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The Commodore 64 vs. the iPhone 3G S

Posted by timothy on from the next-week-chocolate-torte-vs.-charles-manson dept.

Harry writes "The unfortunate news about Apple rejecting a Commodore 64 emulator from the iPhone App Store inspired me to compare the C64 to the new iPhone 3G S, in more detail than any rational person is likely to compare them, ever again. If nothing else, it's a snapshot of just how far technology has come since the C64's release in August of 1982."

16 of 238 comments (clear)

  1. Oh well... by Luc1fel · · Score: 5, Funny

    Then it's settled. I'm getting a Commodore instead.

  2. The developers are spreading FUD by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's quite clear what Apple approved was selling individual C64 games or apps individually that used an emulator underneath. Not a full fledged emulator that would let you program your own games, or play whatever C64 software you have.

    Apple probably read their website and realized their goal was quite different then what they were told earlier.

    It's quite clear that an emulator is OK as long as it can only run the app sold with it, and not arbitrary code.

    1. Re:The developers are spreading FUD by Sockatume · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I do wonder about Apple's policy there. Ostensibly, it's to stop you running an unapproved app by running it in an emulator, but they're perfectly happy to approve apps which pull down arbitrary and equally unapproved content from the web.

      --
      No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
    2. Re:The developers are spreading FUD by TheRaven64 · · Score: 4, Informative
      It's not FUD if it's true. Are you even reading what you're writing?

      It's quite clear that an emulator is OK as long as it can only run the app sold with it, and not arbitrary code.

      It's okay to use this device that you've bought for running Apple-approved software, but not for running arbitrary code. That's not FUD, it's Apple's policy. If you're happy with a device that has this kind of restriction, then that's great, enjoy yourself.

      --
      I am TheRaven on Soylent News
    3. Re:The developers are spreading FUD by jandrese · · Score: 4, Funny

      Should I be relieved that I have no idea what the heck "zebu porn" is?

      --

      I read the internet for the articles.
    4. Re:The developers are spreading FUD by mini+me · · Score: 4, Informative

      It's quite clear that an emulator is OK as long as it can only run the app sold with it, and not arbitrary code.

      Except it's not clear. There's a Brainfuck interpreter, as well as a Z-machine interpreter. Both execute arbitrary code which can be downloaded from a remote source, or entered right on the device itself.

  3. Nice Shapshot! by jchawk · · Score: 4, Informative

    Good overview of the two technologies.

    One point of correction the iPhone has successful run Apache so it can be used as a web server (for what it's worth). Here's a related article -

    http://www.modmyi.com/forums/native-iphone-ipod-touch-app-launches/2665-apache-iphone-how-cool.html

  4. 3D acceleration is just the new 2D acceleration by Sockatume · · Score: 4, Informative

    MOS Technology VIC-II; no 3D capability

    True, but at the time, 2D hardware features were as much a bullet-point as 3D acceleration today, and the C64 had some quite impressive 2D tricks up its sleeve.

    --
    No kidding!!! What do you say at this point?
  5. C64 didn't use a 6502 by Mprx · · Score: 4, Informative

    It used a 6510, which is a modified version of the 6502 with an extra IO port.

  6. Price comparison by furby076 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The iPhone 3G S has 4,000 times the RAM (256MB) for one-third the price (with an AT&T contract)

    Your price comparison is not really good. You should compare an uncontracted iphone price (500 or 600) to that of a c64. The contract lock is worth money - especially considering how much you buy to maintain your service. THen again you get more from the contract (phone service, access to the internet, etc). So a better comparison is the straight phone price to the c64 price.

    --

    I do not support "The Man". I also do not support your irrational stupidity
    1. Re:Price comparison by jeffmeden · · Score: 5, Funny

      The iPhone 3G S has 4,000 times the RAM (256MB) for one-third the price (with an AT&T contract)

      Your price comparison is not really good. You should compare an uncontracted iphone price (500 or 600) to that of a c64. The contract lock is worth money - especially considering how much you buy to maintain your service. THen again you get more from the contract (phone service, access to the internet, etc). So a better comparison is the straight phone price to the c64 price.

      Don't forget to correct for 27 years of inflation! Incidentally, this brings the C64 price to $1,318.59. Beat that, Apple Elitists.

  7. Unfair comparison -- didn't include FREEDOM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They forgot to include FREEDOM. You were free on the C64, no one could stop you from making applications, running them and distributing them freely to friends, who in turn, without big brother watching, could distribute your creations as well. You're not even allowed ot run a python interpreter on the iphone.

    And don't tell me about jailbreaking, jailbreaking is a DMCA violation and if AT&T catches you, you will be kicked off their network. You don't have control of your device, with the C64 you did.

    1. Re:Unfair comparison -- didn't include FREEDOM by LWATCDR · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Calm down.
      I agree not only could you write any code you wanted for free but Commodore included the scematics of the C-64! At least they did with mine but I had an early one.
      Not only that people disassembled the kernel and wrote books that included the listing and nobody sent them a take down notice!
      That was simpler time full of Compute and Byte magazine and taking your best girl to see ET and WarGames.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
  8. The only comparison that matters by h4rr4r · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The only comparison that matters is you could write and run your own code on the C64 and you cannot on the iPhone.

  9. You think your Commodore 64 is really neat-o? by Tetsujin · · Score: 4, Funny

    What kinda chip you got in there, a Dorito?

    --
    Bow-ties are cool.
  10. 10000 apps? I don't think so. by Perseid · · Score: 4, Informative

    http://www.gamebase64.com/ This database has 20000 games. Those are just the ones they've found and it doesn't even include actual applications, only games. The total number of programs for the C-64 is probably far more than 50000.