24 Apr
2002
24 Apr
'02
6:12 a.m.
> were not great, but at least they were adequate.
Frankly, if one
> considers the competition, the Commodore people picked the video
> toy market to play in rather than the home computer market,
> because they couldn't compete with Apple and Radio Shack,
> though they attempted to compete with RS' low-end.
So just what is it that classifies the C64 as a
"toy" computer ? When
it was released, it was far more capable than the existant Apples,
Ataris & Radio Shacks (& a damn sight cheaper too).
Hold your breath Commo Boy (I just feel 20 years younger :).
THe 8 Bit ataries where quite superior compared to the C64.
Not only softwarewise, where the C64 was som hardware with a
not realy adapted Basic from a total different computer, but
also hardwarewise. After all, the Amiga is nothing else than
a souped up 8 Bit Atari. AGNUS/DENISE is a staight foreward
port of the ANTIC/GTIA architecture. And didn't even the
PAULA include the serial port like Ataris POKEY ? Of couse,
both where made by the same developers.
I don't want to put the C64 down, but as with any Tramiel
product it was a lousy thing - not hte best hardware and
shiddy software.
Still it's amazing what programmes could get out of that
hardware. The same is true for the Atari ST. Basicly a
real weak (or better simple) product (Did someone say
Tramiel ?), but programmes got superior results ... Just
remember Xenon and Xenon II from the Bitmap Brothers. A
game outpassing all Amiga games at the same time, and done
without the (no doubt) superiour AMIGA graphic hardware.
Indeed, out of all the machines then in production,
which one still in
use now is still capable of (more or less) doing what modern machines
can ?
Apple II ?
If we stay with 8 Bit Computers, the A2 is maybe the most modern
one. You'll get everything including Nhernet card is just hack
for a few dozend owners, 'cause then I'etwork with standard cards.
Don't come up with the C64, where a Etll bring the ZX 81 up. THis
baby got anything from Hard disks to Network ... As late add ons.
Gruss
H.
--
VCF Europa 3.0 am 27./28. April 2002 in Muenchen
http://www.vcfe.org/