[net.micro] Commodore 64 questions

vax2:kurt (12/15/82)

I really am getting interested in the Commodore 64.  If somebody can answer
these questions, I would be very grateful.  Some of these answers I can 
get by inspecting a 64 at my local computer shop (assuming I can pry the
eight-year-olds away from the computer) but others require some knowledge
of the machine.

Commodore 64 questions:

1.  Does the 64 have a video output for monitors.  I don't want to
    have to hack up the pcb to bypass an rf modulator.  In general,
    what connections are available to the outside world?

2.  How do you do the curly bracket symbols '{' and '}' on the
    64?  I notice they are not on the keyboard (or at least I
    didn't see them).  In general, how do you obtain ASCII codes
    not represented on the keyboard?  Does <ctrl> work as expected?
    I know the character set is alterable, but what about the 
    keyboard keymap?

3.  Does the 64 have a GPIB interface (aka IEEE-488 aka HPIB)?

4.  How much expansion will the 64 power supply handle?  Where is
    the power supply?  Does it have a separate transformer (yuck) 
    like the TRS-80 mod I?  The VIC is known to have very limited
    reserve power and I hope the 64 is better.

5.  Who (name and address) is building emulators for (1) Pet,
    (2) CP/M, (3) Apple/Atari, (4) TRS-80, and when will they be
    available?

Thankyou in advance.  Post answers directly to the net or mail to me and
I will summarize the results in about a week.

Kurt Guntheroth
(...!decvax!microsof!fluke!kurt)
John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc.

jf4@bonnie.UUCP (John Fourney) (07/02/84)

x
I recently purchased a Commodore 64 with the intention of using
it as a sequencer to control a synthesizer.  My questions are
as follows:

Is there a better manual than the users guide that comes with
the computer?  I need a listing of the operating system, and
want to run assembly language programs.

Can I use memory-mapped I/O to read and write from hardware
devices I build?  Where do I interface and what type of
connectors do I need?

Has anyone used the SID sound chip that comes with the C-64?
What type of connectors are available, or do I need to build
my own?

Thanks in advance.

John