I have the main unit, tape drive Datasette, tape drive adapter
and joystick adapter.
type computer
country USA
year 1984
os Commodore basic
cpu mos 7501
speed 1.25 MHz
ram 16 KB
rom 32 KB
graphic 320 x 200
colors 121 (15)
sound 2 sound generator
ports rgb, 2 x joystick plugs, memory slot, tape, serial, tv rf output
The Commodore 116 — The Budget Oddity
Released in 1984, the Commodore 116 was the most obscure and short-lived member of the Commodore 264 series — a family of computers that included the Plus/4 and Commodore 16 alongside the 116. Using the same TED (Text Editing Device) chip as its siblings, the 116 offered built-in software in ROM (word processor, spreadsheet, and BASIC 3.5), a 7501/8501 processor at approximately 1 MHz, and 16 KB of RAM — half the Commodore 16’s 32 KB. Its most distinctive feature was its rubber chiclet keyboard, reminiscent of the ZX81 and aimed at reducing production costs for the European budget market.
The 264 Series — Commodore’s Troubled Mid-Range
The Commodore 264 series was designed to replace the VIC-20 in Commodore’s lineup, offering built-in productivity software and improved BASIC compared to the aging VIC-20, while being priced below the Commodore 64. The concept was sound, but the execution suffered from a fatal flaw: the 264 series was incompatible with the Commodore 64’s enormous software library. At a time when the C64 had already accumulated thousands of games and applications, launching an incompatible machine was a significant commercial handicap that the 264 series never overcame.
The TED Chip
The TED (Text Editing Device) chip was Commodore’s attempt to create a less expensive alternative to the separate VIC-II video and SID sound chips of the C64. TED combined graphics and sound functions in a single chip, reducing component count and manufacturing cost. However, the TED’s sound capabilities — two voices compared to the SID’s three — and its graphics performance were noticeably inferior to the C64’s, making the 264 series less appealing to the gaming market that drove home computer sales.
Rarity
The Commodore 116 was sold primarily in Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria, and in very limited quantities. It is today one of the rarer Commodore models, making it a sought-after collector’s item among enthusiasts of Commodore’s more obscure products.