Re: NEWSFLASH! Linux ported to Commodore VIC-20!!

Alex Buell (alex.buell@tahallah.demon.co.uk)
Mon, 14 Sep 1998 16:59:28 -0400 (EDT)


On Mon, 14 Sep 1998, Chris Zwilling wrote:

> As far as putting linux on a VIC-20. The basic unit came with 4KB of
> memory. There were expansion modules that brought it up to 32K, but the
> 1MHz 6502 CPU wouldn't have enough to do anything efficiently. And you
> thought memory segmenting on the '386 was bad. I don't think so.

Primiarily because these 6502s were only limited to a 256 byte fixed stack
at address &0100. Push anymore onto the stack and the machine dies a
nasty untimely death. Yuck. I didn't even like the Commodore VIC series
much but the BBC B (a British microcomputer that was miles better than
anything else at the time and was well made but unfortunately it was
pretty expensive - approx. US$800 at the time) with 32KB was very good,
and it was a joy to program in assembly with it as its BASIC ROM
implementation included a 6502 assembler. I still have a working BBC B
with 32k somewhere that I bought fifteen years ago. Must dig it out and
play Elite on it some day. Anyone remember Frak and the Capt'n Pugwash
theme song?! :o)

Cheers,
Alex.

---
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