pfarrell@anselm.UUCP (Gladiator Supreme.) (04/20/88)
In the united states alone, more than 1 million people own a
commodore C64. Well it has been some time since it's release,
and it is still one of the most (if not the most) popular computers
on the market. Commodore has streamlined it in a new body, and added
GEOS (Graphic Environmental Operating System, Berkely software) but not
changed the internals much. Also released about a year and a half ago,
was the new C128. The 128 boasts an improved keyboard, a dual clock
speed of 1 or 2 mghz, a fast double sided drive, more memory, and the
biggest improvement being the 80 column screen. C64 users don't know
what they are missing until they have done word processing on the 80
column screen. No more scrolling over.
Perhaps the best thing about the 80 column screen is the double
high resolution graphics. Now commodore put no drivers in for these
graphics, but for the ambitious programmer, they are readaly accessable.
There are many programs in books with drivers in basic or assembly
language. The graphics however can only be monochrome because the new
chip has it's own memory and can not hold the graphics and color info.
There are however expansion chips which provide enough memory for 2 to 3
color screens on the 128.
In the C128, you get a fully compatible C64 (Yes FULLY compatible),
a cp/m machine which will run programs from IBM, Osbourne, Epson, and
others. You also get (in 128 mode) a machine language monitor, with
dissassembler and mini assembler (It does not support labels).
The 128 is expandable to 512k for all of those who need the memory,
and has rgbi output for the 80 column screen. Not to mention a fast new
1571 disk drive which is double sided and leaves the 1541's in the dust.
So overall I think the C128 will be a hit. I already have one. As
for any negative comments I have about it, there is one, it is no
substitute for an Amiga. (But what is?)NETOPRHM@NCSUVM.BITNET (Hal Meeks) (04/26/88)
If the C128D was just a _little_ more than the 64 (with drive), then it would definitely be a hit. The problem is twofold: 1. Price: You can get an Amiga 500 w/512 with one 800k drive for approximately the same money as a 128D. You can also buy a two drive xt clone for about the same money. 2. Future: I loved my 64, with all of its faults. I occasionally wish I hadn't sold it when I bought my 2000. I can't see a long term future for the C128, however (although the 128D was a smart move on Commodore's part). CPM is a moot point for most new buyers. 80 columns is really nice, but at double the price? The keyboard is much nicer. I used to sell Commodore computers in a primarily PC-based store. They really didn't know how to sell them, or what to do with them. I tried my best. But when you put together a package for a customer who is looking to buy a first computer, and it comes out more than a PC system that we are also selling, do I have the right to feel guilty? Or for that matter, an Amiga 500, which I felt was even a better deal than the PC. What can I do? Yes, I did sell a few. But I sold a lot more 64's and A500's. --hal