pms@snow.UUCP (Paul M Skirrow) (02/22/85)
<<< Happiness is an unread first line with a side dish of french files >>> Can anybody give me any information on Commodore 16 and Plus 4s. I know virtually nothing about them at the moment and would be very grateful for any info. In particular, have they got a hi-res 320 by 256 screen mode with 2 colours per character space like the CBM 64? How much RAM does it take? What other modes have they got? How compatible are the 16 and the Plus 4? (Hardware, software, operating system, Basic etc). What is the CPU clock speed? What is the sound chip? (Is it a SID chip?) What is it capable of? Can it be controlled through the operating system (ie are operating system routines provided to simplify this)? Are operating systems routines available for handling graphics? How much RAM has the Plus 4 got? Do they use standard CBM peripherals (1541 etc)? Have either of them got a user port? Does the serial port work? (I heard of problems with it on the CBM64). How fast does it go? advTHANXance -- ---- "What do you mean Unix can't run VIEW???" Paul M Skirrow ..mcvax!qtlon!flame!ubu!snow!pms Eng. Electronics | "Magrathea" University of Warwick | 7 Cornelius Street Coventry | Cheylesmore West Midlands | Coventry UK | CV3 5FJ
wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja) (02/26/85)
I tried to mail this, and had no luck... > Can anybody give me any information on Commodore 16 and Plus 4s. I know > virtually nothing about them at the moment and would be very grateful for any > info. > > In particular, have they got a hi-res 320 by 256 screen mode with 2 colours > per character space like the CBM 64? How much RAM does it take? What > other modes have they got? > They have the same 320X200 hi-res mode the C-64 has, and the same 160X200 multicolor (whoops, multicolour) mode, too. The pixel size has been expanded, though, and the pixels are nearly square. This has resulted in a very small border, and large letters... almost as large and as readable as the VIC, but still 40 column. The PLUS/4 has about 60K RAM, the C-16 has 12K. However, the hi-res mode takes 8K away, so the C-16 is left with 4K for programs in the Hi-res mode. They do have a "Split screen" mode, where the top 5/6 of the screen is hi-res, and the bottom is normal mode, so you can PRINT to it. > How compatible are the 16 and the Plus 4? (Hardware, software, operating > system, Basic etc). > 100% compatible with each other, apart from memory limitations. > What is the CPU clock speed? Don't know that one, but they are slightly slower in operation than a '64. > What is the sound chip? (Is it a SID chip?) What is it capable of? Can it be > controlled through the operating system (ie are operating system routines > provided to simplify this)? Don't know what they are using, but it is NOT the SID. Two voices, similar in capability to the VIC. Uses the SOUND command to control, so no pokes. > Are there operating systems commands to handle graphics? Yup, the graphics command set is nearly the same as the C-64 with a Super Expander. > Do they use standard CBM peripherals (1541 etc)? Yes and No. The serial port works just the same, but the joystick ports and cassette ports use different connectors. > Have either of them got a user port? Plus 4 only. > Does the serial port work? (I heard of problems with it on the CBM64). > How fast does it go? I've had not problems with the serial port, it seems to work as well and as fast (in a manner of speaking...) as my '64. I posted about 6 articles of a continuing review of the +4/16 last fall, check the archives for 'em, if you are really interested. My main advice is don't buy them... well, maybe, buy a C-16 for a kid, when the price comes down far enough. These are orphan machines; I've only seen one non-CBM company selling software for them, and they have hardly sold any. The BASIC 3.5 is nice, as is the built-in machine language monitor, but get a Super Expander and a HESMON cartridge for your '64 instead.... Ron Wanttaja (ssc-vax!wanttaja)