VIC-20



"The wonder computer of the 1980s."

Commodore's VIC-20 was released in the early 80s as the successor to the PET. It was a hit due to its very low cost, and it amassed a sizable library. Its TV ad starring William Shatner is still remembered as the watershed moment when home computers first positioned themselves as worthy yet cost-effective rivals to dedicated game consoles. However, the VIC-20 was also a weak hardware, with low-resolution graphics and very little RAM, meaning it was only adequate for games and edutainment, not productivity applications. As its limitations became too apparent to ignore, Commodore released its successor, the far superior and more successful Commodore 64.