Commodore 128

Summary

The Commodore 128 (C128) was released in 1985 in the USA, a year later in Europe. Technically, it builds on the C64 as a successor, but it offers an improved keyboard, has more interfaces and a more powerful chipset that allows resolutions up to 640 × 200 pixels. The memory of 128 KiB leads to the computer name.

The C128 has three operating modes: a C64 mode, a C128 mode with extended BASIC and a CP/M mode that is achieved with an additional Z80 processor. In C64 mode, it is not fully compatible with the predecessor.

Until the end of production in 1989 the C128 was released in three types. First as a keyboard computer, later as a desktop variant with built-in floppy and external keyboard.

The market launch price was 300 USD, and in Germany it cost 1198 DM. Around 4 million copies were sold. The C128 is the last 8-bit microcomputer that Commodore brought to market – in 1985, Commodore released the Amiga 1000, a powerful 16/32-bit computer.