Vic20

1 definition found

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  VIC-20
       
           A home computer made by {Commodore} with a {6502}
          {CPU}, similar in style to the {Commodore 64} and {Commodore
          C16}.  The VIC-20 was released before the C64, and after the
          {Commodore PET}(?).  It was intended to be more of a low-end


          home computer than the PET.
       
          The VIC-20 had connectors for game cartridges and a {tape
          drive} (compatible with a C64).  It came with five {kilobytes}
          of {RAM}, but 1.5 KB were used by the system for various
          things, like the video display (which had an unusual 22x20
          char/line screen layout), and other dynamic aspects of the
          {operating system} (such as it was).  The RAM was expandable
          with a plug-in cartridge which used the same expansion port as
          games.  Port expander boxes were available to allow more than
          one cartridge to be connected at a time.
       
          RAM cartridges were available in several sizes: 3K, 8K, 16K
          and 32K.  The internal memory map was re-organised with the
          addition of each size cartridge, leading to the situation that
          some programs would only work if the right amount of memory
          was available.  The 32K cartridges were all third-party and
          had switches to allow the RAM to be enabled in sections so
          that any expansion size could be achieved.
       
          {BASIC} programs could use at most 24 KB of RAM.  Any extra
          occupied the location usually used by ROM cartridges
          (i.e. games).  This allowed people to copy ROM cartridges to
          tape and distribute them to their friends, who could load the
          tape into the top 8k of their 32k RAM packs.
       
          The name "VIC" came from the Video Interface Chip that was
          also used in the other, later, Commodore 8-bit computers.
       
          (2000-03-28)