Da rulez!

[Blacklord]

Rules are:

1. Up to three questions on the ONE subject may be asked.
   Each question may have multiple answers, but it is suggested that the number of requested answers
   per question not exceed three.
   If only one answer per question is required, up to five may be asked, keeping in mind the one subject rule.

2. The first person to correctly answer the question/s will be declared the winner.
   The winner shall then be entitled to ask new questions (as in 1 above), declare the floor open (as in 3 below)
   or request that a participant deserving of the honour ask new questions (examples of deserving persons would be
   another person who answered the question/s correctly after the winner or who provided an entertaining post).

   2.1.Once an answer has been deemed correct, the winner will have the rest of that day, and the next 72 hours
   (3 days) to post a question. If a question is not provided within that time frame, the floor is open.

3. If the floor is open, the first person to post new question/s (as in 1 above) shall have the floor,
   becoming the quizmaster.

4. The quizmaster's (person who has the floor) decision is final; unless evidence can be provided to suggest s/he is wrong.
   The quizmaster must decide whether they will or will not accept answers, all reasonable answers must be accepted.

5. It is unreasonable to guess more than one answer per question per attempt.
   No person shall be entitled to make more than one attempt in a row (i.e. a person may only make a second attempt after
   the quizmaster declares their last attempt incorrect).

6. Questions must relate to Commodore 8 bit computers only.

7. Each quiz needs to be resolved in 72 hours from the original post with the first, closest answer being the winner & the next quizmaster.

Sorry for the long listing of rules. Wanted to make sure I covered everything though. Modifications to the rules may be made if required. Please use the private message function to bring to my attention any changes you think should happen in the rules.

[adric22]

Okay.. if I understand correctly, we just need somebody to start asking questions.. I guess since I'm here first, I'll do it.  Now, there isn't much point in asking direct questions like "how much memory did the C64 have" because it would be easy to look the answer up on the internet.  So I'll write some questions that require indirect thinking.  My subject matter will be on modems/communication.

1) Which commodore 8-bit systems did not have a user-port and hence could not use a modem?

2) Which commodore 8-bit machines could natively (in other words, right on the user-port) support a 9600 baud or higher modem?

3) Of all the 8-bit commodore systems made after 1982, which machine was least used with a modem (assuming it could use one at all)

There... This should be interesting, may be some debate on these topics..

[JamesC]

1) Which commodore 8-bit systems did not have a user-port and hence could not use a modem?

2) Which commodore 8-bit machines could natively (in other words, right on the user-port) support a 9600 baud or higher modem?

3) Of all the 8-bit commodore systems made after 1982, which machine was least used with a modem (assuming it could use one at all)

1) The C16, 116, and 232.
2) The plus/4, 264, and V364 had a hardware ACIA that allowed up to 19.2kbps. However I have never seen a modem that attached directly to the Commoodre userport (without some sort of adapter) that went higher than 2400 baud.
3) Not counting prototype machines... the plus/4. Only one batch of 1660 modems (blue/grey box with rainbow stripes) had a plus/4 communications program on the demo disk. Later 1660s (white box) and all 1670s did not claim plus/4 compatibility on the outer package. One had to carefully read the owner's manual to learn how to make them work on a plus/4.

[adric22]

a plus/4 communications program on the demo disk. Later 1660s (white box) and all 1670s did not claim plus/4 compatibility on the outer package. One had to carefully read the owner's manual to learn how to make them work on a plus/4.

Hmm. this is obviously a matter for debate.  I used to use a Plus/4 with my 1670 all the time.  I'd use it to call BBSs and download stuff while playing games on my 128.   The machine I had in mind was the Vic-20.

[Golan Klinger]

Perhaps it would be best if questions and the expected answers were sent to Lance to hold in escrow before the questions were posted? That should prevent problems where there are multiple answers and/or answers are subjective.

[Blacklord]

Perhaps it would be best if questions and the expected answers were sent to Lance to hold in escrow before the questions were posted? That should prevent problems where there are multiple answers and/or answers are subjective.

Oh I dunno - the discussion could be interesting That being said, I've added another rule - each quiz needs to be resolved in 72 hours with the first, closest answer being the winner & the next quiz master.

cheers,

Lance

[JamesC]

Hmm. this is obviously a matter for debate.  I used to use a Plus/4 with my 1670 all the time.  I'd use it to call BBSs and download stuff while playing games on my 128.   The machine I had in mind was the Vic-20.

a) The VIC-20 was released in 1981. Your question specified "after 1982".
b) Look at any 1670 box. It says "For the 64, SX64, or 128". To learn how to use the plus/4 with a 1670, you have to check the 1670 manual where it specifies how to set the dipswitches on the back of the modem.... near the end of the manual.
c) What software did you use? "Higgyterm", the program from the 1660 demo disk, did not have a program download function... you could dump the text buffer to disk though. It wasn't until late '88 or so that alternate terminal software for the plus/4 appeared.

[adric22]

a) The VIC-20 was released in 1981. Your question specified "after 1982".

I didn't say released after 1982, rather made after 1982.  I can't find any specific information now, but I'm fairly certain the Vic-20 was still being made into 1983 or 1984.    The reason I used the year 1982 was to weed out any chance of somebody putting the PET on there. mostly because I don't know enough about PETs.  I think some of them had a user-port, but I can't think of anyone ever saying they called a BBS with a PET.

b) Look at any 1670 box. It says "For the 64, SX64, or 128". To learn how to use the plus/4 with a 1670, you have to check the 1670 manual where it specifies how to set the dipswitches on the back of the modem.... near the end of the manual.

Another problem most people don't think about is the fact that a 1670 modem doesn't fit in the back of a plus/4 without sawing some of the plastic off.  The plastic bezel of the two are incompatible.  But it does work once modified a bit.

c) What software did you use? "Higgyterm", the program from the 1660 demo disk, did not have a program download function... you could dump the text buffer to disk though. It wasn't until late '88 or so that alternate terminal software for the plus/4 appeared.

Hmmm..  Yes, I did use Higgyterm.  I believe there was some other software I might have tried, but I'm thinking I used Higgyterm most of the time.  I could be wrong, that was a long time ago.   But I know I downloaded files from BBSs with it.  I'll have to look into that.

But anyway.. I guess the bottom line is.. the reason I was looking for the Vic-20 as an answer to that question was that I knew for a fact you could use it to connect to a BBS.  There was terminal software available for it.  But I never knew of anyone actually doing it.  Whereas with the PET, I am not even sure if it is capable of connecting to a BBS and never heard anyone even mention a modem on a PET.  Obviously, people used C64, 64C, 128, 128D, SX64, etc... all the time to connect to BBSs.   The sad part is the Plus/4 was actually ideal for connecting to a BBS due to the better serial port, and it the video output was just as good as the c64 for the purpose.  Only the 128 with the (native) 80-column screen could prove to be better suited.

[JamesC]

Hmmm..  Yes, I did use Higgyterm.  I believe there was some other software I might have tried, but I'm thinking I used Higgyterm most of the time.  I could be wrong, that was a long time ago.   But I know I downloaded files from BBSs with it.  I'll have to look into that.

But anyway.. I guess the bottom line is.. the reason I was looking for the Vic-20 as an answer to that question was that I knew for a fact you could use it to connect to a BBS.  There was terminal software available for it.  But I never knew of anyone actually doing it.

Another reason I didn't really think of the VIC as the answer you were looking for.... the existance of the 1600 and 1650 modems. The packaging of the 1600 specified the VIC. The 1650 had a basic VIC-20 comm program printed in the manual. Plus there were several clones of the 1650; I don't know if they came with VIC comm programs or not, though.

Therefore, by my logic, the VIC had more potential to be used online. The plus/4 wasn't really promoted as capable of online communications.

And I found another answer to your first question: the 64GS didn't have a userport in the case, as it was meant to be a game machine. One could cut a hole in the case to mount a modem, and another hole to access the serial port. But did a 64GS still have support in ROM to use them? Or was that code removed to make it more dependent on cartridges?

[Blacklord]

Okay.. if I understand correctly, we just need somebody to start asking questions.. I guess since I'm here first, I'll do it.

You need to declare a winner so they can pose a new question.....


cheers,

Lance

[JamesC]

You need to declare a winner so they can pose a new question.....

It looks like I'm the only one who answered, but I don't have any trivia questions.

I suggest opening the floor to whomever has a question.