GORTEK AND THE MICROCHIP COMMODORE 64 SOFTWARE BOOK

1982 - 1992
Overview

Rectangle book, outside black edging. Yellow and white text across top [START PROGRAMMING WITH / GORTEK / AMD THE / MICROCHIPS]. Publisher information along bottom in white. On front is a drawing of a silver robot with one hand on hip and wearing glasses. Yellow background, rocky landscape background. Yellow and white text on left side.
Pages and cover stapled in place along spine. Inside colour pages with text and images to teach children about programming.

Historical information

In the 1980s Mr Ken Brown purchased a Commodore 64, programming books and software to teach himself how to use a computer and to do computer programming. At the time the City of Armadale and the City was introducing computers and Ken did not know how to use a computer. The computer, manuals and software were used at his home on Albany highway. The computer was also used by other family members to play games.
The Commodore 64 was the first mass produced home computer. Was produced between 1982 and 1992 and is considered the highest selling computer in history.
The Commodore C64 was a home computer introduced in January 1982 by Commodore International. The C64 name came from its 64 kilobyte of RAM. Retailing at US$595 (equivalent to $1545 USD in 2018), it was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the highest-selling single computer model of all time. Selling 17 million units worldwide during its life time. Between 1983 and 1986, the C64 outsold its competitors companies IBM PC Compatibles, Apple Computers and Atari 8-bit. This was achieved through selling at regular retail stores rather than electronics only and computer specialist stores. Proximately 10,000 software titles were made for the C64 including office productivity applications, development tools and video games. It was discontinued in April 1994, however remains popular in society today with collectors and computer enthusiasts. In 2018, the C64 mini 'retro' console was announced, introducing a new generation to the wonders of the C64.
Gortwk and the Microchips was develped and published by Commodore in 1982. It was an 'edutainment' software pachage aimed at children to teach how to program in the BASIC language used on commodore computers by teaching them to program their own space adventure game.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-33-COA2008.33C
Item type
Width
211 mm
Height or length
297 mm
Depth
4 mm
Inscriptions and markings

Publisher information on cover [c=commodore / COMPUTER]. Publisher details on back cover [C Heather Scott, Stuart Alexander, Gary Bowle / C Commodore Electronic Limited] and [Commodore Business Machine (UK) Ltd. / 675 Ajax Avenue, Slough Trading Estate, / Slough, Berks, SL1 4BG England.]

Place made
Slough
England
United Kingdom
Statement of significance

This object is part of a collection that represents how technology has evolved over time and how those changes have impacted on daily life. These changes can relate to common professions or jobs that have either disapeared or appeared i.e. Blacksmiths or electricians. They can relate to how technology has made jobs or tasks easier or more convienient i.e. doing the washing by hand vs an electric washing machine.

Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Object’s condition or completeness
Rare or representative
Well provenanced
City of Armadale - History House

City of Armadale - History House

Organisation Details
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Item Feedback

Back cover of Gortek and the Microchip software book. The cover is black with white printing

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