Commodore 128 question.

[King Atari]

Okay, I've heard that the C=128 is compatible with C=64 stuff, is this true? If so, with both carts and disks? I might look into this if it would mean me getting to play actual C=64 stuff again, without an emulator.

[Nukey Shay]

I believe that the C128 runs in three seperate modes...so yeah, the C64 mode should be fully compatable.

[Markimus of K.]

Yes, I've got a C=128 sitting 6 inches from me as my 'primary' Commodore and it is used mostly in C=64 mode. Totally compatible, hardware and software wise but with a much better keyboard.

 

as always,

Markimus of K.

[CaliColts]

Dont forget all of that extra memory!!!

[King Atari]

*King Atari is excited*

 

Excellent! Thanks for your help! King is gonna get himself a 128!

[Ze_ro]

My god! The C-128 is one of the BEST computers in the history of computers! Everyone should have one of these in my opinion... not only does it run every piece of C-64 software that I've been able to find, but in C-128 mode, it improves on everything that ever made the C-64 good!

 

You can get an 80-column display finally! This makes things like decent terminal emulation and decent desktop publishing possible (Unfortunately, you can't do sprites in 80 column mode... that would have been killer!). I highly recommend you get yourself a 1902 monitor to take advantage of this feature though.

 

If you get yourself a 1571 disk drive, you can finally read double sided disks... this is totally awesome, and should have been done a long time ago... of course, it's only useful to C-128 mode. Another change to the C-128 is that disks are now the primary medium, so when you hit Shift+Run/Stop, it will automatically load the first program on disk (as opposed to the C-64 trying to load from the tape).

 

The C-128 also uses Basic 7.0 instead of 2.0... so there's a ton of new commands in case you like programming in Basic (I used to). There's a built-in machine language monitor in case you like programming in assembly (I do now). There's also CP/M mode if that's your thing (I was never big into it, but it's there if you want).

 

The only thing better than the C-128 is the C-128D... which is the same thing, but with a desktop case and a detachable hard drive

 

Damn, there's absolutely NOTHING bad about this computer!

 

... Oh, and try running Ultima 5 on the C-128... you'll get full music! Thank YOU extra ram!

 

--Zero

[krisjohn]

I picked up a 128D for A$2 about 9 months ago. It worked for about 2 hours before the power supply died

 

I've got a working C64, but I don't have anywhere to set it up. I picked up the "Freeze Machine" cart for A$5 a while back, boxed, but I haven't had a chance to try it.

 

I've got 10 console games setup in my room, but there isn't room in any of the spots for a keyboard. Don't have my Amiga 500 setup either. And my XEGS is setup san-keyboard.

[Nukey Shay]

What's Freeze Machine? A "hidden" backup/monitor cart? I used Action Replay on the C64.

[Mayhem]

Yes, though not as good. I have one at home myself...