History and specs of Commodore 8 bit computers
I started my computing journey with the $300 VIC-20, it was the first system for a LOT of people. Then I upgraded to the C64 & it was amazing. Just compare the screens below to see what I mean.
Specs listed are for the Commodore 64
| manufacturer | Commodore Business Machines |
| model numbers | C64, SX64, 64C, C128 |
| years on sale | 1982 – 1994 |
| price (new) at launch | $595 |
| price in today’s (2026) money | $2,036 |
| CPU / speed | MOS 6510 / 1MHz |
| RAM / ROM | 64KB / |
| sound | 3 channels |
| colors | 16 |
| screen size (text) | 25 x 40 |
| graphics mode (X,Y,colors) | 25x40x1, 320X200x16 |
| OS(s) | BASIC |
The VIC20 was my first computer & it got me into building my own circuits for it. I built a cassette interface to use the tape recorder I already owned, put in a reset button, telephone dialer & many other things. I got most of it from this magic book: VIC-20 Interfacing Blue Book. I remember sitting for hours trying out basic programs that I & other people had written.
Then, several years later, I got the king of all home computers, the amazing Commodore 64! I got introduced to the wonderful word of BBS’s & spent many hours talking to people online, playing games & even programming. I also remember parties where me & nerdy my friends would all bring over our C64’s & 1541’s to “exchange” games & other software.
