C64: Why does the screen say 38,911 bytes free

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C64: Why does the screen say 38,911 bytes free

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I received the following email from a reader and I wanted to verify it before making corrections.

Can anyone confirm this:
I just wanted to report a mistake in the C64 History section, http://www.commodore.ca/products/c64/commodore_64.htm

RE: why does the screen say 38,911 bytes free.

The Truth is , there is 64K of RAM available but only when programming in Machine Code. In BASIC you can only directly access 38K, NOT because the Operating system is USING the remaining 16K, but because 16K of RAM is actually TURNED OFF by the PLA chip, so that the computer (CPU) Can access BASIC & The Operating Sytem (Kernal) ROM's.

The way it is currently written is missleading and makes it sound like the computer does not acutally have 64k, but if you pop open any C64 you can see 64K worth of RAM CHIPS. There are also 1,000's of games that use all 64K.

I hope the article on your website can be updated to make it more accurate.
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