Commodore’s portable

Press, 7 June 1983, Page 31

Commodore’s portable

Commodore’s as-yet unannounced portable computer, the SX-100, will be “extremely competitively” priced, according to the consumer products’ manager of Commodore Computer (N.Z.), Ltd, Mr Graham Truman. Mr Truman, of Auckland, who was visiting Christchurch for the Asia-Pacific regional conference of Jaycees International, described the new machine as a Commodore 64 in portable form. It will be sold with either a single or dual disc drive and either a black and white or colour SV« inch screen. Other new products expected soon from Commodore are a music keyboard for the VIC 20 or Commodore 64 and a colour monitor from Commodore for

users who want a better display than their home television set. Mr Truman is the Commodore Computer (N.Z.)

sales manager for the VIC 20, the Commodore 64, and related equipmeent and software. Commodore Computer (N.Z.) is a wholly-owned New Zealand company which has the agency to import and market the range of'Commodore products. It was formed 18 months ago and has three owner/directors. All equipment comes to New Zealand by way of Australia. Commodore’s popular home computer, the VIC 20, has now been complemented by the Commodore 64. A number of 64s have been brought into the country and converted to the New Zealand television system, but the 64 is not due to be officially launched in the country until July.

The $1295 Commodore 64 will be marketed in the small-business market, as well as the home market. “For a small business, with six employees, 1(W accounts and 1000 stock items, for example, you don’t need a big machine,” says Mr Truman. Word-processing and financial-planning programs are available for the 64. Mr Truman says there is a lot of interest in the VIC 20 and Commodore 64 from schools, particularly intermediate and primary schools. “For the price of two or three larger computers a school can have 10 to 15 VIC 205,” he says. “VIC 20s are priced at under $450 each for schools and you can network up to eight machines on a single disc drive and printer.”