that connects to the C64’s serial port to convert Ethernet to serial communications. This is achieved using a Lantronix UDS-10. This device has full TCP/IP support and can be administered through a Web browser on a remote machine. There’s a newer version of it called the UDS1100, which supports speeds up to 100Mbps. It will set you back about $125 depending on where you purchase it. Another way to connect to the Internet using a C64 is by using Contiki. Contiki is an operating system for the C64 and other machines that allows you to get modern features such as the Internet on old 8-bit machines.

Forget simple Web browsing. Using Contiki, you can even turn your Commodore 64 into a Web server as well. The Commodore 64 Web V2.1 site claims to run on a 1982 Commodore 64." - John Sheesley