# Commodore VIC-20

11 Hacker News commenters recommended Commodore VIC-20 and 3 criticized it, November 2025 to November 2026. It was recommended in 7 of 13 months; owners who said how long report a median of 43 years (4 owners). It meets the Hacker Approved badge rule.

**Verdict:** Early 1980s home computer whose built-in BASIC and clear manual got many people started programming. Critics report crashes and defective hardware.

## Why people recommend it

- Clear manual teaches programming basics (4 comments): "The VIC-20 came with an easy-to-read manual that introduced new users to the basics of programming with the machine's built-in BASIC" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48262058)) "It could be read by children and gradually introduced programming concepts in such a way to ease anxiety." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50093976)) "came with one of the best "intro to programming" guides a kid could ask for" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47482503))
- Started many people's programming careers (4 comments): "By making the PETSCII birds fly how I chose, I learned the elements of composing and modifying software." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46748395)) "alllllmost everything in my life is downstream of that Vic 20 and C64." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48947800)) "started coding in 1981 on an VC20, learned a lot from it" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50218312))
- Fond memories of childhood use (2 comments): "I have nothing but fond memories of the time I spent doing that" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49852794)) "It gave me places to go when I really needed them." ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=50304044))

## What people warn about

- Crashes and hardware defects (2 comments): "They shipped earlier products (VIC-20, 1540) with hardware defective 6522" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46539419)) "my VIC20 was never the most stable machine, crashing frequently" ([source](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46746752))

## Alternatives hackers recommend

- [Commodore 64](https://hackerapproved.com/p/commodore-64.md): 121 recommend
- [Commodore Amiga](https://hackerapproved.com/p/amiga.md): 60 recommend
- [ZX Spectrum](https://hackerapproved.com/p/zx-spectrum.md): 31 recommend
- [TI-99/4A](https://hackerapproved.com/p/ti-99-4a.md): 26 recommend
- [Commodore Amiga 500](https://hackerapproved.com/p/amiga-500.md): 20 recommend

## Where to get it

- [See price on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Commodore+VIC-20+computer&tag=hackerapprove-20) (affiliate link)

## Cite as

Hacker Approved, "Commodore VIC-20", https://hackerapproved.com/p/commodore-vic-20/ (counts from 1,795,640 Hacker News comments, November 2025 to November 2026).