Re: MOS8520R4 - 1988 vs. 1991

From: Gerrit Heitsch <*gerrit_at_laosinh.s.bawue.de*> Date: Wed, 29 Jan 2020 19:30:59 +0100 Message-ID: <7211f219-03e4-28ae-2f35-2b6381ef86c6_at_laosinh.s.bawue.de> · gerrit_at_laosinh.s.bawue.de

On 1/29/20 6:50 PM, smf wrote:
> On 29/01/2020 17:28, Gerrit Heitsch wrote:
> 
>> For the beginning of the 80s, it wasn't bad either.
>>
> Compared to what?
> 
> Up against the ZX80 it was able to maintain a video display while
> running basic, but with only 22 columns compared to the ZX80's 32
> columns.

But in color while the ZX81 was b/w. So you got colors AND an image 
while running a program.

  Compared to the Atari 400/800 and arguably the Apple 2, the vic
> 20 was terrible.

The Apple II had strange color limitations though.

> The only thing really going for it was that at least it wasn't the TED
> series, which had 40 column text but no sprites and not enough cpu power
> to do them in software.

The VIC had no sprites either, those came with VIC-II. You could say 
that TED was an improved VIC, 40 x 25 text, full 64K access, more 
colors, soft scrolling, hardware reverse and blink. Plus sound.

  Gerrit