Re: Hardware-based vs software-based emulation

Michał Pleban wrote:

>> The Commodore 65 is essentially emulating the Commodore 64 in hardware.
> Not very reliably though. VIC-II hacks don't work, for example. It's
> nowhere near the level of emulation you get with the C128.

Hm, this is the second time this week someone refers to that the C128 
emulates a C64. First time I defended as the C128 has a 6510 binary 
compatible CPU, a possibly a tad enhanced VIC-II and a SID chip, so it 
simply switches to a different operating system (C64) instead of C128 or 
CP/M, rather than emulation.

Though when it appears on a highly knowledgable list like cbm-hackers, I'm 
starting to wonder. Should the C64 mode on the C128 be considered emulated, 
just because a few C64 applications may not operate properly? I know about 
the CP/M cartridge story and have a faint memory of reading about some other 
C64 programs that won't run on the C128 in C64 mode, but then again I don't 
know if those programs otherwise run great on every regular C64, C64C, C64G 
etc model, not to mention the SX-64, Educator 64 or slightly more distant 
siblings like the MAX Machine.

Whether or not the C65 has supposedly compatible custom chips or to a higher 
degree takes to the emulation concept when running C64 software, I have no 
idea about. However with projects like the MEGA 65, I wonder if this really 
is the ultimate 8-bit computer Commodore may have conceived, or if the 
reproduction is mostly due to hype. With a very small software base 
available, it will almost be like developing for a brand new spec if what I 
suppose is intended to be a C65 compatible mode on the MEGA works out, in 
particular as the original C65 came in several revisions that inbetween may 
not be fully compatible.

Best regards

Anders Carlsson




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