★ PEOPLES ★ AMSTRAD LAUNCHES 664 (POPULAR COMPUTING WEEKLY) ★ |
| Amstrad launches 664 (Popular Computing Weekly) |
THE FIRST of Amstrad's new CPC 664 micros should be in the shops next week. The CPC 664, successor to the CPC 464, was officially launched last week. As was widely expected, the built-in cassette recorder on the 464 has been replaced by a 3 inch disc drive. The machine does, however, have a cassette port at the back of the machine, replacing the disc port on the earlier model. Like its predecessor, the CPC 664 will be available in two versions, with either a built-in monochrome or colour monitor. The monochrome model will cost £339.00, the colour version £449.00. Software for the CPC 464 should run on the new machine, although a few enhancements have been made to Locomotive's Basic used on both machines. The CPC 664's new Basic version 1.1 mark 2 Rom includes several new keywords. The new machine also has an expansion port, to which an additional disc drive can be connected, priced at £159. The launch of the 664 does not, however, mean an immediate pnce cut for the 464. "I can't see any reason why the price should change," said Amstrad chairman Alan Sugar. “Any reduction we may make would be due to a reduction in component prices - not through compromising our market." Amstrad will not be offering an up-grade facility for 464 owners to get the 664's Mark 2 Rom. Also, new 464's now being produced will not feature the new Rom. Sugar blamed software houses which have not followed Amstrad's guidelines for software providors and written 664 incompatible software for the 464 for the decision. Disc software for the 664 will start at around £11, and Amstrad is also offering its customers an up-grade from cassette to disc service. For the price of a blank diskette. Amstrad will copy across user's 464 cassette software. The CPC 664 will initially be sold in Rumbelow, Currys and W H Smiths, and by mail order. Amstrad plans to sell 600,000 computers over the next year. However, Alan Sugar said he still “expects the 464 to be Amstrad's main seller at Christmas.“
Popular Computing Weekly (85-04)25
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