[vcf-midatlantic] 8-bits and 80 columns

[Dave McGuire]

   Nearly all of the nice civilized S-100 systems, which were almost 
(but not all) 8-bitters, used either external terminals or "terminal on 
a board" video+keyboard interfaces that had 80 columns.

             -Dave

On 6/25/22 09:31, John Heritage via vcf-midatlantic wrote:
> Hey all --
> 
> Which (popular) 8-bit computers gained "easy" or even "standard" 80 column
> support?
> 
> I know there are a ton more 8bits than I'll list below, but my
> understanding is:
> 
> Atari 8bit -- XEP80 official accessory but almost no one bought it;  used
> joystick ports.. slow and limited 80 column (black and white?).  Atari did
> have a 60 column graphics/text mode IIRC.   there is a software hack that
> uses narrow characters for '80 columns' but hard to read, and came out
> after the machine was no longer commerically sold.
> 
> Apple II - supported via cards.  If 80 column support became common, when
> did it become common?  what was normal for color count, etc?
> 
> C64 - C128 mode natively offered 80 column support;  millions of these
> sold.  So maybe common later on?   16 colors.
> 
> PET - no 80 column?
> 
> C Plus/4 - software hack?
> 
> ZX Spectrum --  available via some clones only, not common?
> 
> BBC Micro -  Looks like a native mode for 80 column support?
> 
> TRS-80 - no native 80 column support?
> 
> Thanks!
> John


-- 
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA