Loadstar 234/234.d81/t.terry raymond

Text File | 2022-08-26 | 5KB | 182 lines

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         ME AND MY COMMODORE
           by Terry Raymond


    My first Commodore in 1981 was
also a VIC-20. We didnt have much for
it at first -- just the lame user
manual that did have a few type in
games. We didnt have any kind of
storage device for awhile either.
Later we finally did invest in a CN2
Datasette for program storage.

    I learned a little BASIC
programming from the VIC also. In
1984, though, when the Vic went
obsolete compared to the 64, we still
used it from time to time and
purchased a few tape games. Later
something broke on the tape drive so
we no longer had a storage device so
the VIC sadly vacated to the closet
shelf to collect dust for 9 years.

    I liked the ease of use of the
VIC-20 and what computers had to
offer. The downside of this computer
was its lack of memory and I really
didnt ever understand how to do
graphics on it.

    I later did get a few Compute
magazines which I enjoyed typing in
programs and basic games.

    In Compute! magazine I did read
about the C=64 and always wanted one,
but my father just wouldnt buy another
Commodore because of how the VIC went
obsolete. :(

    In 1984 I went to using the Apple
II computers and not too long
afterward my father bought us an Apple
IIC which was a good buy at that time,
and I had tons of games, used Apple
Writer, etc., for school work.

    Well after Commodore was
liquidating its sales etc, I thought
that was the end of Commodore so I
lost interest. At times though I
thought of the Vic-20 and wanted to
get back into computing on this great
computer. I still saved most of my
Compute! magazines.  In 1993 I found
one such C= user group in Laramie,
Wyoming. This guy had lots of good
hardware and tons of games. I finally
bought my first C= 1541 drive. I read
the "lousy manual" and finally figured
out how to format a disk, etc., etc.,
but thoroughly hated the slow DOS
speed. I really had a fun time with my
VIC again.

    Later in 1994 a friend of mine who
is into Amiga computers asked me if I
would be interested in a C=64. I
couldnt refuse it so I bought it for
$10. Later I ran an ad asking about
used C=64 hardware and software. A guy
in my area finally called me and told
me he had a lot of stuff. I believe
his name is Jack Kahre -- who I think
used to live in Las Vegas.

    I bought my first Final Cartridge
II, and had my first introduction to
GEOS. Jack had a lot of back issues to
LOADSTAR that he let me have for FREE,
I really enjoyed LOADSTAR and still
do. In around 1995 I was looking
through some LOADSTARs and ran across
Creative Micro Designs reviews.

    I called CMD for the first time
and asked for a FREE catalog. I
couldn't wait to get it after reading
some old reviews about most of CMD's
hardware. I did finally get my catalog
and I couldnt believe my eyes that a
company would still be this devoted to
the C=64 and C=128, and had designed
all this great hardware.  I had to
save my money but later bought some of
CMD's hardware.

    From there I upgraded to my first
refurbished 128-D but had some
problems with it that CMD could never
figure out. So I did get a good deal
on a remanufactured 128-D with a new
mother board, power source,
refurbished "internal" 1571, Jiffy
Dos, more VDC Ram.

    Of course I had to subscribe to
Commodore World Magazine in 1996. I
bought my FD-2000, and then my CMD HD
40MB. Then in the Fall of 1996 I
bought my V1 SCPU which I dont think
any of us could do without. I really
did get spoiled with Jiffy Dos, too.

    Later, in 1999, I finally had the
money so I upgraded my V1 SCPU to the
Ramboard memory, and the Jiffy Dos
upgrade to the (upgraded V1). In
February 2001 I finally bought a V2
SCPU also.

    From year 2002 on I have been
buying used C=64's and 128's on Ebay.
My collection is small, but this fall
I added 3 more to my collection and
they all work. In 2001 I had my first
attempt at repairing one of my
breadbox 64's. I succeeded and it
still works well.

    My main software is:

Wheels 64,
The Wave-64 (Browser),
Wings OS (very cool also),
Stereo Sid player V10.3,
LOADSTAR,
Tons of Games,
GoDot (my favorite pastime).

    In all I still love the VIC-20 but
I think I like the 64 and 128 the
best.

    BTW also in year 2000, Dale
Sidebottom introduced me to the COPS
email list. I was one of the few that
had the chance to beta test The Wave
browser, and could at least find a
place to ask fellow Commodore users
questions etc, Thanks Dale.

    I have my Vic-20 that I was so
fond of in the 80's and still am. That
is what revived my love for Commodore
computing. If it wasnt for the VIC-20
I might not have had a renewed
interest.

    It is hard to believe it has been
23 years ago when I first started
using my VIC-20 and it is still one of
my favorites, along with the beloved
64 and 128. With the latest inovations
with the Commodore community, I think
we still have a lot more in these
computers. I dont care what the PC
community thinks! The 64 is very much
alive after all these years.

    More on this story: I recently
showed my father what the 64 is
capable of now and he can hardly
believe his eyes. A 22 year old turbo
charged C= can do so much and be so
amazing, and cool.

 TR