I have five main units (one CIB), five power adapters, two Commodore
1571 disk drives, Flight stick and many joysticks.
type computer
country USA
year 1985
os Commodore Basic, CP/M
cpu MOS 8502, Zilog Z80
speed 1,02 MHz
ram 128 KB
rom 48 KB
graphic 320×200
colors 16
sound 3 voices, 9 octaves
ports RGB, composite video, two joysticks, cartridge, tape, user port, RF, Serial
The Commodore 128 — The Three-in-One Computer
Released in January 1985, the Commodore 128 was one of the most ambitious home computers ever produced — a machine that could operate in three completely different modes: as a native C128 computer running an enhanced 8502 processor, as a fully compatible Commodore 64 running existing C64 software, and as a CP/M machine using a built-in Z80 processor. This extraordinary versatility made it the definitive upgrade path for the millions of C64 owners who wanted more capability without abandoning their software investment, and it sold approximately 5 million units before being discontinued in 1989.
Three Modes in Detail
In native C128 mode, the machine used its 2 MHz 8502 processor with 128 KB of RAM, an 80-column VDC (Video Display Controller) chip for crisp text display, and an enhanced BASIC 7.0 with over 130 commands — the most comprehensive BASIC ever included in a Commodore machine. In C64 mode, the machine was 100% compatible with the entire C64 software library, switching to 1 MHz operation and the original VIC-II and SID chips to ensure complete compatibility. In CP/M mode, the built-in Z80 processor took control, allowing the machine to run the extensive library of CP/M business software that was still widely used in offices throughout the mid-1980s.
The 80-Column Display
The C128’s separate 80-column VDC chip — driving a dedicated monochrome or RGB monitor — was a significant addition for users who needed to run serious business software. The C64’s standard 40-column display was inadequate for word processing and spreadsheet applications, but the C128’s 80-column mode made it genuinely practical for office productivity tasks. Combined with CP/M compatibility, this gave the C128 credibility as a dual-purpose home and business machine.
Legacy
The Commodore 128 is often described as ”the last great 8-bit computer” — a machine that took the 8-bit paradigm as far as it could practically go before 16-bit machines took over. It represented Commodore at their engineering peak, and remains highly regarded by collectors and retrocomputing enthusiasts today.