VIC-20 with accessories.

The VIC-20 was an 8-bit home computer made by Commodore Business Machines with 5 KB RAM and a MOS 6502 CPU, similar in physical shape to the later Commodore 64 and C16. The VIC-20 was released in June 1980, 2¾ years after Commodore's first personal computer, the PET. Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Please see the file description page for further information. ... 8-bit refers to the number of bits used in the data bus of a computer. ... The home computer is a consumer-friendly word for the second generation of microcomputers (the technical term that was previously used), entering the market in 1977 and becoming common during the 1980s. ... Commodore is the commonly used name for Commodore International, an electronics company who was a major player in the 1980s home computer field. ... A kilobyte (derived from the SI prefix kilo-) is a unit of information or computer storage equal to one thousand bytes. ... Look up Random access memory in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Different types of RAM. From top to bottom: DIP, SIPP, SIMM 30 pin, SIMM 72 pin, DIMM, RIMM Random access memory or RAM is a type of computer storage whose contents can be accessed in any (i. ... The MOS Technology 6502 is an 8-bit microprocessor designed by MOS Technology in 1975. ... The central processing unit (CPU) is the part of a computer that interprets and carries out the instructions contained in the software. ... The Commodore 64 (C64, CBM 64) was a popular home computer of the 1980s. ... The Commodore 16 was a home computer made by Commodore with a 6502-compatible 7501 CPU, released in 1984. ... 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) was a home-/personal computer produced by Commodore starting in the late 1970s. ...

History

The VIC-20 was intended to be more of a low-end home computer than the PET. Reportedly, the VIC-20's video chip was intended for use in inexpensive display terminals and game consoles, but Commodore couldn't find a market for the chip. At the same time, Commodore had an oversupply of 1Kbit×4 SRAM chips. In April 1980, Commodore president Jack Tramiel ordered the development of a computer that could sell for under $300 US. What had been an oversupply of parts became the VIC-20. While the PET was sold through authorized dealers, the VIC-20 primarily sold at retail, especially discount and toy stores, where it could compete more directly with game consoles. Commodore took out advertisements featuring actor William Shatner of Star Trek fame as its spokesman, asking, "Why buy just a video game?". The VIC (Video Interface Chip), specifically known as the MOS Technology 6560 (NTSC version) / 6561 (PAL version), is the integrated circuit chip responsible for generating video graphics and sound in the Commodore VIC-20 home computer. ... SRAM can stand for: System Replacement and Modernization Short-Range Attack Missile Static Random Access Memory Shadow Random Access Memory Sideways Random Access Memory Service régional dadmission du Montréal métropolitain SRAM (bicycles) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the... Jack Tramiel (born 1928) is famous for founding Commodore International, manufacturer of the Commodore 64 and Commodore Amiga home computers. ... William Shatner as Captain Kirk William Shatner (born in Montreal, Quebec, March 22, 1931) is an actor, writer and musical performer. ... The Enterprise boldly going where no man had gone before. ...

Although the VIC-20 was criticized in print as being underpowered, the strategy worked: it became the first computer to sell more than 1 million units and was the best-selling computer of 1982. At its peak, 9,000 units per day were produced, and a total of 2.5 million units were sold before it was discontinued in January 1985, when Commodore repositioned the C64 as its entry-level computer due to the forthcoming release of the C128 and Amiga (the latter taking Commodore into the 16-bit world). 1982 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1985 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Commodore 128 is a home/personal computer, also known as the C128. ... Amiga is the name of a range of home/personal computers using the Motorola 68000 processor family, whose development started in 1982. ... In computer science, 16-bit is an adjective used to describe integers that are at most two bytes wide, or to describe CPU architectures based on registers, address buses, or data buses of that size. ...

Because of its small memory and low-resolution display compared to some other computers of the time, the VIC-20 was primarily used for educational software and games. However, productivity applications such as home finance programs, spreadsheets, and communication terminal programs were also made for the machine. Its high accessibility to the general public meant that quite a few software developers-to-be cut their teeth on the VIC-20, being introduced to BASIC programming, and in some cases going further to learn assembly or machine language. Several magazines, such as Compute!, sold on newsstands offered type-in programs for the VIC-20, including one published by Commodore itself. Many VIC users learned to program by entering, studying, running, and modifying these type-ins. Application software is a subclass of computer software that employs the capabilities of a computer directly to a task that the user wishes to perform. ... BASIC is a family of high-level programming languages. ... Assembly language or simply assembly is a human-readable notation for the machine language that a specific computer architecture uses. ... A system of codes directly understandable by a computers CPU is termed this CPUs native or machine language. ... Compute! was a classic computer magazine that was published from 1979 to 1994. ... A type-in program, or just type-in, is a computer program listing printed in a computer magazine or book, meant to be typed in by the reader in order to run the program on a computer. ...

The ease of programming the VIC and availability of an inexpensive modem combined to give the VIC a sizeable library of public domain and freeware software, although much smaller than that of the C64. This software was distributed on online services such as CompuServe, BBSs, and via user groups. The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... Freeware is computer software which is made available free of charge, although typically freeware is proprietary. ... An online service provider is an entity which provides a service online. ... CompuServe, or CIS for short, was the first major commercial online service in the US, dominating the field during the 1980s and remaining a major player through the mid-1990s when it was sidelined by the rise of GUI-based services such as America Online. ... A bulletin board system or BBS is a computer system running software that allows users to dial into the system over a phone line and, using a terminal program, perform functions such as downloading software and data, uploading data, playing games, reading news, and exchanging messages with other users. ...

As for commercial software offerings, an estimated 300 titles were available on cartridge, and another 500+ titles were available on tape. By comparison, the Atari 2600, the most popular of the video game consoles at the time, had a library of about 900 titles. In a variety of electronic equipments, a cartridge (in video game terms, cart, game pack, or Game Pak) can be one method of programming different functionality, providing variable content, or a method by which consumables may be replenished. ... Atari 2600 (four-switch version). ... The Nintendo GameCube is an example of a video game console. ...

Description

The VIC-20 had proprietary connectors for program/expansion cartridges and a tape drive (PET 'Datassette'). It came with 5 KB RAM, but 1.5 KB were used by the system for various things, like the video display (which had a rather unusual 22×23 char/line screen layout), and other dynamic aspects of the ROM-resident BASIC interpreter and KERNAL (a low-level operating system). Thus, 3.5 KB of BASIC program memory for code and variables was available to the user of an unexpanded machine. The VIC-20 also had a serial bus (a serial version of the PET's IEEE-488 bus) for daisy chaining disk drives and printers; a TTL-level "user port" with RS-232 and Centronics signals (most frequently used as RS-232, for connecting a modem); and a single DE-9 joystick port, compatible with the joysticks used with Atari videogame consoles and, later, the C64. For the meaning of cassette in genetics, see cassette (genetics). ... The 1530/C2N Datassette (a portmanteau of data + cassette), was Commodores dedicated computer tape recorder. ... A kilobyte (derived from the SI prefix kilo-) is a unit of information or computer storage equal to one thousand bytes. ... Different types of RAM. From top to bottom: DIP, SIPP, SIMM 30 pin, SIMM 72 pin, DIMM, RIMM RAM redirects here. ... Rom is also the name of a toy and comic book character Rom (Spaceknight). ... Commodore BASIC is the dialect of BASIC used in Commodore Internationals 8-bit home computer line, stretching from the PET of 1977 to the C128 of 1985. ... The KERNAL is Commodores name for the ROM resident operating system core in its 8-bit home computers; from the original PET of 1977, via the extended, but strongly related, versions used in its successors; the VIC-20, C64, Plus/4, C16, and C128. ... The Hewlett-Packard Instrument Bus (HP-IB), is a short-range digital communications cable standard developed by Hewlett-Packard (HP) in the 1970s for connecting electronic test and measurement devices (e. ... The elementary meaning of daisy chain is a garland created from the daisy flower, generally as a childrens game. ... The Commodore 1540 (also known as the VIC-1540) was the companion floppy disk drive for the Commodore VIC-20 home computer. ... A Motorola 68000-based computer with various TTL chips. ... RS-232 (also referred to as EIA RS-232C or V.24) is a standard for serial binary data interchange between a DTE (Data terminal equipment) and a DCE (Data communication equipment). ... Centronics is: A manufacturer of dot matrix computer printers, formerly based in Hudson, New Hampshire and reselling printer mechanisms manufactured by Brother Industries, Ltd. ... A modem (a portmanteau word constructed from modulator and demodulator) is a device that modulates an analog carrier signal (sound), to encode digital information, and that also demodulates such a carrier signal to decode the transmitted information. ... El D-subminiature o D-sub es un tipo común de [ [el conector eléctrico]] utilizó especialmente en computers (eso es, un [ [el conector de la computadora] ]). El llamamiento ellos subminiature era apropiado cuando ellos eran primero introducidos, pero hoy ellos están entre los conectores comunes más... Joystick elements: 1. ...

The VIC-20's RAM was expandable with plug-in cartridges using the same expansion port as programs. Port expander boxes were available from Commodore and other vendors to allow more than one cartridge to be connected at a time. RAM cartridges were available in several sizes: 3K (with or without an included BASIC extension ROM), 8K, 16K or 32K; the latter only from third-party vendors. The internal memory map was reorganised with the addition of each size cartridge, leading to the situation that some programs would only work if the right amount of memory was present (to cater for this, the 32K cartridges had switches to allow the RAM to be enabled in user-selected sections). The most visible part of memory that was reorganised with differing expansion memory configurations was the video memory (with text and/or graphics display data).

VIC trivia

• The name "VIC" came from the Video Interface Chip, which, despite its designation, also handled all the sound synthesis in the VIC-20. The VIC chip's successor, the graphics-and-RAM-refresh VIC-II, was used to great success in Commodore's later best-selling machine, the C64, and also in the dual video output C128 for that computer's 40-column/composite video graphics.

• The VIC-20 was originally meant to be called Vixen, but this name was inappropriate in Germany, Commodore's second most important market, because it sounds like wichsen, the German language word for "masturbate". VIC, which was subsequently chosen, has a similar problem—it can be pronounced like ficken, the German word for "fuck". Therefore the VIC-20 was finally marketed as the VC-20 "Volkscomputer" in German-language countries—an obvious pun on "Volkswagen".

• In Japan the VIC-20 was marketed as the VIC-1001 (1980).

• BASIC programs running on a fully expanded VIC-20 could use at most 24K RAM. Any extra occupied the memory space used by ROM cartridges, i.e. commercial software like games and other applications. This allowed people to copy cartridges to tape and distribute them to their friends, who could then load the tape into the top 8K of their 32K RAM packs.

• An anecdotal bit of evidence to support Commodore's statement that the VIC-20 could be used not only for games but also as a serious introduction to computing, can be said to originate in the fact that a young Finn called Linus Torvalds was given a VIC-20 as his first computer. Keen to learn more, Torvalds later upgraded to a Sinclair QL, then to a 386 PC, and the rest, as they say, is history...

• In the e-comic Hackles, the character Hackles assembles a robot based on the VIC-20. The robot was intended to be a Battlebot, but unfortunately Hackles was low on cash when buying the parts.

The VIC (Video Interface Chip), specifically known as the MOS Technology 6560 (NTSC version) / 6561 (PAL version), is the integrated circuit chip responsible for generating video graphics and sound in the Commodore VIC-20 home computer. ... The VIC-II (Video Interface Chip II), specifically known as the MOS Technology 6567/8562/8564 (NTSC versions), 6569/8565/8566 (PAL), is the integrated circuit chip tasked with generating composite video graphics and DRAM refresh signals in the Commodore 64 and C128 home computers. ... German (called Deutsch in German; in German the term germanisch is equivalent to English Germanic), is a member of the western group of Germanic languages and is one of the worlds major languages. ... A pun (also known as paronomasia) is a deliberate confusion of similar-sounding words or phrases for rhetorical effect, whether humorous or serious. ... Volkswagen (VW) is an automobile manufacturer based in Wolfsburg, Germany. ... 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... Linus Torvalds Linus Benedict Torvalds (born December 28, 1969) began the development of Linux, an operating system kernel, and today acts as the project coordinator (or Benevolent Dictator for Life). ... The Sinclair QL, QL for Quantum Leap, was a personal computer system launched by Sinclair Research in January, 1984. ... An Intel 80386 Microprocessor The Intel 80386 is a microprocessor which was used as the central processing unit (CPU) of many personal computers from 1986 until 1994 and later. ... See comedian Stand up comedian List of Comedians List of British comedians comics comic book comic strip underground comics alternative comics web comic sprite comics manga graphic novel List of comic characters This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same... BattleBots, also BattleBots Inc. ...

External links

• OLD-COMPUTERS.COM online-museum VIC-20 page
• Commodore VIC-20 Tribute Page, by Rick Melick

See also

• Screenshots of Commodore VIC-20 Software
• List of Commodore VIC-20 Games
• Commodore 64
• List of home computers
• PETSCII
• Super Expander

Commodore VIC-20 Games were sold in two formats: Cartridges (~200 games) and cassette tapes (~500 games). ... Here is a List of games for the Commodore VIC-20 personal computer system, sorted alphabetically. ... The Commodore 64 (C64, CBM 64) was a popular home computer of the 1980s. ... This is a list of home computers, sorted alphanumerically by manufacturers name and chronologically by computer model. ... PETSCII (PET Standard Code of Information Interchange), also known as CBM ASCII, is the variation of the ASCII character set used in Commodore (CBM)s 8-bit home computers, starting with the PET from 1977 and including the VIC-20, C64, Plus/4, C16 and C128. ... The VIC-1211 Super Expander was a cartridge for the Commodore VIC-20 home computer. ...

References

• Finkel, A.; Harris, N.; Higginbottom, P.; Tomczyk, M. (1982). VIC 20 Programmer's reference guide. Commodore Business Machines, Inc. and Howard W. Sams & Co, Inc. ISBN 0-672-21948-4.
• Jones, A. J.; Coley, E. A.; Cole, D. G. J. (1983). Mastering the VIC-20. Chichester, UK: Ellis Horwood Ltd. and John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-88892-3.
• Tomczyk, Michael (1984). The Home Computer Wars: An Insider's Account of Commodore and Jack Tramiel. COMPUTE! Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-942386-75-2.

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