Date   : Thu, 08 Jan 2015 20:43:34 +0100
From   : anders.carlsson@... (Anders Carlsson)
Subject: Compromises or lack of

Andrew Waite wrote:

> Electron [..] and a discrete sound chip

Oh! I was clueless about the custom ULA combining graphics and single 
channel sound.

A few years ago I grabbed a UK computer magazine and random and wrote down 
list prices for various computers. Here is what money bought you in October 
1984, prices mentioned inclusive VAT:

?55.95 - Oric 1
?99.99 - Atari 600XL
?129.95 - ZX Spectrum 48K incl. a six pack of software
?139.99 - Commodore 16 incl. tape recorder
?199.95 - Spectravideo SVL-328
?199.95 - Acorn Electron
?199.99 - Atari 800XL
?204.95 - Commodore 64
?275.00 - Memotech MTX512
?279.95 - Toshiba HX-10 64K MSX
?299.95 - Sony Hit-Bit 64K MSX
?299.95 - Sanyo MPC-100 64K MSX
?299.99 - Commodore Plus/4
?399.00 - BBC B incl. tape recorder and 5 games
?399.00 - Sinclair QL
?799.00 - Commodore SX-64 incl. MPS-801 printer and 3 business programs

So at that point in time, add ?5 and get a C64 instead of an Electron... 
tough market to compete on price.

I didn't look up the prices in the summer of 1985 when the BBC B+ came out, 
or the market at 1986 with the Master. By then, a lot of the minor 
competition of course was gone, but there were new Atatri ST's, eventually 
Amigas and Macs instead.

Some floppy drives too:

?129.95 - Cumana CSX100 (BBC)
?159.99 - Cumana CS100 (BBC)
?149.95 - Opus 5401 (BBC or Oric?)
?199.95 - Opus 5802 (BBC or Oric?)
?229.95 - Opus 3402 3" (Oric?)
?199.99 - Atari 1050 floppy drive
?229.00 - Commodore 1541 floppy drive
?349.95 - Sony HBD50 MSX 3.5" floppy drive 500K

So yes, at that point in time the 1541 cost slightly more than a C64, but it 
didn't seem quite so awfully expensive as people sometimes want to claim.

Best regards

Anders Carlsson