[net.micro.cbm] small vic20 compatibility summary

cjh (05/10/83)

Some time ago I posted a query about the compatibility of vic 20
cartridges. I received replies requesting a summary of what I found
out. Here's the summary.

Super graphics expander code resides in block 5
Programmers aid code resides in block 3
Forth language code resides in block 5

the super expander and the programmers aid cartridges can be used together.
the limitation is that with the programmers aid you are limited to 16K of
ram expansion.
The forth cartridge, from what I read in the documentation, can use 24K of
ram expansion.
The Scott Adams adventure games reside in block 3, I don't know if they
use any of the super expander code if it's plugged in.

If you want to do some ??serious basic programming?? I would recommend
both cartridges.

The forth language is much more flexible and faster than basic. I wrote
a loop in basic to change the color of the screen 3 times in the loop
and had it loop 1000 times. The screen color changed for the full length
of the screen and it took several minutes for it to complete. The same
process in forth changed the screen 3 times in the height of 1 character
making the screen look as if there were interference. It ran quite a bit
faster.

If you are considering buying any of the cartridges and you live near
Chicago, I would recommend the Video King because they are selling out
of vic 20 software and giving 40 percent off, along with the additional
10 percent if you purchased the computer from them. This, by their
policy comes to 50 percent not the 46 percent you would expect.

Printers are easy to use from either basic or forth.


This data comes from my own experimentation, because no one responded
to my request with anything other than requests.

			C. J. Holzwarth
			ihuxr!cjh