Editing MAX Machine (section)

{{Short description|1982 home computer}}
{{Infobox computer
| logo = 
| Photo = Commodore MAX Machine (shadow) (xparent bg).png
| Type = [[Video game console|Console]] / [[home computer]]
| Released = {{Start date and age|1982}}
| Discontinued = 1982
| Processor = [[MOS Technology 6510|6510]] {{nowrap|@ 1.02 MHz}}
| Memory = 2 [[KiB|KB]], 0.5 KB color RAM
| Graphics = [[MOS Technology VIC-II|VIC-II]] 6566 (320 x 200, 16 colors, [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]], [[raster interrupt]])
| sound = [[MOS Technology SID|SID 6581]] (3x [[Electronic oscillator|Osc]], 4x [[Waveform|Wave]], [[Electronic filter|Filter]], [[ADSR envelope|ADSR]], [[Ring modulation|Ring]])<!-- Tried to keep it short -->
| OS = none - optional MAX BASIC (Cartridge)
| price = {{USD|200|1982|round=-1}}
| predecessor = [[VIC-20]]
| successor = [[Commodore 64]]
| aka = Ultimax, VC-10
}}[[Image:CommodoreMAX.jpg|thumb|right|MAX Machine, accessories, and retail packaging]]

'''MAX Machine''' (or simply MAX), also known as '''Ultimax''' in the [[United States]] and [[Canada]] and '''VC-10''' in [[Germany]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=RaYzor |date=2014-11-06 |title=Commodore MAX Machine -- elusive and with good reason. |url=http://www.northnet.org/rayzor/cbm/max.html |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Collection of Uncommon Commodore Computers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106184014/http://www.northnet.org/rayzor/cbm/max.html |archive-date=2014-11-06 }}</ref> is a [[home computer]] designed and sold by [[Commodore International]] in [[Japan]], beginning in November of 1982,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Commodore 1982 Annual Report|url=https://archive.org/details/commodoreannualreport1982}}</ref> a cousin to the popular [[Commodore 64]], also sharing a lot of components with the C64.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MAX Machine / Ultimax / VC-10 |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=2&c=40 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819050454/https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=40&st=2 |archive-date=2021-08-19 |access-date=2022-01-22 |website=OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=The C= guy |first=Robby |date=2011 |title=The odd one out… the MAX Machine |url=http://www.mos6502.com/commodore-tech-corner/the-odd-one-out-the-max-machine/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=MOS 6502|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306235734/http://www.mos6502.com/commodore-tech-corner/the-odd-one-out-the-max-machine/ |archive-date=2016-03-06 }}</ref> The Commodore 64 manual mentions the machine by name, suggesting that Commodore intended to sell the machine internationally; however, it is unclear whether the machine was ever actually sold outside Japan. When it was officially presented, in [[Tokyo]], for the first time, it was named Commodore VICKIE.<ref>{{Cite web |title=VICKIE BASIC report from MOS Tech.|url=https://archive.org/details/vickiebasic/}}</ref>

The unit has a [[membrane keyboard]] and 2&nbsp;KB of RAM internally and 0.5&nbsp;KB of color RAM (1024 × 4 bits). It uses a television set for a display. It uses the same [[chipset]] and [[MOS Technology 6510|6510]] CPU as the Commodore 64, the same [[MOS Technology 6581|SID]] sound chip, and a MOS Technology 6566 graphics chip, a version of the [[MOS Technology VIC-II|VIC-II]] that powers the C-64 graphics for the MAX' [[static RAM]]. A tape drive could be connected for storage, but each cartridge had to implement its own cassette [[device driver|driver]] and [[communication protocol|protocol]] routines, so the tape could only be used by 2 of 24 released programs. The MAX also lacks the [[serial port|serial]] and user ports necessary to connect a [[disk drive]], [[Printer (computing)|printer]], or [[modem]].<ref name=":0" /> The lack of any built-in [[operating system]], not even a simple bootstrap OS, combined with the fact that all the software released for the platform are video games (besides a scaled down cartridge-based [[BASIC]] with no disk, modem, or printer support) positions the Max as a video game console rather than a home computer, despite sharing much of the Commodore 64's chipset. The MAX's 2KB of RAM also indicates it was intended as a games machine and not a personal computer. Even the [[Commodore PET]], released five years earlier in 1977, had a minimum of 4K RAM, and rapidly 8K became the minimum. Even the VIC-20, heavily criticized for its minimal RAM, shipped with 5K of RAM.

Software is loaded from plug-in cartridges - turning on the MAX with no cartridge inserted yielded only a blank screen. Its ROM cartridge architecture was compatible with that of the C-64, so that MAX cartridges will work in the C-64.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zimmerman |first=Bo |date=2024-05-22 |title=Commodore MAX Machine Game Console : Meet my friend Max. |url=http://www.zimmers.net/cbmpics/cmax.html |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Zimmers.net|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240522205952/http://www.zimmers.net/cbmpics/cmax.html |archive-date=2024-05-22 }}</ref> The MAX compatibility mode in C-64 was later frequently used for "freezer" cartridges (such as the [[Action Replay]]), as a convenient way to take control of the currently running program.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/ckb/secret/ultimax.html |title=The Ultimax/Max Machine, The 64GS, The 64CGS |access-date=2019-01-12 |work=The Secret Weapons of Commodore |date=2018-01-21 }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Commodore MAX |url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/60800/Commodore-MAX/# |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210623174548/http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/60800/Commodore-MAX/ |archive-date=2021-06-23 |access-date=2022-01-22 |website=Computing History}}</ref>

It was intended to sell for around US$200. Although the MAX had better graphics and sound capability, Commodore's own [[VIC-20]], which sold for around the same amount, was much more expandable, had a much larger software library, and had a better keyboard—all of which made it more attractive to consumers. The MAX never sold well and was quickly discontinued.