Commander X16

Hi all!

As a kid, I learned Basic on a C128 at school, but my first own computer was an Amiga 500.

I really liked Michael's "Ultimate C64 Talk" at 25C3, and the concept of having a computer that is fully understandable by a single person is indeed very appealing. But, having been spoiled by the Amiga as a kid, the limited graphics capabilities of the C64 always put a damper on my enthusiasm. That's why the X16 seems to be just perfect in this regard - the VERA module really is a game changer for me here.

I am eagerly looking forward to see where the project is going - it looks really promising.

Can't wait to get my hands on some real hardware!

Very interesting, I've never heard of C128s being used in schools. My school, like most in the US, had all Apple IIs, and later some TRS-80s during the 8-bit era, which seems to be the general case, at least in the US. Maybe Commodore got a better foothold in the educational market in Germany, rather than the US or UK (where Acorn/BBC seemed to have cornered)?

Yes, Commodore had a firm foothold in the educational market over here. My school started out with PETs (and didn't upgrade all through the 80s). Commodores were everywhere in (continental) Europe. The rest of the market share went to Atari, Sinclair and Amstrad. It's no accident that the demoscene started out as a predominantly European phenomenom.

PETs in school is a common practice. But changing them with C128 is a stll somewhat odd. C128 is a home computer after all. 

Yeah, that's what really struck me. I have seen C64s and PETs in schools (though rare in the US), but never a C128. It seemed that It was always more of a forgotten product with the continued success of the C64 and the growth of the Amiga.

I can only speculate, but the C128 had the advantage of being C64 compatible, and it could also run CP/M. In many ways, it was a better C64, despite the fact that it never got nearly as popular.

Plus, compared to the PCs of the time, the Commodore just offered much more for the money (if my memory serves me right). And it was hands down the better machine for beginners to learn on.

@Fnord42 you are right, it's logical. It's just that it's uncommon.

I didn't realize it at the time, but looking back, I think that the teacher who was responsible for everything computer-related at my school was quite a computer nerd, and it seems likely that he made the decision to go for the C128, which he quite probably had at home, too.

Welcome, Fnord42!

I never had an Amiga...  Our school (in Arizona) got a computer lab as I was entering the 6th grade... and it was stocked with PET 4016s networked to a master PET with a 4040.  So I got hooked on the old equipment.

 

PETS were common in both Ontario and New Brunswick (Canada) in the 1980s.