Classroom Commodore 64 Enclosure and C128D

Robin decommissions the metal enclosure for the C64 used in the first two episodes and sets up a Commodore 128D to use instead, and takes a close look at each setup in the process. Also, some feedback from previous episodes, a look at FREEZE64 magazine in the New 8-Bit Stuff segment, and a quick visit to Robin's closet full of 8-bit computers.

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[leonardochiruzzi]

That's why I can not find anything around anymore, it's all on your shelves. I'm dying of envy!!! 😂

[AmigaLove]

Good lord your 128D collection made me spontaneously drool.

[MarkNF]

We had the classroom enclosure in Newfoundland. This is what I thought the C64 looked like normally for most of my childhood. Always found it weird seeing it without it. Been looking for one for years.

[MARC]

So many people drooling over all those 128D and keyboards! Very nice! You are a bigger tech hoarder than me! I only have about 12 commodore PC's total.

[BilHerd]

I grabbed the keyboard layout from the VT100 and the reset circuit damm near kicked my ass as the VIC chip did not like to be reset during a DMA cycle. (Found a way to hold off reset using a spare 7406 gate). The C128D in the original plastic was my favorite model, the metal cases dame much later, aka Blechk Deisel.

[AlphaMatt]

My elementary school had these over 30 years ago. I vividly remember our entire library computer room perimeter surrounded with these. I recently picked up a Commodore 64 and Monitor; feeling totally nostalgic. Would love to find one of these enclosures.

[mortarmopp]

Damn, no wonder I can't get a decent Commodore computer, this guy's got 'em all.

[katho]

Even though this video is a bit older now... I think the school enclosure would make a lot more sense, if the ports would be connected to the left and right sides, just like that added button. If there were simply some flat cables in there to connect to the corresponding ports on the C64, this would be quite handy to have, with the monitor on top and still all ports easily accessible... and as aforementioned, a case fan of course :)

[cstuff]

It isn't just 'some people' calling the metal case ones 'DCR', Commodore used this name as well, for example, the PSU in my mid 1989 128D model says it is for a 128DCR.

It is called cost reduced not because of the case (there is another reason for the case having changed to metal) but because it includes a number of cost reducing measures inside:
- single board integrating the 1571
- removal of the 6526 from the 1571, replaced with a gate array performing all the required functions
- only uses 4 64K*4bit ram chips instead of 16 64k*1bit.
- removal of the PSU fan
- on later DCR models, removing of the holes for the power connection for the case fan
- on even later DCR models, removal of the mounting hole for the case fan
- removal of the keyboard storage and carrying handle

There exist a few prototype 'plastic case' NTSC 128Ds, Bil Herd owns one for sure, but for all I know it has never been sold. It has been sold in Europe, and they do show up every so often.
Reasons to want the 'plastic' 128D...
- better video output from VIC IIe
- board is identical to that of a regular 128, making them a lot easier to get, and making it possible to use the newly manufactured modern 128 board clone.
- PSU fan is installed and connected (but you really want to replace it)

Reasons to want the 'metal' 128D
- 8568 VDC (supports 'EGA' resolutions and sync besides 'CGA' resolutions. No it won't do EGA color, just the reversed polarity sync to tell a display to expect EGA style timings)
- 64K vdc ram (possible on 'regular' 128 and 'plastic' 128D as modification)
- integrated 1571 comes with CBM DOS 3.1, which fixes some prominent bugs (can be installed on regular 1571 as well)
- far less prone to the entire case going brittle
- does not have 'dangerous' features like the carrying handle. While this was a very cool design feature in the 1980s, plastics have aged and turned brittle, making the risk of the carrying handle breaking when actually used very real
- metal case is much better at transporting radiated heat to the outside environment, so stays cooler without fan, and if you decide to install a fan, can use a slower, less noisy fan.

As an aside, there is a cost reduced 'regular' 128 board as well, that has the same reduction in the number of ram chips, but I only ever saw a few pictures of it, and not sure if it ever entered production. It seems the 'flat' 128 was removed from the market before that actually happened (while they did keep selling the 128DCR for quite a while after that).

[ArrayzableMusic]

Awesome stuff, Robin! Really great and informative, and great concept!

[helldog]

I am envious of all of your 128D models. Some day I would love to have one, just for the sake of using it. I have never seen one in person. Sigh.

[IDPhotoMan]

That metal enclosure is pretty cool, but it would really need a cooling fan for air circulation, especially with the PSU in there.

[fandenivoldsk]

Really enjoyed this! Great seeing some C128 love!

[BertGrink]

When I saw the side view of the metal casing for the C64 at around 6:30 I had an idea of a board that plugs into the cartridge slot at the back of the C64, gives it a 90 degree turn and makes it accessible on the side - did such a board exist?

[MrMaxeemum]

You are doing well sir. Your videos are interesting and are very well explained. I had a C64 when growing up and have dabbled with it but mostly with basic (still make programs in windows in basic) and emulators and converted a DTV to a full featured C64 with all ports exposed but never really understood the machine code / assembly side of things. Watching your videos has reignited my fire and will revisit it. Just because it's old doesn't mean there is nothing to learn. Keep up the good work.

[BartKliebert]

Robin, do you recall an enclosure/organizer for the regular flat Commodore 128? I had one in the 90's but it's long gone. The monitor sat on top and there was space underneath for the back part of the 128 so that only the keyboard stuck out during normal use. Just above the keyboard there was space for two disk drives (1571's I believe) but I only had one drive, so there was a "blank" plastic piece for the other side. From far away it just looked like a regular desktop case similar to any IBM clone at the time. In fact, I bought it fourth-hand, so I didn't even know the computer itself was "inside the keyboard" until I took it apart to bring it home. I can't find anything about this online, mostly because I don't know what to search for.

[be]

I have a Commodore 128D as well. I had a C1902 monitor years ago to play 80 columns, but it's gone now.. darn it, I wish I had kept it.. now I'm stuck at 40 columns only with my C1701.

[viJ]

I never saw one of these! Our schools, back in the mid-80's, were all buying Apple II compatible Franklin machines. Very interesting to see! I only wish Commodore had produced a similar footprint machine and optimized expansion abilities with the space.

[ropersonline]

15:30: On the D-CR "cost-reduced": Maybe they cost-reduced the thing mainly in terms of PCB manufacture but upgraded the case from injection-moulded plastic to metal at the same time in a way that still came out cheaper?

[lesterjeffries]

I have a 128d, when I hook up the keyboard there no text on the screen. But when I unhook the key board the text appear what is wrong?