Date   : Wed, 30 Nov 1983 09:07:03-PST (Wed)
From   : decvax!duke!phs!jtb@ucb-vax
Subject: Re: ecsvax.1620: C64 CP/M

I have one of these CP/M cartrages for a C64.  I havent used it much yet
so I cant be sure but the manual is a duplicate of the standard one so that
much is standard.  The max memory is reduced because the screen is bit
mapped and the BIOS is completly different since much of it is actualy
entry points to routines running on the other processor.  I think that
most programs which require cursor positioning will not work and could not
be made to work without major rework. Also the screen is a non standard size
which would break many programs. Keep in mind that the screen is a standard
vidio monitor not a crt it is optimized for games and is hard on the eyes
when used for text.  If you have had experience with the first Osborne
I think you can get an idea of what using the C64 CP/M would be like it
had the same non standard screen and BIOS. One question I have not gotten
a satisfactory answer to is how standard the disks it writes are it is
not clear to me that the software houses are making CP/M programs avalable
in a sutable format if anybody knows I would like to hear.
As you say the price cant be beat so perhaps it will find a nitch (as a
training machine perhaps a demo system could be put together using an
existing TV for less than $600).
Jose Torre-Bueno
decvax!duke!phs!jtb