The VIC-1001 is the first of the VIC series of computers, which includes the tremendously successful VIC-20. The VIC-1001 was only sold in Japan. As such, it includes a special character ROM and keyboard that allow the user to enter Katakana characters.
As often with Commodore, the origin of the "-1001" moniker is unclear. It might be a reference to another popular Commodore system, the PET-2001.
When he introduced the VIC-1001 to the world, Jack Tramiel uttered this unforgettable sentence: "The Japanese are coming, so we must become the Japanese!" (referring to the threats of low-cost systems from Japan) He then proceeded to create one of the most popular line of micro-computers of all time.
Please consider donating your old computer / videogame system to Old-Computers.com or one of our partners from anywhere in the world (Europe, America, Asia, etc.).
NAME
VIC-1001
MANUFACTURER
Commodore
TYPE
Home Computer
ORIGIN
Japan
YEAR
October 1980
END OF PRODUCTION
January 1985
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
CBM Basic V2
KEYBOARD
Full-stroke keyboard, 4 function keys, 66 keys
CPU
Commodore Semiconductor Group 6502A 1 MHz
SPEED
1.0227 Mhz
CO-PROCESSOR
VIC-I (6560) for sound and graphics.
RAM
5 KB (3583 bytes free), expandable up to 21 KB
VRAM
Screen memory shared with regular RAM
ROM
16 KB
TEXT MODES
23 rows x 22 columns
GRAPHIC MODES
184 x 176
COLORS
8 character colors, 16 background/border colors
SOUND
3 voices / 3 octaves
SIZE / WEIGHT
40.3 x 20.4 x 7.2 cm / 1,8 Kg
I/O PORTS
1 joystick port, 1 user port, 1 serial port, 1 cartrige port, CBM DIN video output, tape interface
