1701 and 1702 colour monitor
The 1701 and 1702 colour monitors were two almost identical display devices produced by Commodore's for its 8-bit line of home computers. Although these peripherals came very late in the VIC-20's production history, they are worth mentioning because of their immense popularity among Commodore computer owners. Because of this, many VIC-20s were used with 1701 & 1702 monitors even after the VIC-20 had ceased being produced. Many present-day VIC-20 collectors and enthusiasts prefer to use this monitor because of its good quality picture, durability and versatility.
The 1701 and 1702 monitors are made to match the tan and brown colour theme of the Commodore 64. The only monitor known to have been designed specifically for use with the VIC-20 is Commodore's ultra-elusive VIC-1510 (which may not have been produced for sale).
The 1701 & 1702 monitors operate on the NTSC or PAL television standard. This means that any video player, video game or other source with A/V connectors can be used with these monitors. In fact, up until the recent advent of high-definition widescreen television, many amateur & professional film-makers sought out second-hand 1701/1702s to use as inexpensive monitors for use in video-editing suites. Perhaps these alternate uses explain why so many 1701/1702's were spared destruction in the period between the decline of 8-bit computers in the mid 1980s and the emergence of retro-computer collecting in the late 1990s.
The 1701 and 1702 monitors produce vivid colour and a good quality picture, but were not well-suited for displaying sharp text beyond 40 columns.
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