Commodore Plus/4
Commodore Plus/4 Specifications
| Manufacturer: | Commodore Business Machines |
| CPU: | MOS Technology 7501 or 8501 @ 1.76 MHz |
| Memory: | 64 KB RAM + 64 KB ROM |
| Graphics: | TED (320 × 200, 121 colors) |
| Sound: | TED (2-channel with 4-octave + white noise) |
| Display: | Text mode: 40×25 characters (PETSCII). Graphics modes: 160x200 (multicolor, no sprites) / 320×200 (hi-resolution) at 121 colors (all can be visible at the same time) |
The Commodore Plus/4 is a home computer that was released by Commodore International in 1984. It was part of the company's line of "low-cost" computers, which also included the Commodore 16 and Commodore 64.
The Plus/4 featured a built-in keyboard, a 64 KB memory, and an improved BASIC programming language. It also had four built-in software applications: a word processor, a spreadsheet program, a database program, and a graphing program.
The "Plus/4" name refers to the four-application ROM-resident office suite (word processor, spreadsheet, database, and graphing); it was billed as "the productivity computer with software built in".
Internally, the Plus/4 shared the same basic architecture as the lower-end Commodore 16 and 116 models, and was able to use software and peripherals designed for them. The Plus/4 was incompatible with the Commodore 64's software and some of its hardware. Although the Commodore 64 was more established, the Plus/4 was aimed at the more business-oriented part of the personal computer market.
Despite its advanced features, the Plus/4 did not sell as well as the Commodore 64, which was more popular due to its larger software library and compatibility with a wide range of peripherals.
Overall, the Commodore Plus/4 was an interesting attempt by Commodore to create an affordable all-in-one computer for the home market, but it ultimately fell short in terms of sales and popularity. Nevertheless, it remains an interesting piece of computing history.