Autopsy:
from Wikipedia:
Jack Tramiel’s Atari Corporation produced the final machines in the 8-bit series, which were the 65XE and 130XE (XE stood for XL-Expanded). They were announced in 1985, at the same time as the initial models in the Atari ST series, and resembled the Atari ST. Originally intended to be called the 900XLF, the 65XE was functionally equivalent to the 800XL minus the PBI connection.
The 65XE (European version) and the 130XE had the Enhanced Cartridge Interface (ECI), a semi-compatible variant of the Parallel Bus Interface (PBI). The 130XE shipped with 128 KB of memory, accessible through bank-selection.
An additional 800XE was available in Europe (mostly Eastern Europe), which was essentially a 65XE repackaged in order to ride on the popularity of the original 800XL in Europe. Unfortunately, the 65XE and 800XE machines sold in Eastern Europe had a buggy GTIA chip, specifically those machines made in China in 1991.
Finally, with the resurgence of the gaming industry brought on by Nintendo, Atari Corp. brought out the XE Game System (XEGS), released in 1987. The XE Game System was sold bundled with a detachable keyboard, a joystick and a light gun (XG-1), and a couple of game cartridges (Bug Hunt and Flight Simulator II). The XE Game System was essentially a repackaged 65XE, and was compatible with almost all Atari 8-bit software and hardware as a result. Bad marketing and a lack of newer releases hampered sales.
On January 1, 1992, Atari corp. officially dropped all remaining support of the 8-bit line.
source: wikipedia
Autopsy:
from old-computers Homepage:
The Atari 800XL, together with the 600XL, were successors of the Atari 400/800 series and the unsuccessful Atari 1200 XL in a more compact case. They could use almost the same software, just so long as the program was written correctly, because of some slight differences between OS versions.
The 800XL had 64 KB of RAM, two joystick ports and kept all the custom chips (Pokey, GTIA, Antic) of the previous models. It also featured the new Parallel Bus Interface (PBI) providing high speed access to the system bus. The new version of the graphic Antic chip offered 16 graphics modes instead of 12 for the 800.
An enhanced version, called 800XLF, appeared in summer 1984. It was equipped with the new “Freddie” chip which allowed faster memory management, especially for graphics display. This version was released in Europe with SECAM video interface.
Alongside the Commodore 64 and the Apple II, the 600 and 800XL were among the most popular home computers.They would be replaced in 1985 with the XE series when Atari launched the ST.
source: old-computers.com wikipedia atari 8 bit collection
Thanks to recompute33 for your donation.
Today i picked up a MS Pacman cartridges for Commodore 64 (Like new).
Autopsy:
For a new review see the italian version of this article.
from C64Scene Homepage: This project is interesting not only because it’s another mass-storage solution but because it combines already existing solutions to a new and fresh product. Damiano has always followed all the Commdore related websites and forums especially concerning the MMC and SD2IEC projects.
That’s when he got the idea to build a solution for which one doesn’t need soldering, wire cutting or the IEC cable. C64SD utilizes the Datasette connector to power the SD2IEC circuit. An IEC connector connects right into the IEC port.
The whole module stand vertical along the back of the C64 (or VIC20). The module is fitted with two rather large buttons, one reset and one diskswap/multi-function button.
SD-CARD Tested:
SANDISK SD-CARD 2GB = 100% WORKING.
CORSAIR SD-CARD 512MB = 100% WORKING.
source: c64sd.roxer.com c64wiki sd2iec c64wiki sd2iec firmware
Some new Games & Utility for Commodore VIC-20.
- Fontastic. A custom font loader and editor.
- Night of the Ninja. A stealthy ninja must infiltrate fortresses.
- MANDEL V2. fast Mandelbrot fractal generator!
source: Denial (The Commodore VIC-20 forum)
Hoxs64 is a Commodore 64 emulator for Microsoft Windows 2K/XP/Vista/Seven.
The emulator substantially reproduces this legacy machine in minute detail.
Changelog:
- More settings options CIA6526(A).
- Improved the VIC emulation for an pixel exact output.
- Adjusted IRQ DMA behaviour.
- Restore key bug fixed.
- Optimised the DirectX video device creation.
- Many corrections of the VIC emulation.
- Added light pen IRQ re-trigger behaviour.
source: hoxs64.net
Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.
VirtualC64 emulates a Commodore 64 personal computer on your Macintosh. I wrote the software with two major goals in mind. First, I wanted to create an emulator that can be used as a demonstrator program in a first year or second year course on computer engineering.
To achieve this goal, I have integrated various debugging capabilities that let you peek inside the CPU, RAM, ROM, or one of the custom chips. Second, I tried to make the emulator as user friendly as it can get.
In short: VirtualC64 tries to combine the ongoing fascination of the ancient Commodore computers with the great user experience of today’s Macs.
Changelog:
Fixed in beta 11
- 1. Fixed a bug that caused the emulator to crash during startup.
Fixed in beta 10
- 1. Emulator is now a native snow leopard app.
- 2. Internal communication between emulator and GUI has been rewritten from scratch.
- 3. Fixed a bug that caused the emulator to crash when importing the reset image in NTSC mode.
Fixed in beta 9
- 1. Emulator now supports US keyboards (thanks, Carl!)
- 2. Source code is now compatible with gcc 4.2 and XCode 3.2
- 3. Emulator can now handle D64 images with different file sizes.
- 4. Fixed a bug that caused sporadic crahes under snow leopard.
source: dirkwhoffmann.de
A free brand new C16/Plus4 special edition of Computer+Video Games is now available for download.
from the Homepage:
We reckon that not many people are aware that C+VG reviewed a total of 51 games for the C16/-4, which includes The Berks Trilogy compilation.
This retrospective includes every one of them for the 264 series. All the scans has been digitally reformatted and cleaned up, no yellowing of the pages to give a nice fresh original magazine feel. Plus another new cover design for this retrospective lookback on yet another classic magazine.
source: commodore16.com
Commodore Free Magazine Issue #40
In this issue you can find:
- Editorial.
- NEWS.
- Commodore 128 website.
- Geolink.
- X-Pander 3
- Protovision update.
- VIC20 Final Expansion.
- HAMText Cartridge.
- Willis Patten passed away.
- Basic Programming challenge.
- Interview with “Mind in a box”
source: commodorefree.com
Sorry, this entry is only available in Italian.
Scene World is a C64 magazine on disk dedicated to various activities of both C64 scenes.
“Both” means, that we are supplying information and texts of both scenes; NTSC and PAL.
source: sceneworld.c64files.com
Autopsy:
Today i picked up a Commodore 64 in original box, it is in perfect condition with no damage at all including the Manual and original Powersupply.
source: wikipedia
CBM-Command is a disk manager for the Commodore 64 and Commodore 128 computers.
It is written like Norton Commander or Midnight Commander, but is much simpler due to the target platforms.
Both the C128 and C64 have their own native version of the application.
Release Notes – 2010-05-26 – Version 1.0
New Features:
- Simple text file viewer. Now when you use SHIFT-RETURN to open a file, it will ask if you want to view it as text. If you say yes it will present the file in the simple text viewer. If you say no it will launch as normal. If you have selected a SEQ file then it will open straight into the viewer upon hitting SHIFT-RETURN.
- Help File.
Changes:
- Fixed bug where you could move to an unopened panel.
- Fixed bug where you could not abort a rename by leaving the name blank and hitting return.
- Reworked how the panels are displayed to allow more characters of names to be displayed in 40 columns.
source: cbmcommand.codeplex.com
AceDOS for Commodore 128 support standard drives, 64HDD (Professional), IEC-ATA and 1541Ultimate SD-DCA (SD – direct card access).
AceDOS can be used also with standard drives only, but more features will be disabled.
source: mirkosoft homepage
Recent Comments