Finaly - I already thought nobody would care
about ol' Commo' here :)
> Since I rediscovered a B500 in my junk some weeks
ago,
> I'm searching for information. Until now i could trace
> nothing in the web or any magazine from that time.
> The Computer in question is a Commodore B500,
Basicly
> a CBM II LP. I am not talking about the P500. The mobo
> is technicaly the same than the CBM 610 (B128) but a
> different layout (only some lines) and a (lower) part#.
Sure it's not a P-500? I currently have mine
(P-500) opened for Information
Gathering, might well do some now...
Shure it is a B500 - i could send Photos tomorrow (all at home)
Different label and no joystick connectors at the backside.
Althrough i guess the connector on the mobo next to where the
P500 has the joysick ports, could be the same. Also the video
chip is a 6845 and not a VID.
The Motherboard's Assembly Number is: 4256046
The 3 8k ROMs are part numbers: 901234-02, 901235-02, and 901236-02
There is another chip marked FPLA #1 0906114-02
There is a second next to it with it's label removed (dried spooge on the top),
the chip ID is: N82S100N 8235 (I haven't searched the net to determine what
the chip is, one day I may study electronics more....)
Tomorrow. 8235 is the manufacturing week 35/82.
N82S199N ? Hmm maybe a PROM ? N821xx are PROMS
from Philips - But I never have seen a ...00
or
...N.
I'll hafe a look tonight.
> Also the Version/Part#'s of the kernal/basic
EPROMS are
> lower than any known (to me) B128/B256/6x0/7x0 type.
> The mobo and all chips are dated to 1982 - again
way
> before any other CBM II I know. AFAIR the CBM II line
> was introducted in 1983.
Could be a beta prototype or one recalled during the
FCC proving. (Commodore
had a run-in with the FCC concerning the B and P series computers...)
No FCC number. My peronal guess is that on first sight Commo
had planed a B500 and P500 series of computers, but later
switched to the 500/600/700 scheme (and then again to B128/256
for the US and 6x0/7x0 for Germany) - and eventualy dropped
the 500.
Beside the B500 I own 3 610 units and a 720 (_without_ fd's!)
> Any Info would be usefull.
From my understanding EVERY scrap of Commodore's
information regarding the
B-128 line of computers went to the Chicago B-128 Users Group (a nice
arrangement made with Commodore). I talked briefly with the president of the
group several years back but have since lost touch with anyone in the group.
I hope one day someone with the B-128 info will surface on the 'net.
Hmm - The question is which Commodore unit sold their info.
If only the US- Commodore Inc., than its only a small part,
since the development and Production (at least of the prototypes)
where done at Commodore Germany - an 'independent' company - they
even survived the Breakdown of Commodore for almost a year :)
Gruss
H.
--
Ich denke, also bin ich, also gut
HRK