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COMMODORE
64 - januari 1982 |
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| Commodore
64 |
| Introduced: |
January 1982 |
| Released: |
September 1982 |
| How many: |
~17 million |
| Price: |
US $595. |
| CPU: |
MOS 6510, 1MHz |
| Sound: |
SID 6581, 3 channels of sound |
| RAM: |
64K |
| Display: |
25 X 40 text |
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320 X 200, 16 colors max |
| Ports: |
TV, RGB & composite video |
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2 joysticks, cartridge port |
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serial peripheral port |
| Peripherals: |
cassette recorder |
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printer, modem |
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external 170K floppy drive |
| OS: |
ROM BASIC |
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Although it looks like
an unimpessive keyboard-like box, the C-64 was wildly popular.
More C-64's have been sold than any other single computer
system, even to this day. That's about 17 million systems,
according to the Commodore 1993 Annual Report. In a 1989
interview, Sam Tramiel, then-president of Commodore, said
that "When I was at Commodore we were building 400,000
C64s a month for a couple of years."
The C-64 looks nearly identical to the Commodore
VIC-20, released in 1981. They are similar, but the C-64
is more powerful with more features.
The 64's microprocessors support two high-resolution graphic
modes, smooth scrolling, "sprites", bit mapping,
character collision resolution and character mapped graphics,
not to mention three channels of complex sound. All this make
it an excellent game machine, which is what it excelled at the
most, with thousands of software titles release and numerous
peripherals to extend its capabilities.
Commodore continued to improve reliablilty, as well as reduce
manufacturing costs. Eventually, it cost only about $25.00 to
manufacture, and the consumer price of the C-64 dropped to
around $200.00.
In 1984, Commodore released the SX64,
the portable C64 with built-in monitor, floppy drive and power
supply!
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COMMODORE
128D - 1987
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| Commodore
128D |
| Released: |
January 1987 |
| Price: |
US $499.95. |
| CPU: |
MOS 8502 @ 2 MHz |
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Zilog Z-80A @ 4 MHz |
| Sound: |
3 channels of sound |
| RAM: |
128K, 512K max. |
| Display: |
16 colors, 640 X 200 max. |
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40/80 X 25 column text |
| Ports: |
Serial, video (composite), RF video (TV) |
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RGBI (hi-res), expansion (game cart) |
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Control 1,2 (joysticks), user port, cassette |
| Strorage: |
internal 340K 5-1/4" floppy drive |
| OS: |
BASIC in ROM, CP/M |
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he Commodore 128 and
128D came out in 1985, the same year as the amazing Commodore Amiga.
The 128D even looks like the Amiga!
There were three major versions of the C128:
- the one-piece Model 128 ($299.95) seen here to the right
- the two-piece plastic case 128D
- the two-piece metal case 128D ($499.95), as seen
above.
The 128 is a one-piece model, with a built-in keyboard and
optional external floppy drive.
Both 128D models have an internal 5-1/4" floppy drive,
and a separate keyboard - a more professional design.
There was originally only one version of the 128D, with a
plasic case and a carrying handle, but it failed the FCC
regulations for RF emissions, so it was only sold outside of
the U.S. This was in 1985.
Two years later, Commodore finally had a version for sale in
the U.S. This model is known as the 128DCR, for Cost
Reduced. It has a metal case, and a new, cheaper motherboard
and floppy drive.
The Commodore 128 family of computers are very unique -
having more than one main CPU gives them the ability to run
three different operating system:
- C64 Mode - 1Mhz, 8502 CPU with 6510 emulation,
99.8% compatible with Commodore
64 BASIC 2.0 hardware and software, accessed by
holding down the [Commodore] key while booting, or by
typing "GO 64" from the C128 Mode.
- C128 Mode - 2Mhz 8502 CPU, 128K Memory, 80 x 25
RGB display, advanced BASIC 7.0 with many new commands
including powerful high resolution displays and graphics
manipulation.
- CP/M Mode - 4Mhz Zilog Z-80 CPU, 100% compatible
with CP/M 3.0 applications such as Turbo Pascal and
WordStar. Accessed by booting with a CP/M disk in the
drive, or by typing "BOOT" from the C128 Mode.
Why these three
operating systems? Good question. While the Commodore 128 has
a nice, high resolution 80 column display, the most powerful
BASIC programming language ever released by Commodore, and a
built-in C64 mode for convenience, it wasn't enough to compete
with the new crop of computers.
By 1985, IBM PCs
and MS-DOS were taking over the world, and few new and
successful computers were entering the market. CP/M, the
world's most common operating system before MS-DOS arrived,
was fast becoming irrelevant.
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