TELECOMPUTING-^? - Bombjack.org

NEWS & VIEWS
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COMMODORE 128
GENERAL FEATURES
INPUTS OUTPUTS
RECOMMENDED
PERIPHERALS
DIMENSIONS
WEIGHT
COLOR
POWER REQUIREMENTS
CIS. EDITION REPORTED
PERSONAL COMPUTER
The Commodore 126 Personal Computer features:
12BKRAM tor advance*) applications ana increas
User seleclaOe AOISO column fun coOf display
Opftonal 1571 last as* drive saves time and mcieases producawy
Runsoti-tne-sneif CP/M1" sofiwaesucnasttoidSiaf'VaBase I"
ano The Perfect Senes"
User Eipanoabie to 513K lor rapa Qata access witn RAM dak
expansion mooies
'00* conpalibie w:!h CcrmoOoie &1 software
PERSONAL COMPUTER
taranceo SV"Q' 100% Compatible witn Ccwrocxye 6*
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RAM Using PAM Osk Owon • Uceer ana Lower Case Cna'acter Set
• BuS-in BASIC • 3 Separate Mooes » Occatcn
WK SAW ■ 16K BOM• BASC20• *0125 Lres
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. BASC'O'Macrwie Language Mor«or« «125 Lines |3?0«2C0
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• Fu« Srelypwww Style* 32 Keys »i« fay Numenc XeyoaO
• 8 Rcgiatmia&e Functci Keys • 6 Curse* Keys • Help Key
- d0;80 Cdumn K»y • No Scroll«Lme Feea • Escape • TaD
•CapUxk'AI
Use*Fen
Cassette tW
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56mm * 432iwn « 32*nm (H . W < D]
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BV:
The Consuner Electronics Show (C.E.S.) is the biggest
and, in my opinion, the mast important show for
Commodore in this country. It is also the only show
IW0=64 regularly attends and (unfortunately for most
readers) open only to dealers, manufacturers, and the
media. Not to worry, we're going to take you there
now {you wouldn't have been able to find a hotel room
anywayI)
Ok... We decide to check out Commodore first (we'll
look at ATARI and third parties later.) We pick up
our official Comnodore press kits (the important
sheets from Conrnodore' s press kit have been
reproduced on these pages for your enlightenment and
enjoyment..-I hope Conraodore doesn't mind the free
exposure...sorry about the small type, maybe you can
find a magnifying glass.) Looking at the photos hie
wonder if we got the right press kits- the equipment
pictured doesn't look anything like the PETs, UICs,
and 64s we've come to know S love (well, usually).
Pushing our way thru the hordes of over-stimulated
show-goers we try to find the Comnodore booth. There
it is, a beckoning Mecca of technological wonders...
about a half-mile away, rising in the misty distance
of the huge convention building.
We press onward past all manner of spectacles and
ballyhoos designed to lure even the the most
shell-shocked electronics-peddler closer for a better
look at the product: there are numerous mimes
silently conveying the pleasures of owning new video
cameras, there is the 'Federal Express guy' from the
TV ads with his mouth approaching the speed of sound
itself (we don't know what he's pitching, but we're
sure we need it in a hurry!), there is a guy doing an
incredible robot impersonation that is totally
convincing. While pausing for a moment near the
Batteries Included booth to get our bearings, I feel
somebody pinch meI Spinning around, there is no one
to be seen within striking distance. Hmmm, no one
except a life-size doll of 'Herbie1, Batteries
Included's spectacled mascot. Hmmm.
We finally arrive at Conraodore's booth. Most of the
large display area is devoted to the new equipment.
There, in a crowd, is the much-anticipated C-128I We
realize at once that our greatest fear (that the
C-128 would just be a 6A with a numeric pad and a
Data 20 ZBO cartridge welded to the circuit board
with a bank-switched 64K all jammed into a surplus
364 keyboard unit) is not to be.
Not only is the C-128 obviously a totally new
machine, but we notice with growing delight that
there are several other new products on display that
had not even been rumored before the show (and all
echoing the stunning good looks of the C-128)! Now I
pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming (where's
Herbie when you need him?): there before our eyes is
a working model of a Conraodore lap computer with a
remarkably readable 8D column X 16 line liquid
crystal display!