marv@ptsfa.UUCP (Marv Gold) (02/14/85)
On Feb 9th and 10th, in San Francisco, there was held the first all-Commodore show the West Coast had ever seen. I worked the Commodore booth for the entire show and had the pleasure of seeing and using privately the new 128. At this time, the machine is simply know as the "128" not B or C - 128, just 128. It will be marketed for "under $300.00". This price is firm. No other price information has been released (not even on the drive or monitor). Now for the machine itself. It is 3 (yes, THREE) machines in one. In the 128 mode, it is a 128k computer with future expansion to 512k. It's slick and fast and has Commodore 7.0 basic incorporated in it with EVERY basic command you could ever hope for or even think of. In the CP/M mode, it will run version 34 CP/M. And just for bells and whistles, there is a regular old C64 throw in. Again, yes it is a REGULAR C64. In C64 mode, the computer and drive behave as a C64 because that's EXACTLY what it is. No extras, no additional speed, 100% C64 compatable. Marv Gold Pacific Bell San Francisco In no way does this posting reflect anything but MY opinions.
ravi@eneevax.UUCP (Ravi Kulkarni) (02/17/85)
The 128k commodore computer is a real dud. I hear that it is not fully compatible with the c64, I mean those programs that do a lot of fiddling with the disk. Some of the things that make the c64 bearable like 1541 Flash!, Kwikload and fastload(by Epyx) will not work. There isn't any software available for the 128 mode and my guess is there won't be very much later on. The only thing you have that is any good is the CPM mode, but even here the z80 cpu is only running at 2Mhz. I think most people compare a 1Mhz 6502 to a 4Mhz z80. Also none of the CPM software will take advantage of the color display and graphics unless there is new software written. If you want CPM software you should buy a kaypro. You can get a kaypro with 2 disk drives(blinding fast compared to the 1541), monitor and "$3000" worth of free software for about $900. In my opinion the c128 is a transition product and will not have a long life. I would suggest you hold on to your c64 until the fireworks start this summer between the amiga and the new atari ST computers. Most software writers I believe will be writing software for those two machines rather than the c128 or atari's 128k machine. BTW, was there any info on the amiga released at the show. I read an article in this newsgroup that commodore might say something. -- ARPA: eneevax!ravi@maryland UUCP: [seismo,allegra]!umcp-cs!eneevax!ravi