Commodore 16/Plus 4

Type: Computer
Publisher: Commodore
Firstly released in: United States
First release: 1984
Release and compatibility details: Compatible types (in the so-called Commodore 264 series): C16, C116 and Commodore Plus 4, C232 and C264

Success and unsuccess:

Most popular years: 1984-1986
Most popular countries: UK
Amount of games in database: 568 (list)
Importance on the market in the most popular years: Medium

Characteristics:

This series was Commodore's attempt to create cheap competitor of ZX Spectrum (C16/116 models) and somehow proffessional work machine (C Plus 4 models). All models have the same hardware, only Plus 4 models have 64KB RAM, C16 has 16 KB RAM.

The biggest problem was that the computers haven't been compatible with VIC-20 or C64 and the publishers have been too lazy to adapt software for these computers. The hardware, was very good, but it absoluetely unlogically missed great C64's SID sound chip, which caused worse sound than on C64.

Maybe because of this have been these models Commodore's big mistake and they finished with unsuccess.

COMMODORE 16/116:

Memory: 16KB RAM, 32 KB ROM
CPU: MOS 8501, 1.69 MHz
Graphic coprocessor: TED 7360
Resolution: 320x200, 128 colors (16 colors, 8 brightness levels)
Sound chip: TED 7360
Sound: 3 voices (2 music, 1 voices)
Basic: v3.5, 12KB free


COMMODORE PLUS 4, C232, C264:

Memory: 64KB RAM, 32 KB ROM
CPU: MOS 8501, 1.76 MHz
Graphic coprocessor: TED 7360
Resolution: 320x200, 128 colors (16 colors, 8 brightness levels)
Sound chip: TED 7360
Sound: 3 voices (2 music, 1 voices)
Basic: v3.5, 60KB free

Games and music info:

Most common media for storing games: Cassette

Emulation info:

The emulators are not very far comparing other Commodore's 8-bits, because this computer hasn't so big community. I also haven't tested them a lot. :)

Minus 4 - currently probably the best, has numerous features and good sound support.

This emulation info was written on 20.January 2003. (This time is very important, because emulation info very depends on the time it was written - emulators can improve a lot after this time..).