VIC-20
 | |
| Manufacturer | Commodore Business Machines |
|---|---|
| Type | Home computer |
| Release date | 1980 (Japan) 1981 (worldwide) |
| Introductory price | US$ 299.95 (1981) |
| Discontinued | 1985 |
| Units sold | About 2.5 million |
| Media | ROM cartridge Compact Cassette 5¼-inch floppy disk |
| Operating system | Commodore KERNAL Commodore BASIC 2.0 |
| CPU | MOS Technology 6502 @ 1.02 MHz (NTSC) 1.10 MHz (PAL) |
| Memory | 5 KB RAM 20 KB ROM |
| Graphics | VIC (176 × 184, up to 16 colors) |
| Sound | VIC (3 sound channels + 1 noise channel) |
| Predecessor | Commodore PET |
| Successor | Commodore 64 |
Commodore VIC-20 was a home computer released in 1980. It was made by Commodore Business Machines. It was the first computer that sold over one million units.[1] It was marketed as "The Friendly Computer" and was designed for beginners and home users.[2]
The VIC-20 became the first computer model to sell more than one million units.[1]
The Commodore VIC-20 was powered by a 6502 CPU, running at 1 MHz. Although the computer had 5 KB of RAM, only about 3.5 KB was available for BASIC programs.[3]. It had no internal data storage, but could store programs on standard audio tapes. Later, it could use 5.25 inch floppy disks as well. In early 1985 this computer was discontinued.
History
[change | change source]The VIC-20 was first released in Japan in 1980 as the VIC-1001. It was introduced in the United States in 1981 and later sold in Europe. In Germany, it was sold as the VC-20. Actor William Shatner appeared in television advertisements for the VIC-20 in North America.[4]
The VIC-20 was later followed by the more powerful Commodore 64, which became Commodore's most successful computer.[5]
Hardware
[change | change source]The VIC-20 used a MOS Technology 6502 processor and came with 5 KB of RAM. It connected to a television set and included Commodore BASIC 2.0 in ROM.[6]
Graphics and sound were generated by the VIC chip. The computer could display up to 16 colors and provided three sound channels plus one noise channel.[6]
References
[change | change source]- 1 2 "Commodore VIC-20". Old-Computers.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ Tomczyk, Michael S. (1984). The Home Computer Wars. Compute! Publications. pp. 159–160.
- ↑ Heilborn, John; Talbott, Ran (1983). VIC 20 User's Guide. Osborne/McGraw-Hill.
- ↑ Bagnall, Brian; Kretzinger, Boris (2010). Volkscomputer. Gameplan. pp. 117–118.
- ↑ Bagnall, Brian (2005). Commodore: A Company on the Edge. Variant Press. p. 116.
- 1 2 Heilborn, John; Talbott, Ran (1983). VIC 20 User's Guide. Osborne/McGraw-Hill. pp. 1, 221–222.
Other websites
[change | change source]
Media related to Commodore VIC-20 at Wikimedia Commons
- Commodore VIC-20 at the Centre for Computing History
- VIC-20 at C64-Wiki
