Plus/4
The four arrow-shaped keys form the cursor key "diamond" to the right. | |
| Manufacturer | Commodore Business Machines |
|---|---|
| Type | Home computer |
| Released | 1984 |
| Introductory price | US$299 (equivalent to $930 in 2025) |
| Discontinued | 1985 |
| Operating system | Commodore BASIC 3.5 |
| CPU | MOS Technology 7501 or 8501 @ 1.76 MHz |
| Memory | 64 KB RAM + 64 KB ROM |
| Graphics | TED (320 × 200, 121 colors) |
| Sound | TED (2-channel with 4-octave + white noise) |
The Plus/4 is a home computer released by Commodore International in 1984. It is part of the Commodore 264 series, which also includes the Commodore 16 and Commodore 116 models. The Plus/4 was marketed as "the productivity computer with software built in", with a four-application ROM-resident office suite: word processor, spreadsheet, database, and graphing software.
Internally, the Plus/4 shares the same basic architecture as the Commodore 16 and 116, allowing it to use software and peripherals designed for these models. It is incompatible with the Commodore 64's extensive software library and some of its hardware. The Plus/4 was intended to expand the home computer market by targeting users interested in serious applications rather than gaming.
The Plus/4 has a compact plastic casing with a full keyboard, although the cursor and function keys are made of rubber. Its BASIC version 3.5 is software incompatible with the Commodore 64. Despite its potential, the Plus/4 was criticized for its lack of compatibility with the C64 and its deficiencies in sound and graphics compared to its predecessor.
Commodore produced approximately 827,000 units worldwide, with a significant number sold in Germany. The Plus/4 was discontinued in 1985, but systems remained available from liquidators for several years afterward.