Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!unmvax!ogccse!blake!max!scott From: scott@max.acs.washington.edu Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm Subject: Re: 80 columns Card for the C64 Message-ID: <6072@max.acs.washington.edu> Date: 25 Aug 89 13:56:29 GMT References: <6064@max.acs.washington.edu> Organization: University of Washington, Seattle WA Lines: 173 In article <6064@max.acs.washington.edu>, scott@max.acs.washington.edu writes: > - > -If you want even higher clarity in the display on the C=64, then you > -need to get a 80 columns hardware card, which will give you a clarity > -of display that is equal to any 80 columns computer. > - > -I hope this answers some of your questions. > - > - > -Sincerely, > -Scott K. Stephen > > > > Msg#:40599 *Commodore* > 08/24/89 22:39:30 > From: BRUCE WADE > Subj: REPLY TO MSG# 34049 (606: RE: VT EMULATOR..VERY INTERESTI) > To Usenet: You mention an 80 col. hardware card. Is that in the Commodore > catalog, or is it available from retailers? Never heard of that before, Verrry > Interesting, indeed! > There WERE a number of 80 columns cards available for the C64 which turned the screen output of the C64 into 80 columns Of couse, as you may perhaps know, you could obtain 80 columns on the C64 through software only. However software-achieved 80 columns cut the resolution of the characters by half (instead of being the usual 8 pixels by 8 pixels, now you have 4 pixels by 8 pixels). With an 80 columns card however you get 80 columns on screen without losing any resolution (still 8 by 8 pixels). Now some mathematics, and then a reason why the 80 columns cards didn't receive wide acceptance among the C64 users. A standard C64 can display 40 columns and 25 rows (or lines). If each character is 8 pixels wide and 8 pixels high (which it is) that means the C64 needs to be able to display at least 40 * 8 = 320 pixels horizontally in order to display 40 columns of 8x8 pixel characters. In the same manner, it need at least 25 * 8 = 200 pixels vertically in order to display 25 lines. And this is the maximum screen resolution of the C64, 320x200 pixels. In order to display 80 columns of 8x8 pixel character, the C64 must be able to display 80 * 8 = 640 pixels horizontally, which it can not (its maximum resolution is 320 pixels horizontally). But an 80 column card could do that. An 80 columns card actually gives the C64 a 640x200 pixel resolution (the screen resolution of a C128). BUT this only works for text!. The 80 columns card connects to the expansion port of the C64. The card also has cable that connects to the monitor (aaahh, the monitor..a major culprit in the demize of the 80 columns cards....but more about that later). Now with the 80 columns card installed, the monitor does not get its signal from the video/audio port of the C64. Instead it gets the signal from the 80 columns card, which gives the screen the required 640x200 resolution. Now the monitor.....much like a black and white TV can only display black and white picture eventhough the signal that it is getting contains colors, a monitor can display as clearer characters as its resolutions allows to. This means that in order to display 80 columns on screen, it is require a monitor with 640 horizonal pixel resolution (in other words, an "80 columns monitor"). If one uses an 80 columns card with an 40 columns monitor (only 320 pixels horizontally), the produced display will be much like that of softwarely achieved 80 columns display; each character having a 4x8 resolution. This happens because the monitor just didn't have enough pixels to display the characters in their true resolution. This also applies to TVs. A normal TV has a resolution equal to that of a 40 columns monitor. This is why alot of C64 users were dissapointed when they got the 80 columns card. The display was no better than the softwarely achieved 80 columns on their 40 columns monitors, which was the monitor that most people had in those days. The 1702 color monitor is/was only 40 columns). And those who knew that they needed to get 80 columns monitor in order to view the true resolution of an 80 columns card, they didn't even bother buying the 80 columns card itself, because in those days an 80 columns monitor was just too expensive. However now, prices has dropped down in all areas of electronic equipments, including 80 columns monitor. Today, you can buy a brand new 80 col monitor for under $100. But now, we can't find a manufacturer that is still making 80 columns cards for the C64 (at least, I don't know of any. Does anyone else knows of a company?). I know that Batteries Included use to make the BI-80 80 columns card, but was discontinued a year or two ago. The first version of PaperClip wordprocessor (from Batteries Included) was made so that it could be used along with the BI-80..... ..those good old days... SUGESTION::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: How about if we all mail a letter to Batteries Included, petitioning them to re-introduce the BI-80 card along with some of the softwares that use the BI-80? This can really work! When makers of the WordPerfect wordprocessor dropped their support for the Amiga line of computers, a lot of Amiga users mailed letters to them protesting about their drop, and now, work on the WordPerfect 5.0 for the Amiga continues. This could happen for the C64 too! How expensive could it be for them to re-introduce some softwares whose source code is lying on a desk gathering dust and a piece of hardware whose schematics has already been drawn and tested. I am sure that if there were enough interest they would surely jump to the opportunity. It just makes good business sense. And the need for a 80 columns card is greater than ever. Before, many people bought the C64 for entertainment. But more and more users are using the C64 for productive work. And we require clear 80 columns display for wordprocessors, spread sheets and databases. Also, as modem has become more affortable, more and more us are using our C64s for telecommunication. And we require 80 columns display to access main frames and unix system. Moreover excellent telecommunication softwares like Kermit has appear which takes advantage of the 80 columns card. So, lets start writing those letters and make a change. Their adress is: BATTERIES INCLUDED 3303 Harbor Blvd. Costa Mesa, CA. 92626 Tel: (714) 979-0920 If you like, I am allowing complete free usage of this message, as a whole or in part, to be added in your letter for this purpose. Finally, some software and hardware joggling.... If you have an 80 columns card and 80 columns monitor then you have everything you need to properly view 80 columns displays. However, what happens if you have 80 columns card with a 40 columns monitor? Is this no better then the softwarely-achieved 80 columns with a 40 columns monitor? The answer is no. You gain one important thing, speed. Softwarely-achieved 80 columns display must undergo through programming manipulation before the inputed characters (from what ever source) appear on the screen in 80 columns. This means there is a delay from the moment of input to the display of the input on the screen. Human typing is slow enough for us not to worry about his delay for worprocessing. However, modeming with a BBS or a MainFram could set a problem if the baud rate is high enough. If I am correct with software-achieved 80 columns one can communicate at 1200 baud rate fairly well, but at 2400 baud rate, it is just too fast. How about a softwarely-achieved 80 columns and a 80 columns monitor, what are the benefits and drawbacks of this setup? The drawback is as mention above speed in screen display. The benefit is that the 80 columns display on te 80 col monitor is much clear than that of a 40 col monitor. Technically it is still displaying 4x8 characters, however, on a 80 columns monitor, the individual dots are displayed more finely, so the fuzziness and blur of the characters seen on a 40 columns monitor is eliminated. 4x8 characters are still very legible if they are well defined. And this is the setup I used to access the mainframe computer of my university through the modem and type this message. Well, I hope are the information above has been informative. I never intended this message to come out to be this long, but words just kept coming out.....Next time I will shut-up more quicker :) tired but Sincerely, Scott K. Stephen