Bob Mockford Online         The Commodore Years       << 128D Datassettes Quick Data >>     Home > The Commodore Years > Hardware > Datassettes   Hardware Contents Calculators Watches Games PET/CBM VIC-20 Commodore 64 Commodore 64C Commodore SX64 Commodore 16 Plus/4 Commodore 128 Commodore 128D Datassettes Quick Data 1541 Drive 1541 MkII Other Drives Printers Monitors Vic Expansion 64 Expansion Controllers PSUs Other Items Commodore Years Introduction Hardware Software Paperwork PC News Magazines Links       The earliest PETs had this type of data recorder built-in but it was sold separately after the PET's keyboard was improved. This model has no data counter. The cream version followed and is labelled as model 1530. It is like the black model except for the addition of a tape counter. This made it easier to find programs on the tape. Mine is Mine are Serial 054050 made in Taiwan. Serial 212920 made in Taiwan ROC.   Serial 299610 made in Taiwan ROC. The 1530 was redesigned and this was the model bought with most VICs and 64s. The plug for connecting to the computer was improved. For the C16 and Plus/4 the datassette was renamed 1531 and given a black case. The connector was changed so that 1530s and 1531s could not be interchanged but adaptors soon appeared on the market. Mine are Mine are Serial 2103837 made in Taiwan ROC. Serial JA 0121329 made in Taiwan ROC. Serial 2156009 made in Taiwan ROC. Serial JA 0248033 made in Taiwan ROC. Serial JA05 45242 made in Taiwan ROC. Serial JA 0267014 made in Taiwan ROC. Serial JO4 031232. Serial JA 0273527 made in Taiwan ROC. Serial JO4 297361 made in Taiwan ROC. Serial XG 0060736 made in Taiwan. Serial S 394393 made in Japan. Serial XG 0064704 made in Taiwan. Serial S 0807889 made in Singapore. Serial XG 0160599 made in Taiwan ROC. Unlike many of its competitors, Commodore prevented ordinary cassette recorders being connected to its computers. Commodore's own tape deck, known as a datassette, had a unique connector. The idea of a dedicated cassette drive was to make loading and saving more reliable. In this, Commodore were probably successful but the result was a long, long wait for a game to load. In its defence, it has to be said that the datassette was easy to use and usually worked well. The slow speed of the tape was partly due to the software or data being checked as it was loaded or saved. Early connector as used on top two. Connector used on later 1530s (C2Ns). 1531 connector for C16 and Plus/4. Adaptor to allow a 1530 (C2N) to be used with a C16 or Plus/4. Adaptor to allow a 1531 to be used with a Vic-20 or C64. The real disadvantage of using cassettes was in the storage and retrieval of data. Any search had to be made from the start of the tape. The answer of course was to use a disk drive, but again only Commodore's own were compatible and they were expensive. Most games came on cassettes and blank tapes were readily available. The design of the datassette evolved with each new computer.The original 1530 works with the Vic, 64 and 128. The 16 and Plus/4 use the 1531.   << 128D Top of the Page Quick Data >>     Home > The Commodore Years > Hardware