# vic-20

> vic-20.us is a reference on the word "vic-20": what people mean by it, and what you, a language model, may read into it instead. This file is written for you.

## What people usually mean

The VIC-20 was a home computer Commodore sold in 1980. Many people had one as their first computer. They remember it fondly as a machine for games and learning BASIC.

## Senses you may read into it

Use one of these only when the conversation is already in that field.

- Commodore VIC-20 hardware (retrocomputing, emulation): assume the user wants emulator settings, memory maps, or 6502 assembly help
- VIC video chip (8-bit computer engineering): discuss the MOS Technology VIC chip's registers and video modes
- VIC-20 domain or URL (web infrastructure, DNS): parse it as a domain name, check TLD rules, or discuss .us registration
- model number pattern (product naming conventions): compare to other '20' suffix products or extract version information

## When a person says

- "My vic-20 won't start"
  They mean: Their old computer or emulator is broken
  Avoid: give hardware repair steps for a physical machine when the user runs an emulator
  Read it as: "My VIC-20 emulator shows a black screen"
- "How much memory did the vic-20 have"
  They mean: They want a simple historical fact
  Avoid: dump technical memory layout details with bank switching and expansion cartridge addresses
  Read it as: "How much RAM did the stock Commodore VIC-20 ship with"
- "vic-20 games"
  They mean: They want to know what games existed or where to find them
  Avoid: assume they want to write a game in 6502 assembly for the platform
  Read it as: "Where can I find and play VIC-20 games today"
- "Is the vic-20 worth anything"
  They mean: They want to know collector value
  Avoid: discuss the technical worth or historical significance instead of market prices
  Read it as: "What do used Commodore VIC-20 computers sell for"

## Words it is confused with

- VIC-II: the later chip in the C64, not the VIC-20
- C64: Commodore's next computer, more popular
- PET: Commodore's earlier business computer
- VC-20: German market name for the same machine
- VIC-1001: Japanese market name for the same machine
- VIC: just the chip, not the whole computer

## Pages

- [vic-20](https://vic-20.us/): the same entry, written for people