dgi@rruxo.UUCP (D Iveson) (07/18/86)
This posting is for a friend of mine who's interested in
buying a small computer for home use.
Does anybody know anything about a supposedly new Commodore
model called the Plus 4? Any information about it would be
appreciated. Also does anyone know about a color monitor
by BMC, model 125AUW and if so is it compatible with the
aforementioned computer?
Thanks for any and all answers!
Dave The Destroyer!eric@cbmvax.cbm.UUCP (Eric Cotton) (07/21/86)
In article <188@rruxo.UUCP> dgi@rruxo.UUCP (D Iveson) writes: >Does anybody know anything about a supposedly new Commodore >model called the Plus 4? Any information about it would be >appreciated. Also does anyone know about a color monitor >by BMC, model 125AUW and if so is it compatible with the >aforementioned computer? > > Dave The Destroyer! The Commodore PLUS/4 is actually a couple of years old now. At one time it was intended to complement and/or succeed the C64. I won't comment as to the merits and faults of the PLUS/4, but for the prices I have seen it discounted to it isn't a bad deal. If you have any problems finding software, check for a Commodore add in (Commodore's) Commodore Microcomputer & Power/Play magazines. If you can't find it, contact me and I'll try to help you out. Eric Cotton -- "My hovercraft is full of eels." /*========================================================================*/ /*==== UUCP: {ihnp4|allegra|seismo|pyramid!amiga}!cbmvax!eric ====*/ /*==== ARPA: cbmvax!eric@seismo ====*/ /*==== US mail: Commodore Technology / 1200 Wilson Drive ====*/ /*==== West Chester, PA 19380 ====*/ /*==== phone: (215) 431-9180 ====*/ /*========================================================================*/
elg@usl.UUCP (Eric Lee Green) (07/22/86)
In article <188@rruxo.UUCP> dgi@rruxo.UUCP writes: >This posting is for a friend of mine who's interested in >buying a small computer for home use. > >Does anybody know anything about a supposedly new Commodore >model called the Plus 4? Any information about it would be >appreciated. Also does anyone know about a color monitor The only "home" Commodore models in widespread use right now are the C-64 and the C-128. Anything else is an incompatible orphan with no software. Once upon a time, about a year and a half ago, Commodore decided they would replace the venerable Commodore 64. So, they invented the +4. The +4 had a cheaper keyboard, no sound chip, limited RS-232 port, and was completely incompatible with the Commodore 64 -- no C-64 software will run on the +4. Commodore never managed to sell many, and lost a bundle when they had to write down their inventory and liquidate. It is an orphan now, so there never WILL be any software to run on the +4. Useful only if you want to play around with BASIC, you'll never be able to do anything useful on it. >by BMC, model 125AUW and if so is it compatible with the >aforementioned computer? I haven't seen the BMC, but any composite monitor is compatible with the C-64 or C-128. Note, however, that you get a better picture out of the Commodore monitors (because they accept the pre-seperated chroma and luma signals that the Commodore computers can produce, eliminating the smudging induced by the chroma trap in ordinary monitors). Or you can just use a monochrome monitor. I'm using a $50 NAP monitor for 80 column on my C-128 right now, in order to write this warning. -- -- Computing from the Bayous, -- Eric Green {akgua,ut-sally}!usl!elg (Snail Mail P.O. Box 92191, Lafayette, LA 70509)
dbb@rayssdb.UUCP (David B. Bennett) (07/22/86)
=== REFERENCED ARTICLE =================================== > Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site rayssdb.UUCP > Path: rayssdb!rayssd!raybed2!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!nbires!hao!hplabs!parcvax!sri-spam!topaz!ll-xn!mit-amt!mit-eddie!genrad!decvax!bellcore!ulysses!gamma!pyuxww!pyuxv!rruxa!rruxo!dgi > From: dgi@rruxo.UUCP (D Iveson) > Newsgroups: net.micro,net.consumers > Subject: Commodore Plus 4 Question. > Message-ID: <188@rruxo.UUCP> > Date: Fri, 18-Jul-86 16:24:43 EDT > Article-I.D.: rruxo.188 > Posted: Fri Jul 18 16:24:43 1986 > Date-Received: Tue, 22-Jul-86 05:47:19 EDT > Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway, NJ > Lines: 12 > Xref: rayssdb net.micro:1693 net.consumers:1745 > > This posting is for a friend of mine who's interested in > buying a small computer for home use. > > Does anybody know anything about a supposedly new Commodore > model called the Plus 4? Any information about it would be > appreciated. Also does anyone know about a color monitor > by BMC, model 125AUW and if so is it compatible with the > aforementioned computer? > > Thanks for any and all answers! > > Dave The Destroyer! ========================================================== For what it's worth, you would be better to stay away from the Plus 4, it's by no means new: Commodore has stopped making them and is selling off their inventory as fast as they can. The problem is that the Plus 4 doesn't use the same software as the C-64 or the C-128. Even though you can get a good deal on the Plus 4 ( <$100 ) you'll do better with a C-64 ( <$150 ). No one supports the Plus 4 with software these days, and in another year the Plus 4 will be in the same condition as the VIC-20: only a memory. The C-64 is still in production and software is available by the tons, it is the best documented "low end" computer around. With the advent of the C-128 (which has a C-64 mode) you are assured that software and documentation will be around for a good while to come. D. B. Bennett ihnp4!rayssd!rayssdb!dbb