Re: Could you make a 'new', 'better' computer from the C64 just by reprogramming the PLA?

From: Gerrit Heitsch <*gerrit_at_laosinh.s.bawue.de*> Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2021 17:46:01 +0100 Message-ID: <10832910-e0bc-ba0e-99f5-1212366d4c11_at_laosinh.s.bawue.de> · gerrit_at_laosinh.s.bawue.de

On 11/4/21 5:05 PM, Jim Brain wrote:
> 
> Oh, no argument there, but at Commodore, cost alone drove the 
> discussion, not features (or too many of them). if they could get great 
> yields out and not have to buy outside, the vertical integration could 
> yield significant cost savings.  So, the fact they used the 2114 in the 
> 64 and the newer PETs suggests they were sourcing 2114s cheaper than it 
> cost CBM to manufacture 6550s combined with the opportunity cost of 
> tying up their fab space for that IC in lieu of using it for other ICs.

As far as I know, they also bought a RAM design from Micron, got junk, 
Micron admitted that it didn't work for them either, got sued and that 
was about the end of MOS making RAM.

  Gerrit