P500 (1983)

Features

CPU: MOS 6509 (Zilog Z80 & Intel 8088 optional) 1 MHz
RAM: 128 KB (up to 896 KB, varying according to the model)
ROM: 28 KB
Text Modes: 40 x 25
Graphic Modes: 300 x 200
Colors: 16
I/O Ports: IEEE-488, Serial RS-232
Keyboard: Full stroke 94 key with numeric keypad and function keys
Built In Media: Change according to the model
OS: ROM Based (CP/M or MS DOS optional)
Built In Language: Microsoft BASIC
Peripherals: 2 x 170 KB or 500 KB or 1 MB 5” floppy disc unit, 8088 or Z80 card

Usage

MESS supports cbm500 emulation with two cart slots, “cartridge1” (cart1) and “cartridge2” (cart2), for cart dumps in .crt, .10, .20, .40 and .60 format.

Also notice that a “quickload” (quik) feature is available for .p00 and .prg files.

This system requires full keyboard emulation to work correctly. At startup, full keyboard emulation mode is enabled by default. Whilst in full keyboard emulation mode, some key associated functionality may be disabled (like the ESC key for EXIT). The keyboard emulation mode is toggled using the “Scroll Lock” key (by default).

Original Keyboard: Full stroke 94 key with numeric keypad and function keys

F1    F2   F3   F4   F5   F6   F7   F8   F9  F10      DOWN  UP  LEFT  RIGHT     HOME/CLEAR   DEL/INST

                                                                          INS  
   ESC   1!   2"   3#   4$   5%   6^   7&   8*   9(   0)   -   =+   <-£   DEL          ?   CE    .    /

                                                                       ________   
   TAB     Q    W    E    R    T     Y    U    I    O    P    [    ]  | RETURN |       7    8    9    -
                                                                      |__      |
    SHIFT                                                                |     |
    LOCK     A    S    D    F     G     H    J    K    L   ;:   '"   Pi  |     |       4    5    6    +
                                                                         |_____|
                                                                                                      E
      SHIFT     Z    X    C    V    B     N    M    ,<   .>   /?   SHIFT   C=          1    2    3    n
                                                                                                      t
                                                                                                      e
            CTRL               SPACEBAR                                              0      .    00   r

Known Issues

The emulation of this system is Preliminary.

History and Trivia

The CBM 500 had a 40-column, 300 x 200 pixels display. Contrary to the 600 and 700 it also had two ports for joystick, light pen and paddles.

MicroSoft Basic was in ROM. Both models had an option for a second processor (8088 or Z80) to function alongside the standard 6509, the 6509 was then used for I/O, display and keyboard management. They worked under Commodore DOS or CP/M and MSDOS when the computers used the other processors.

The 500 / 600 series was mainly sold in Europe, but a few models are known to have been sold in the United States.

(info from old-computers.com)