[net.micro.cbm] Commodore 16 Review

wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja) (10/31/84)

<err, lets see, 36869 for the VIC, 53272 for the '64, 65299 for the '16...>

For those interested in the technical details of the Commodore 16, see my 
earlier review of the Commodore PLUS/4.

Other than having 12K available instead of 60K, the machines are identical.
Commodore is actually building a computer which is (shudder) compatible with
another of its machines!  Ignoring, of course, the memory differences, which
probably won't make too much difference, since Commodore will probably
emphasise cartridge programs.

The '16 has the same case design as the Vic/64, with a similar keyboard.
Similar, at least in key feel; the key layout has been redesigned.  The
english pound symbol, plus, minus, clear/home, and equal keys have been
rearranged to allow separate cursor control keys on the top row of the  
keyboard.  The Ins/Del key remains in the same place, the next four keys
to the left are cursor control, the RESTORE key is replaced by the  Clr/Home
function (runstop/restore function is performed with a button on the side, next
to the power switch), and the old cursor control function keys are now the 
pound symbol and the equal sign.  There are other keyboard changes, but these
are the major ones.  The keyboard retains the old feel.  These changes are
interesting, as the PLUS/4 doesn't incorporate them... other than the 
neat cursor control keys, the +4 has a nearly layout nearly identical to the
'64.

A major difference is an intangible one- the C-16 seems rather, well, cheap.
The case has the same design as the Vic/64, but the new "standard" charcol 
grey seems tawdry; perhaps the plastic is thinner.  The "non skid" rubber
feet at the bottom of the case have lost the "non"... the machine skitters
across the surface of my desk, quite unlike the +4 or '64.  The machine
doesn't sit level, either, although this may be an individual difference, as
the first +4 I had also didn't sit level.  The case even has what modelmakers
call flash:  excess, untrimmed plastic at the edges.  Quite a difference from
the polished, high-tech appearance of the +4.  The '16 does have two joystick
ports (unlike the Vic's one) which use the +4 joystick connector, i.e.,       
standard Atari joysticks won't fit.  It also has the special cassette port;
requiring modifications to your CARDCO printer interfaces.

As I inquired in my initial review of the +4, "Why would anyone buy a C-16
for $99 when Atari will be dumping 800XLs for the same amount?"  I haven't
yet come up with an answer.  Commodore, at least, could promise long-term
support, which Atari seems to be closing down.  Expect to see heavy 
advertising for the new computers around Christmas.  Commodore is trying 
to have software support available from the start, converting a lot of
its Vic/64 programs to the new format.

A friend DID come up with a good reason to buy a C-16:  For those who don't
want the intergrated software that comes with the +4, it may be possible to
buy a '16 and upgrade it to 64K for far less than the $300 +4.  Will keep
the net posted on developments!

Three more technical findings on the +4 and '16:

1.  Two of the graphics modes have a split screen effect, allowing five lines o
of graphics at the bottom of the screen, with hi-res above.  The raster compare
values for this split screen location are in the ROM interrupt routine.  If you
want a different split screen (say, 50-50) effect, you will have to copy the
entire ROM routine into RAM, instead of just a short routine branching to the
ROM routine on the Vic/64.

2.  The COLOR2 command changes the auxilliary color in the GRPAHICS mode, but
DOES NOT change the auxilliary color for character graphics.  You must poke
65303 as follows: POKE 65303, 128+(color value)+(luminance value)*16.

3.  The built in monitor is surprisingly useful; it doesn't have all the 
commands of HESMON or even SUPERMON, but at least it is built-in and doesn't
require any RAM.


						 Ron Wanttaja
						 Lieutenant, Queen's own 
						 Kamikazi Highlanders
						 (ssc-vax!wanttaja)

wanttaja@ssc-vax.UUCP (Ronald J Wanttaja) (11/01/84)

> 
> 3.  The built in monitor is surprisingly useful; it doesn't have all the 
> commands of HESMON or even SUPERMON, but at least it is built-in and doesn't
> require any RAM.

Whoops! I do, of course mean, "Machine Language monitor"; not the kind that
has a screen and shows pretty pictures...

      
 						 Ron Wanttaja
 						 Lieutenant, Queen's own 
  						 Kamikazi Highlanders
 						 (ssc-vax!wanttaja)