Any opinions on the new Commodore 64 computer.  I've seen it and it
looks pretty neat.  

        (i)     it comes with 64K of memory standard
        (ii)    in highest graphics resolution it has 320 X 200 pixels.
                In lower resolutions you can display 16 colors
                simultaneously, but the number of simultaneous colors
                goes down with increased resolution.
        (iii)   it uses a version of sprite graphics
        (iv)    it has a cheap plug in telephone modem (only 40 characters
                per row)
        (v)     it uses 6510 (like 6502 but with extra I/O ports) and will
                have a plug-in Z80 option.
        (vi)    it has a synthesizer built in with three voices, each can
                play over 9 octaves in a variety of waveforms with different
                attacks, decays, etc.
        (vii)   it lists for $595 but can be bought for less (at American
                of Madison, for example!).  Magazines were offering it
                for as little as $479 but are not coming thru.  It seems
                that Commodore has forbidden mail order firms from
                dealing in the 64.
        (viii)  it uses the same Microsoft BASIC as the PET.  They say
                they will have Pascal for it soon.

Doug Lerner
doug@uwisc