Re: Crosspost: Did the cpu influence the display?

[stephensheppard@hotmail.com]

Bill Vermillion wrote:
> In article <c7%rf.10054$7S.5344@tornado.rdc-kc.rr.com>,
> Bill Plenge <B_Plenge@NoSpam.com> wrote:
> >Bill H wrote:
> >> Peter van Merkerk wrote:
> >>> Bill H wrote:
> >>>> ===========================================================
> >>>> This message has been cross-posted to a number of revalent usenet
> >>>> groups, so please do not start a "My system is better than your
> >>>> system flame war".
> >>>> ===========================================================
> >>>>
> >>>> Relying on my memory and a cursory check on a number of websites it
> >>>> appears that the majority of Z80 cpu based computers had black and
> >>>> white displays, where as the majority of 65xx computers had a color
> >>>> display.
> >>>
> >>> I don't think that is true, at least not for home computers.
> >>>
> >>> There are plenty of (early) 6502 based system which supported only
> >>> B/W display, and there are also plenty of Z80 systems which
> >>> supported color (ZX Spectrum, MSX, Amstrad CPC, Sharp MZ series,
> >>> Enterprise...etc).
> >>>
> >>> If we include CP/M computers (which are Z80 based) then what you are
> >>> saying might be true. However those where intended for business use.
> >>> In those days color was not deemed to be important for business
> >>> computers.
>
> >> I probably should have specified a time period. I was thinking more of
> >> the 78 - 82 time period and computers that were available for home use
> >> mainly in the US (only because that is where I am and have the most
> >> experience with). During that time period the popular computers on the
> >> Z80 side where the Tandy's (and clones), the zx81, ts1000 and some
> >> CP/M machines. On the 65xx side where the Apple ][s, Atari's and
> >> Commodores.
>
> >Given that time period I think you'll find the major reason being
> >the cost of RAM (circa '78 16K was about $80, by '82 64K-128K
> >could be had for the same price) and color monitors at the time.
>
> You are low on the RAM price.  4116 RAM was going for $200
> at the local electronics wholesalers.  I know - I priced it for my
> machine.  That was mid-1978, as I had gotten my system at the end
> of 1977.
>

Wow, $200 in 1978!  Something big must have happened in the next year
or so.  I paid $18 for eight 4116's in 1979/80.

They were used to upgrade my Atari 800 8K RAM module from 8K to 16K.
Doesn't sound like much of an upgrade but I only had 24K total at the
time and Atari 16K modules were $180+  retail. 

- Steve Sheppard