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From: labc-2aa@web-3d.berkeley.edu (Greg Burrell)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: Homecum 640k acts like 64
Message-ID: <1989Oct3.023922.545@agate.berkeley.edu>
Date: 3 Oct 89 02:39:22 GMT
References: <89092920434743@masnet.uucp>
Sender: usenet@agate.berkeley.edu (USENET Administrator;;;;ZU44)
Reply-To: labc-2aa@web-3d (Greg Burrell)
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
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In article <89092920434743@masnet.uucp> doug.purdy@canremote.uucp (DOUG PURDY) writes:
>But I feel let down with this happening on our C128 with 1750 REU, 1571
>and 1581 disk drives. How did it come to pass that this fast, powerful
>machine can't run software any better than a 64k, 1541 combo?
> 
I don't have a C128, but I do know that instead of trying to emulate the
C64, the C128 actually just contains a whole C64 inside. One benefit is
that this is 100% compatible, but unfortunately most programs cannot take
advantage of the 128's extra memory and capabilities.
When software companies publish a program, they strive to make it work
on the largest number of machines and configurations - alas, this is
often the plain-vanilla C64 without any extra memory.


>Why is it so hard to include routines to take
>advantage of the hardware available? Why aren't such routines widely
>available and at low prices? 

Good question. Technically this is possible, but I guess that most
software companies just don't want to bother. Perhaps this is tied 
to your next question.


>Where are the real professional Commodore programmers? Why do many
>programs feel like they were created by some first time amateur with
>professional graphics tacked on as an afterthought?
>With the 1581 available at such low prices, why is anything written
>exclusively for the notoriously slow and expensive 1541? Why is Willow
>too slow and awkward for a 640k machine with an 800k 1581 when the whole 
>thing is less than 500k? I can't see why it shouldn't be a dream on a
>256k REU equipped C64!

Because most of these programs were created by amateur programmers.
Any competent professional programmer can make a lot more money for
a lot less work by programming for some of the more advanced machines
available today. The 1581 came quite a while after the 1541 and so there
are a lot more 1541s than 1581s. Once again, software publishers are
aiming for the largest possible base of potential buyers. (See my reply
to question #1 above.) Willow is too slow and awkward because it 
doesn't make any use of the extra memory or faster processor of the C128.
Also, the company probably don't figure there are enough REU equipped C64s 
out there to make it worth the extra effort. 


What this all basically boils down to is the fact that the C64 and C128 are 
older machines with outdated hardware. Now before everybody and his brother
starts to flame, I believe that they are good machines for their time and
price, but by today's standards they are out of date. Also, software for
these machines is relatively inexpensive (compare a $30 C64 word processor
to $200+ for IBM, Mac, etc). Most software companies and programmers just
do not want to take the extra effort involved.


			Greg


Greg Burrell
labc-2aa@WEB.berkeley.edu
Univ. Of California, Berkeley