www.theoldcomputer.com

Flyer Internet Modem
Bring your Commodore computer into the internet age with Flyer, the combination internet modem and disk drive emulator for Commodore 8-bit computers!


Flyer provides both IEC and IEEE-488 interfaces and supports a wide range of Commodore computers, from the PET to the Commodore 128. Once connected, Flyer provides you with two new peripherals – an internet modem and a disk drive emulator which currently supports D64, D71 and D81 disk images. While no additional software is required to use Flyer, it includes a useful configuration program built in (loaded from the Flyer itself) which allows you to easily configure network settings, cloud server configurations and more.

Flyer allows seamless loading and saving of programs and disks to websites which support Retroswitch’s cloud server protocol. It even provides the flexibility to develop your own custom solutions utilizing Flyer’s built-in support for HTTP and TCP protocols.

Flyer includes 3.5MB of flash memory for storing disk images locally. You can also create new disk images on the fly, and either discard them when finished or upload them to the cloud to save them for future use. You can easily switch between locally stored disks using the button on the Flyer.

Firmware updates are safe and easy. A simple LOAD command will update your Flyer to the latest firmware release over the internet. If anything should ever go wrong, the Flyer includes a recovery procedure which will reset the device to the exact state it was in when you first received it.


Specifications

Dimensions – 4 7/8″ x 3″ x 7/8″ (WxDxH)
Interfaces – 2 x IEC, 1 x IEEE-488, 1 x Ethernet RJ-45
8 x 2 character backlit display (removable)
Power supply – 2.1mm power jack, center positive. 9VDC 1A recommended
Front panel button for easy selection of disks and other options

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http://www.retroswitch.com/products/flyer/

this device is just one example of how we should be insuring and promoting the continued use of retro computers in modern times. but it's my opinion that we shouldn't stop with just the commodore computers, or with 8-bit computers in general. i believe that any computer that uses any data storage media that is no longer in production( floppy disks, rom cartridges etc ). should be modified in someway to use more modern storage media or devices. either throught the use if adapters or specially built devices that plug in to existing ports, or through the hard/soft modification of the computer hardware itself. after all, these computers arn't just wires and circuits, they are a tribute to the intelligence and creativeness of our species.