I have the main unit (CIB).
type computer
country USA
year 1984
os Commodore basic
cpu mos 7501
speed 0.89 MHz
ram 64 KB
rom 32 KB
graphic 320 x 200
colors 121 (15)
sound 2 voice generator
ports rgb, 2 x joystick
plugs, cartridge slot, tape, serial, user port, tv rf output
The Commodore Plus/4 — The Computer With Everything Built In
Released in 1984, the Commodore Plus/4 was the flagship of the 264 series — Commodore’s attempt to create a successor to the VIC-20 that would appeal to both home and business users through built-in productivity software. The Plus/4 included a word processor (3-Plus-1: Write), spreadsheet (3-Plus-1: Calc), database (3-Plus-1: File), and graphing tool (3-Plus-1: Graph) in ROM — a genuinely comprehensive productivity suite that required no additional software purchases for basic office tasks. Despite this innovative approach, the Plus/4 was a commercial disappointment, primarily because of its incompatibility with the Commodore 64’s enormous software library.
The TED Chip and 121 Colours
The Plus/4 used the TED (Text Editing Device) chip rather than the separate VIC-II and SID chips of the C64. TED combined graphics and sound functions in a single, less expensive chip — a cost reduction measure that unfortunately produced inferior results. The TED’s sound was limited to two voices compared to the SID’s three, and its overall audio quality was noticeably poorer. However, the TED provided a larger colour palette: 121 colours from 128 possible combinations, compared to the C64’s 16 fixed colours — giving the Plus/4 superior colour capabilities for graphics applications despite its audio limitations.
The C64 Compatibility Problem
The Plus/4’s fundamental commercial problem was its complete incompatibility with the Commodore 64’s software library. By 1984, the C64 had accumulated thousands of games and applications — an ecosystem that users were deeply invested in. The Plus/4’s built-in software and improved colour palette were real advantages, but they could not compensate for the absence of the C64’s games library. Buyers choosing between the two machines invariably selected the C64 for its software depth.
Unexpected Popularity in Hungary
Despite its commercial failure in Western markets, the Plus/4 achieved surprising popularity in Hungary, where it became one of the most common home computers of the late 1980s. Licensed production and distribution arrangements made it unusually accessible behind the Iron Curtain, and a dedicated Hungarian software community developed games and applications specifically for the platform. This Hungarian connection gives the Plus/4 a unique place in Eastern European computing history.