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Notes |
Manufacturer |
Commodore (US) |
Model |
VIC 20 |
Date Launched |
January 1981 |
Price |
£200 |
Microprocessor type |
MOSTEK 6502A @ 1 MHz |
ROM size |
20 kilobytes |
Standard RAM |
5 kilobytes |
Maximum RAM |
29 kilobytes |
Keyboard type |
Typewriter style |
Supplied language |
BASIC |
Text resolution |
22 x 23 characters |
Graphics resolution |
No high-resolution capability directly, but an approximation to 176 x 184 pixel graphics was possible by redefining the character set in RAM. |
Colours available |
16 for graphics, 8 for text |
Example Screenshot |
|
Sound |
3 channels, through internal speaker |
Cassette load speed |
300 baud |
Dimensions (mm) |
404 x 216 x 75 |
Special features |
Large character set with many symbols, enabling pictures to be built up as 'text'. |
Good points |
Had cartridge and joystick ports for game playing. |
Bad points |
Supplied memory was too small to use full graphics potential, or for complex programs other than on cartridge. |
How successful? |
One of the best selling computers of all - about 2.5 million had been sold by 1985. |
Comments |
It was one of the cheapest colour computers available, and with a good specification, especially if extra memory was added. |
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