The best home computers, according to hackers

16 home computers recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.

All home computers

Commodore 64Remembered as an affordable home computer whose built-in BASIC, manual, graphics and sound got a generation programming and gaming; critics note a weak CPU and new-model firmware lock-down attempts.121recommend
Commodore AmigaLoved for its graphics, multitasking and video features; critics say it cost too much at launch and its custom chips limited it.60recommend
ZX SpectrumA 1980s home computer many people learned BASIC programming and games on, praised for its quirks and repairable boards. Critics point to rubber keys and colour clash.31recommend
TI-99/4ARecommended for nostalgia, a well-written BASIC manual and a first taste of programming; critics say its cost-optimised design hobbled performance and its 16KB of memory is very limiting.26recommend
Commodore Amiga 500Recommended for responsive multitasking, a large software library and good value in its era, with many fond memories. Critics say windows redraw slowly and the 50Hz display flickers.20recommend
Sinclair ZX81A cheap 1k home computer that imposed no artificial limits and got many people started in programming. Critics find its keyboard hard to use and its tape loading unreliable.18recommend
Commodore VIC-20Early 1980s home computer whose built-in BASIC and clear manual got many people started programming. Critics report crashes and defective hardware.11recommend
BBC MicroPeople recommend it as a 1980s home computer with BASIC built in, a hacker favorite that is a good way to start programming, and a virtual version works today.10recommend
Apple IIcRecommended for its sleek, compact design and its speed for an Apple II, and for fond memories of using it as a home computer.10recommend
Apple IIGSPeople praise its capable sound chip and slick design for its era. The common caveat is that it is over-complicated and tries to do too much.9recommend
Commodore 128Many people recall learning assembler and BBS use on it; critics find the system limited, with poor C64-mode BASIC and no simultaneous 8502 and Z80 use.9recommend
Atari FalconPeople praise its 56k DSP, eye-catching design and GEM-based computing, and find it fun to use. Its one critic says it arrived too late, after faster clockspeeds made it unnecessary.8recommend
LisaFPGA ProjectPraised as an impressive, cool FPGA recreation of the Apple Lisa computer and a good inexpensive way to preserve it.7recommend
Macintosh SEPeople recommend the Macintosh SE for its compact desktop form and for being a joy to use despite its limitations.5recommend
Atari 800People recommend it as a home computer that felt personal and capable in childhood, and some preferred it to the Commodore 64. Critics say Atari used a cheaper build approach.5recommend
ZX Spectrum NextOwners recommend it for playing Spectrum games on the go. Critics say it feels like a clone with a body kit and that battery life is short.5recommend