Speed and the Web. The owners are asking about it. The developers are looking into it. The market is readying itself for it. No, not the PC market, I'm referring to the Commodore 8-bit market. The same market usually referred to as "mature". The same market usually referred to with a condescending tone. Well, mature we might be, but isn't that considered a good thing? People are supposed to mature as they grow older. As such, they are revered and looked up to. What parallels can we draw here?
If you haven't anything about the planned introduction of the CMD SuperCPU 20 MHz accelerator cartridges for the C64 and C128, shame on you! You need to stay in touch more. For those who have, let's not overdo the hype. CMD isn't the first to produce such a cartridge, but they will be the first to introduce 20 MHz as a speed option. C128 users will rejoice as the first 128 mode accelerator ships from CMD. When this happens, performance approaching that of the venerable Intel 80386 will be as close as the on/off switch.
The explosion of interest in the Internet and the World Wide Web is changing the way people view computers. Until recently, it seemed that people thought only computer systems including a 32 or 64 bit CPU, multiple megabytes of RAM, gigabyte hard drives, infinite resolution monitors and million bit sound cards were worth owning. Commodore owners have felt the sting of ridicule as they continually take blow after blow for remaining loyal to a machine with much to offer. Well, be patient, because 1996 might be the year of the "network computer", a smaller comuter system that trades all the fancy features of bloated PCs for a smaller size, cost, and a connection to the Internet. Big names like IBM, Oracle and Apple are pushing this idea, which would bring to market systems with modest RAM, small drives, television displays, and small operating systems. Does this idea sound familiar? It should, as it describes many features of Commodore 8-bit systems. No, the CBM 8-bit still lacks a few items present in the IBM/Apple/Oracle designs, but the bulk of features are already available on your so called "obsolete" CBM machine. Don't gloat yet, as there's much to do, but if your friends tout the benefits of such a machine, gently remind them that you own of of the first and best, a Commodore 8-bit.
Enjoy YOUR magazine,
Jim Brain (brain@mail.msen.com)