Commodore 116
The C116 was a home computer from Commodore intended as an entry-level computer . It was a model of the Commodore 264 series and most similar to the original concept of releasing a computer in the price range of the competitively priced Sinclair models . It was only sold in Europe, although there were prototypes with the American NTSC video standard. Like all 264 series computers, it was not a great success. Like the technically similar C16 and Plus / 4, the C116 was only offered for a short time as a BASIC learning computer in a set with a datasette (Commodore 1531) and a BASIC learning cassette .
The C116 appeared in 1984 . Technically it was identical to the C16 , but had a smaller housing with a rubber keyboard. It only had 16 KB of RAM , 12 KB of which was available for BASIC (2 KB in graphics mode). It did not have a user port , which meant that production was cheaper compared to the Plus / 4 due to a saved IC . According to developer Bil Herd , the original price target was only $ 49.
An expansion of the RAM to 64 KB was not planned. Even with externally connected RAM extensions, the board had to be modified. The internal expansion by replacing the two RAM ICs and soldering in a few wires was better and more stable. With a C116 upgraded in this way, the vast majority of the Plus / 4 programs could be used.
literature
- Commodore 116: operating manual. Commodore GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 1984
- Ekkehard Kaier: BASIC guide for the Commodore 116, Commodore 16 and Commodore plus, 4. Data processing with BASIC 3.5 . Vieweg, Braunschweig et al. 1985, ISBN 3-528-04337-7 .
Web links
- Information and pictures about the C116 at computer collection vienna
- Technical information about the Commodore 116
- Pictures and information at the Obsolete Computermuseum
