BENCHMARK THE GREY CELLS OF THE COMMODORE PLUS4 AND COMMODORE C128
That was interesting to see! I didn't expect from COMMODORE C128 to win anything here.
It's clear why if we compare the CPU's which are PLUS4= 1.76MHz and C128 = 1MHz.
I was actually surprised that when pure drawing commands are used, COMMODORE C128 was equaly fast as the, actually much higher clocked, COMMODORE PLUS4 CPU.
I guess there are some limiting factors in the commands or we could also say, they were not optimized properly. However, as soon as we use additional command option, it's starting to get clear who the real boss is!
THE COMMODORE PLUS4
Alright! When we now compare COMMODORE PLUS4 and COMMODORE C128, it is clear that the Commodore hardware guys were just doing something, but they had no clue what exactly. They also didn't understand the word progress at all. They were basically just doing something without much understandement of the matter.
Think that's the best way to describe the results in form of complete C-Serie and later also the COMMODORE C128.
COMMODORE brought Commodore C128 on the market 1 year after the Commodore Plus4 because Commodore Plus4 and its brother and sister were a total disaster! COMMODORE as a company didn't unterstood what was the problem!
SO WHAT DID THEY TO HIDE their incapability?
They made a Commodore C128 based on Commodore C64 because C64 was a huge success!
Well, that's a clear stratagey! Copy the winner and celebrate a huge success again!?
So what went wrong despite the greatest strategy plan?
Why Commodore C128 also went down the hill like the C-Series before from the same masters?
There is a Personal Computer in-between of C64 and C128, a Commodore Plus4!
It is
offering a faster CPU and proud 121 colors! Something that every game developer would more than welcome if you add hw sprites, more ram and SID chip!
However, COMMODORE decide to kill it completely and to not use it as a base for the new Personal Computer: Commodore C128.
That's what I call: WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT WE ARE DOING strategy!
IMAGINE:
Commodore C128 with 1.76MHz 7501/8501 CPU, 121 colors, SID CHIP, 128KB RAM, HARDWARE SPRITES! {nothing else, no bullshit inside, no business machine, no wrong ideas}
WHAT A PERFECT C64 SUCCESSOR! Faster, more colors, more ram, more motivation for developers to develope for it. And Commodore could still sale the C64 {as they did}.
...
***** WHAT DID Master COMMODORE DELIVERED INSTEAD?: *****
Commodore company FRANKENSTEINED the PC COMMODORE C128 with dead CP/M, lame VDC Chip, half-speed 2MHz-Z80CPU {limited by 8502 CPU!!!}, incompatible VIC-II video chip to 2 MHz 8502 CPU clock and to make sure that
it's stays COMMODORE C64 compatible, they even tossed in a COMMODORE C64 inside of Commodore C128.
Both are offering the same sound, the same colors, the same sprites and even the same speed of 1MHz! {we can't count the BLIND 2MHz FAST MODE as anything! It's usable here and there, true, but overall it was just another bad decision powered by COMMODORE}
SO IT REALLY IS NO WONDER WHY...
...people who actually bought COMMODORE C128, were using it as what it was:
Just another COMMODORE C64, called Commodore C128!
Yes, here we go: GO64!
Here is an example of what consequences and impact the COMMODORE decision had, when they decided to make another Commodore C64, pardon me, I mean Commodore C128!
As you know, I also do coding with COMAL-80 {structured BASIC language} and there is this little story about it.
COMAL-People went so far to develop a COMAL-80 module with a SUPERCHIP.
And that SUPERCHIP is accessing the C128 features {VDC screen, 80-column mode etc.} on Commodore C128. Sounds nice so far, inovative...!
But wait, WHAT!!!
It's doing that from the Commodore GO64 mode, and NOT natively in Commodore C128 Mode!
In fact, the COMAL-80 for C64 with the SUPERCHIP has more functionality and access to Commodore C128 capability in Commodore GO64 mode, than the COMAL-80 for Commodore C128 in native Commodore C128 mode!
There are two important side effects related to COMAL-80 with a SUPERCHIP:
COMAL-80 with SUPERCHIP has more functionality, but you need to have a C128 in order to use
it completely {in GO64 Mode!}.
Otherwise something like 60% of the available commands are usable if you use it only with a "real" Commodore C64. And then, on Commodore C128 in GO64 mode, the access to additional RAM in RAM BLOCK 1 was NOT available.
So you had just 64KB for your creativity on Commodore C128 out 128KB in C64 Mode!
What a waste...
Looks like not only COMMODORE company was a resources waster back in the days.
I am glad i did all tests, because I always thought how Commodore Plus was nothing and obviously that was wrong!
Too bad Bil and the other guys were not {cap}able to use the good sides of the Commodore Plus4 and make a better C128 {they focused on making a different C64 instead}
As it looks, Plus4 has some good ideas, but it came out UNWANTED thanks to Commodore's ABSOLUTELY NO CONNECTION OR COMMON SENSE strategy!
Then the same was done with the Commodore C128 which was practically made be even worse than Commodore Plus4 when you consider what kind of FRANKESTEIN product Commodore C128 is... It was also mostly unwanted from both sides: DEVELOPERS and CUSTOMERS and nobody can blame them!
The new COMMODORE 2025 and up, will probably end up with the same strategy in regard to Commodore C128. I doubt they are capable to do it better than the OLD COMMODORE company!
I hope to be wrong anyway, hahaha...
I actually love my C128 part {but don't like the nonsense crap that was tossed in except for the VDC {which also is a crap}}
What I also hope, is that new COMMODORE company, if they decide to make a C128U anyway, will not make a BUSINESS COMMODORE C128. OLD COMMODORE made that mistake 2x in a row with Commodore Plus4 and Commodore C128... They paid the price for the nonsense!
I mean, they had millions of customers with VIC-20 and C64 {based on VIC-20} and then they decide to not make anything new and better for them because they might buy it.
SO NO, LET'S NOT DO THAT!
INSTEAD:
Let's do another business computer {C128} for the serious users one more time...
I MEAN, HELLO ANYBODY HOME?
Damn, I think i've driftet from the subject, hehe...
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