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Operating System Specific Discussions => Other Operating Systems => Topic started by: jorkany on January 13, 2011, 09:38:08 PM

Title: This is why Commodore really failed
Post by: jorkany on January 13, 2011, 09:38:08 PM
They didn't have their own branded kid-heros comic!
http://www.atarimagazines.com/whizkids/index.php

...which incredibly had crossover episodes into DC Superman comics!
http://www.comicvine.com/trs-80-computer-whiz-kids/65-44815/
Title: Re: This is why Commodore really failed
Post by: Tension on January 13, 2011, 09:41:34 PM
Didn't do much good for Atari! Ha!
Title: Re: This is why Commodore really failed
Post by: jorkany on January 13, 2011, 09:46:49 PM
Quote from: Tension;606479
Didn't do much good for Atari! Ha!


True! But then if you look closely the comics are the TANDY Whiz Kids!

Don't ask me why they're on an Atari site, 'cause I have no idea.
Title: Re: This is why Commodore really failed
Post by: lsmart on January 13, 2011, 10:47:10 PM
In germany weh had Hermann the user (http://www.hermannderuser.de/), which was really great. The cartoon was published in "Amiga Magazin". Karl Bihlmeier still draws Hermann once in a blue moon, but now Hermann is using Macs instead of his old Amiga 2000.
Title: Re: This is why Commodore really failed
Post by: Iggy on January 14, 2011, 01:54:05 AM
Commodore failed because it didn't promote its business with comic books?

I don't understand the premise.
It didn't work for Tandy, why would it have worked for Commodore?

Or am I just taking an ironic statement too literally?
Title: Re: This is why Commodore really failed
Post by: TheGoose on January 14, 2011, 02:06:24 AM
TANDY WIZ KIDS! MY NEMESIS!

:uzi::destroy::ak47:
Title: Re: This is why Commodore really failed
Post by: tone007 on January 14, 2011, 02:37:38 AM
The first computer I ever used was a C64 (at home.)

The second computer I used was a TRS-80 model III or IV) in second grade or so.  All the kids were so impressed with my

10 PRINT "I AM A COMPUTER   ";
20 GOTO 10

BASIC program.
Title: Re: This is why Commodore really failed
Post by: Tension on January 14, 2011, 02:42:18 AM
Quote from: tone007;606534
The first computer I ever used was a C64 (at home.)

The second computer I used was a TRS-80 model III or IV) in second grade or so.  All the kids were so impressed with my

10 PRINT "I AM A COMPUTER   ";
20 GOTO 10

BASIC program.



I never used the semi-colon.

I wasn't that advanced.
Title: Re: This is why Commodore really failed
Post by: tone007 on January 14, 2011, 02:58:44 AM
Semicolon rocks.  Made a nice diagonal stripey pattern out of your text.
Title: Re: This is why Commodore really failed
Post by: fishy_fiz on January 14, 2011, 02:59:41 AM
Heh, nostaliga, it's not what it used to be  :)

My very first computer was a Tandy trs-80 coco1. I'd love to get one again some day (prefereably a coco3 though, one of the most under-rated 8bit machines ever in my opinion), but I unless I come across one particuarly cheap my amiga upgrades will come 1st. :)
Title: Re: This is why Commodore really failed
Post by: jorkany on January 14, 2011, 03:06:47 AM
Quote from: Iggy;606530
Commodore failed because it didn't promote its business with comic books?

I don't understand the premise.
It didn't work for Tandy, why would it have worked for Commodore?

Or am I just taking an ironic statement too literally?


Just a little levity. As for Tandy, they switched their name to RadioShack a while back so technically they're still around - thanks to their early 80s foray into comics no doubt!
Title: Re: This is why Commodore really failed
Post by: tone007 on January 14, 2011, 03:10:26 AM
Quote from: jorkany;606540
Just a little levity. As for Tandy, they switched their name to RadioShack a while back so technically they're still around - thanks to their early 80s foray into comics no doubt!

Actually, Radio Shack was there pre-TRS-80.  You'd buy your TRS (Tandy Radio Shack) machine at the local Radio Shack store.

edit: I guess they may have dropped "Tandy" altogether.  It was kind of synonymous with "fail" after a certain point in the computer world.
Title: Re: This is why Commodore really failed
Post by: Iggy on January 14, 2011, 03:14:56 AM
Quote from: fishy_fiz;606539
Heh, nostaliga, it's not what it used to be  :)

My very first computer was a Tandy trs-80 coco1. I'd love to get one again some day (prefereably a coco3 though, one of the most under-rated 8bit machines ever in my opinion), but I unless I come across one particuarly cheap my amiga upgrades will come 1st. :)

The company I used to work for (Delmar Co) used to sell 68K based computers and owned a Marine electronics company and a Radio Shack franchise.
I alway like those computers too. Nice processor and while the graphic wasn't up to say Atari or Commodore it was mapped so that virtually any location in the processors memory map could be displayed via the VDG.
The problem with the Color Computer 3 was it was too little too late. Bean counters strike again. They limited the number of display colors (to keep it from competing with their PCs) and they insisted it cost no more to build then its predecessor.
Plus memory prices spiked and the 512K expansion card wound up costing more than the computer.

6809 assembly language was the last 8bit form of machine code I learned. It had some neat advantages over 6800 and 6502 code.