Changes
Initial version.
The '''Commodore Plus/4''' is a mid-priced 6502-based micro launched in 1984. It is not directly compatible with any prior Commodore machine, but was launched alongside the cut-down-but-compatible C16.
First envisaged by Jack Tramiel as a budget machine to undercut the ZX Spectrum, subsequent management decided to repackage the hardware as a business-lite micro in the C64's price bracket, leading to poor sales. The Plus/4 differs from the pre-existing C64 in its lack of hardware sprites and very simple sound output; however it has a faster processor and a much larger palette of 128 colours. Unlike Commodore's previous budget machine, the Vic-20, it offers a hardware pixel scroll.
Despite never being a huge success, hundreds of titles were available for it contemporaneously and it has enjoyed an extended retro afterlife of fan conversions from other platforms, particularly the C64.
First envisaged by Jack Tramiel as a budget machine to undercut the ZX Spectrum, subsequent management decided to repackage the hardware as a business-lite micro in the C64's price bracket, leading to poor sales. The Plus/4 differs from the pre-existing C64 in its lack of hardware sprites and very simple sound output; however it has a faster processor and a much larger palette of 128 colours. Unlike Commodore's previous budget machine, the Vic-20, it offers a hardware pixel scroll.
Despite never being a huge success, hundreds of titles were available for it contemporaneously and it has enjoyed an extended retro afterlife of fan conversions from other platforms, particularly the C64.
