Hardcore Vic-20 users/gamers inside please...

[Scream And Fly]

I was wondering, how useful is a disk drive for the unexpanded (or expanded) Vic? Also, can a 1541 work with the Vic? I'm under the impression that most good software for the Vic is either on cartridge or cassette.

Thanks!

[Imstarryeyed]

You are correct, you can use a 1541 disc drive with the Vic. I love the Vic 20 as it was my very first computer. I dont use a 1541 with the Vic as almost all software was on cassette tapes and carts.

Carts I have to say in my opinion, are so much fun to collect cause they were so big and bulky. I liked how they often matched each other like the Commodore carts that are off white with a metal nameplate.. tre cool.

The Vic and Sega Saturn are the 2 consoles that I intend to own every US released cart/CDs that were released, of course I am also enjoying imports on them as well.

[lurpak]

just to add, the c64 1541 commands all work with the vic and a lot of games do transfer easily..if I can remeber (25 years ago)

load *.* ,8,1

list

loads the 1541 directory into memoy as a basic program, so you can get a directory.

and if you load a single part loader game, you can simply save it as

save "gamename",8

to put it on floppy disk

funny, I dont know how accurate that is, but I cant even remeber my childrens names, but some things just stick!

[Kid Ice]

Since the 1541 works with the Vic and the C64 I don't see a reason not to get one, although as I recall I used my disk drive with my Vic very little except to save my own BASIC games.

Correction to the above.... load"$",8 to load the directory.

[Imstarryeyed]

Since the 1541 works with the Vic and the C64 I don't see a reason not to get one, although as I recall I used my disk drive with my Vic very little except to save my own BASIC games.

Correction to the above.... load"$",8 to load the directory.

I completely agree, when I was typing in programs from Compute! and Ahoy, I would have loved to have had a disc drive for that one reason. I remember 1541's really being an luxury back then.

Today however I would not recommend one unless you:

1) Have lots of space -- Those buggers were huge and heavy, we often forget

2) Have extra outlets -- The 1541 used its own plug on the power strip, I often dont have enough of those! haha

3) Can actually find the Double Density 5 1/4 floppy discs..

I was actually interested in getting a Keyrah to turn an old Vic case into a modern USB keyboard for PC's and use WinVice to bring it all together. I figure this solution would allow me to save everything on my PC and load up all of the games without having to pull out all of that hardware and carts and such when I am in the mood to play a game.

http://www.vesalia.de/e_keyrah.htm

[Scream And Fly]

That's really great information, thanks everyone. I never thought I would really need the disk drive for the Vic. I know it's a must for the C64, but I kinda' find the Vic to be more fun. I've been on a long search for a mint or unused Vic-1541 disk drive just to match my mint Vic-20, but so far, no luck :(

Thanks again everyone! :)

[vintagegamecrazy]

Is the vic 1541 the same as the C64 1541 drive? I believe I have one and would love to use it.

[icbrkr]

The Vic 1541 is the same as a standard 1541 - it'll work on all Commodore's that use an IEC bus (Vic 20, Plus/4, 16, C128, C64, SX64, C-One)