"Single instance" machines

From: Larry Anderson <foxnhare_at_goldrush.com>
Date: Fri Dec 11 20:50:59 1998

> From: "Hans Franke" <Hans.Franke_at_mch20.sbs.de>
> Subject: Re: "Single instance" machines

> > ::Actually, the VIC-20's seem to be fairly hard to get now days.
>
> > Not that difficult. They appear on eBay from time to time and a place around
> > here has a few refurbished models in stock. They *do* seem to inspire more
> > loyalty to them than the 64 did, though, for some inexplicable reason.
>
> Don't forget: the V(I)C-20 was a bit faster and a way better
> design then the C64.

Way better? I would say simpler, the 64 was more complex in design but was
par woith the machines of the time (Atari and Apple) where the VIC-20 was
lagging at that point. And you guys mention graphics which were good, but it
took YEARS for anyone to match the 64 in the sound depertment (first the Amiga
then later the Soundblaster - was about to say IBM, but the big computer co.s
had nothing to do with quality sound development on that platform.)

Though it is sure easy to read that 22x23 character screen! I did with a
VIC-20 and a datasette for a year, it sure teaches one to code tight.

In reference to the memory question some VIC/VC REUs went to 24k (like the MSD
one I have here), but there was also the Aprotek RAM expander/cartridge
expander which filled every gap, all the contiguous memory (including the 3k
portion in lower RAM) as well as the upper 8K Game ROM space. 32k? I think
they gave it a bigger number, maybe by adding the 5k and the ROMS to the
'total memory', regardless, the Aprotek one was the ultimate in VIC-20 expanders...

> And by the way, to catch up with the title - is there any
> other Commodore B500 around, or a Pascal Microengine ?

I hear of more of the P/B500 in europe then here, actually in the U.S. I think
there are maybe three or so around, since they never were oficially released
past the late prototype stage (due to one of Commodore's run-ins with the
FCC). Dunno how many (if any) they sold in europe.

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> From: jeff.kaneko_at_juno.com (Jeffrey l Kaneko)
> Subject: Re: "Single instance" machines
>
> That's the story I heard.
> The original name Commodore chose for the VIC was 'Vixen'.

Before that the 'color computer' Commodore was developing was referred to as
the TOI. I have read in one place that the TOI unit used a different video
chip (recommended by Peddle?), but it could just be a rumor. I recall my
first seeing the TOI article in a Cursor tape newsletter (paper portion),
anyone got that issue?
Received on Fri Dec 11 1998 - 20:50:59 GMT