What should I get?

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 12:48 pm

Ok I wanted to get into some programming, basic and then more advanced stuff. I cant make up my mind as to whether I should buy a vintage computer and play around with the basic programming it comes with or if I should buy and build a new computer.

I was looking at the commodore 64. Unless someone else has a better suggestion as to something to try out.

Or buy an ITX mobo and do that.

Thank you for you input.

P.S. The ITX I was planning on doing a case mod as well. Ihave my Sega CD and two PS case laying around I could use.

Post by **Gamelver** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 1:04 pm

I know spongey just got a C64 recently, perhaps he can help you out with that................

Post by **SpongeBuell** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 1:11 pm

I still gotta get that thing running. I haven't gotten around to starting it up since I don't have any cords and it needs 9VAC, so I gotta hack up a NES adapter.

JackFrost22 · Post by **JackFrost22** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 1:37 pm

Do you wanna learn basic or assembly I learned assembly with an atari 800 works great trying to lean sh4 assembly it is so hard

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 2:20 pm

I've had and used my C-64s for a few years, and I highly reccomend them.

The only thing is that you leave all the ports in, since the c-64 has no internal drive. Its OS/Programming language(which are the same) is in its own ROM, so you need to use a tape drive, or even better, a disk drive like the 1541.

There are even external hard drives(10-30MB) and modens for them, and I use the Fast Load cartridge and have never had a problem(though someone on the boards has).

C-64 is good for learning BASIC, but uses GOTO, so it isn't high-level basic.

If you want to learn a more complex form of BASIC, I recommend QBASIC/QuickBASIC. It is a DOS programming language which is good for learning how to program, and makes a good intro(My first college programming class which I just finished was in QBASIC).

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 3:25 pm

Well I know you can get Dos on a cart with the Commodore and even with the Atari. Would that get me QBASIC?

Again thanks for the help.

MM007 · Post by **MM007** » Sun Jan 09, 2005 3:27 pm

Sparkfist wrote:Well I know you can get Dos on a cart with the Commodore and even with the Atari. Would that get me QBASIC?

Again thanks for the hell.

Well, we are talking MS-DOS, and QBASIC is an additional 3.x MB file. It might work, but it runs best on native MS-DOS, and not an emulator.

It might work fine, or you might have speed problems.