Commodore VIC-20 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids  |
|
 |
|
| Type | Home computer |
|---|---|
| Release date | 1980 (VIC-1001) / 1981 |
| Introductory price | US$299.95 (equivalent to $909.57 in 2022) |
| Discontinued | January 1985 |
| Operating system | Commodore KERNAL/ Commodore BASIC 2.0 |
| CPU | MOS Technology 6502 @ 1.108404 MHz (PAL) @ 1.02 MHz (NTSC) |
| Memory | 20 KB ROM + 5 KB RAM (expandable to 32 KB), 3.5 KB for BASIC (expandable to 27.5 KB) |
| Graphics | VIC 176 x 184 3-bpp |
| Sound | 3 × square, 1 × noise, mono. |
| Predecessor | Commodore PET |
| Successor | Commodore 64 |
The VIC-20 was an early home computer made by Commodore Business Machines. It was one of the first computers many families owned. The VIC-20 was first announced in 1980. It came out about three years after Commodore's first computer, the PET. This computer was special because it was the very first computer of any kind to sell over one million units!
The Commodore VIC-20 used a special chip called a 6502 CPU. This chip worked like the computer's brain, running at about 1 MHz. The computer had 5KB of RAM, which is like its short-term memory. However, users could only use about 3.5KB for their own programs. The VIC-20 did not have a built-in way to save information permanently. Instead, you could save your programs onto regular audio tapes. Later, you could also use 5.25-inch floppy disks. Commodore stopped making the VIC-20 in early 1985.
The Rise and Fall of a Computer Star
In 1982, the VIC-20 was incredibly popular. It was the best-selling computer of that year. About 800,000 machines were sold. By the end of 1982, over one million VIC-20 computers had been sold. At one point, Commodore was making 9,000 units every single day!
However, things started to change that summer. Commodore introduced a new computer called the Commodore 64. This new machine was much more powerful. It had 64 KB of RAM, which was a lot more than the VIC-20. It also had much better sound and graphics.
At first, sales of the Commodore 64 were slow. There were some problems with how reliable it was. Also, there weren't many games or programs for it yet. But by the middle of 1983, many more programs became available. This caused the sales of the VIC-20 to drop very quickly. The VIC-20 was quietly stopped from being made in January 1985.
Images for kids
-
Software cartridge
-
The startup screen of the VIC-20.
-
The VIC-1001 is the Japanese version of the VIC-20. It has Japanese-language characters in the ROM and on the front of the keys.
-
The Commodore 1530 C2N-B Datasette provided inexpensive external storage for the VIC-20.
-
VIC-20 mainboard
-
The side of the computer showing the joystick "control port"
-
The MOS Technology 6561 VIC chip
-
16-color capability
-
A 3 KB RAM expansion cartridge with BASIC extension ROM
-
A 16 KB RAM expansion cartridge with PCB view
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Commodore VIC-20 para niños
