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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!rutgers!cbmvax!fred
From: fred@cbmvax.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: cartridge expansions on C64
Message-ID: <1301@cbmvax.cbmvax.cbm.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Jan-87 13:18:44 EST
Article-I.D.: cbmvax.1301
Posted: Mon Jan 26 13:18:44 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 27-Jan-87 04:02:08 EST
References: <1358@masscomp.UUCP>
Distribution: comp.sys.cbm
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 43

> Does anyone know if the new 256K Memory expansion will be useable with
> an 80 column cartridge.

> Also to Fred what is the 128D, that is have seen mentioned.

> mike truax
> UUCP:			{inhp4,seismo,decvax,}!masscomp!miket

Commodore does not sell either 80-column cards for the C64 or motherboards
for extending the expansion port, so I cannot really tell you about memory
problems or power requirements.  This is one reason the 1764 does not pass
the bus.  I rather doubt you could do this without a hitch.

But the real problem here is finding software to use such a combination of
user add-ons.  Only recently has there been software support for the C128,
which has this stuff built in!  For the price of the 1764 + motherboard +
80-column card, you'd come close to a C128.  (You'd probably want to get
an RGB monitor like the 1902 also, but you _could_ continue to use a 128 in
either 40 or 80-column mode with a 170x... but offset the savings by the
cost of an optometrist!)

Sometime this spring, Commodore should begin selling the C128D model in the
US (it has been sold in Europe and Canada for some time now).  It looks
alot like an Amiga, but with a 5.25" drive (actually, first things first-
the Amiga looks like a 128D!).  Has detached keyboard, fan (power supply is
built in), etc.  I prefer it, as it sits on my desk MUCH better.  Oh yeah,
I also told 'em to put in a full 64K of 80-column display memory, standard.

I was pleased to see several nifty C128 software packages at CES-  most of
'em even support the 1351 mouse and 17xx memory expanders, if present.  If
anyone has seen/heard/used a C128 mode package that is not simply a port of
a C64 thing, I'd like to hear about it.  And yup, I have seen a very early
but functional version of GEOS for the 128, 80-column screen.

Pardon my tendency to talk about C128 stuff in what started as a C64 posting.
The 128 grew out of 64 questions like these-  we answered them by building
the stuff in, yet remaining as 64-like as possible.
-- 
Fred Bowen			uucp:	{ihnp4|seismo|caip}!cbmvax!fred
				arpa:	cbmvax!fred@seismo.css.GOV
				tele:	215 431-9100

Commodore Electronics, Ltd.,  1200 Wilson Drive,  West Chester,  PA,  19380