List of home computers

The cassette tape was a common low-cost and low-performance mass storage device for a generation of home computers.

Home computers were a class of microcomputer that existed from 1977 to about 1995. During this time it made economic sense for manufacturers to make microcomputers aimed at the home user. By simplifying the machines, and making use of household items such as television sets and cassette recorders instead of dedicated computer peripherals, the home computer allowed the consumer to own a computer at a fraction of the price of computers oriented to small business. Today, the price of microcomputers has dropped to the point where there's no advantage to building a separate, incompatible series just for home users.

While many office-type personal computers were used in homes, in this list a "home computer" is a factory-assembled mass-marketed consumer product, usually at significantly lower cost than contemporary business computers. It would have an alphabetic keyboard and a multi-line alphanumeric display, the ability to run both games software as well as commercial and user-written application software, and some removable mass storage device (such as cassette tape or floppy disk).

This list excludes smartphones, personal digital assistants, pocket computers, laptop computers, programmable calculators and pure video game consoles. Single-board development or evaluation boards, intended to demonstrate a microprocessor, are excluded since these were not marketed to general consumers.

Pioneering kit and assembled hobby microcomputers which generally required electronics skills to build or operate are listed separately, as are computers intended primarily for use in schools. A hobby-type computer often would have required significant expansion of memory and peripherals to make it useful for the usual role of a factory-made home computer. School computers usually had facilities to share expensive peripherals such as disk drives and printers, and often had provision for central administration.

## Attributes

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Attributes are as typically advertised by the original manufacturer. Popular machines inspired third-party sources for adapters, add-on processors, mass storage, and other peripherals.

"Processor" indicates the microprocessor chip that ran the system. A few home computers had multiple processors, generally used for input/output devices. Processor speeds were not a competitive point among home computer manufacturers, and typically the processor ran either at its maximum rated speed ( between 1 and 4 MHz for most processor types here), or at some fraction of the television color subcarrier signal, for economy of design. Since a crystal oscillator was necessary for stable color, it was often also used as the microprocessor clock source. Many processors were second-sourced, with different manufacturers making the same device under different part numbers. Variations of a basic part number might have been used to indicate minor variations in speed or transistor type, or might indicate fairly significant alterations to the prototype's capabilities. In the Eastern Bloc countries, manufacturers made functional duplicates of Western microprocessors under different part number series.

TV indicates the factory configuration produces composite video compatible with a home TV receiver. Some computers came with a built-in RF modulator to allow connection to the TV receiver antenna terminals; others output composite video for use with a free-standing monitor or external RF modulator. Still others had built-in or proprietary monitors. Often a composite video monitor (monochrome or color) would be substituted for the family TV. Some standard types of video controller ICs were popular, but see the very detailed List of home computers by video hardware for a discussion of video capabilities of different models. Memory and TV bandwidth restrictions meant that typical home computers had only a few color choices and perhaps 20 lines of 40 characters of text as an upper limit to their video capabilities. Where the same model was sold in countries using PAL or NTSC television standards, sometimes there would be minor variations in the speed of the processor, because NTSC and PAL use different frequencies for the color information and the crystal for the video system was often also used for the processor clock.

Base mass storage was whatever came in the basic configuration. Some machines had built-in cassette drives or optional external drives, others relied on the consumer to provide a cassette recorder. Cassette recorders had the primary virtue of being widely available as a consumer product at the time. Typically a home computer would generate audio tones to encode data, that could be stored on audio tape through a direct connection to the recorder. Re-loading the data required re-winding the tape. The home computer would contain some circuit such as a phase-locked loop to convert audio tones back into digital data. Since consumer cassette recorders were not made for remote control, the user would have to manually operate the recorder in response to prompts from the computer. Random access to data on a cassette was impossible, since the entire tape would have to be searched to retrieve any particular item. A few manufacturers integrated a cassette tape drive or cassette-like tape mechanism into the console, but these variants were made obsolete by the reduction in cost of floppy diskette drives.

Floppy disk drives were initially very costly compared to the system purchase price. Plug-in ROM cartridges containing game or application software were popular in earlier home computers since they were easier to use, faster, and more reliable than cassette tapes. Once diskette drives became available at low cost, cartridges declined in popularity since they were more expensive to manufacture than reproducing a diskette, and had comparatively small capacity compared to diskettes. A few cartridges contained battery-backed memory that allowed users to save data (for example, game high scores) between uses of the cartridge.

Typically there were several models or variants within a product line, especially to account for different international video standards and power supplies; see the linked articles for variants and consequences of variations. "Compatibility" indicates some measure of compatibility with a parent type, however, sometimes incompatibility existed even within a product family. A "clone" system has identical hardware and is functionally interchangeable with its prototype; a few clone systems relied on illicit copies of system ROMs to make them functional.

## Manufacturers and models

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Home computer models and manufacturers  Origin  | Manufacturer  | Model  | Processor  | Year  | Video type  | Mass storage  | Video chip
(see list)  | Compatibility  | Remarks  | Ref

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UK  | Acorn Computers | Acorn Atom | 6502 | 1980 | TV | Cassette | 6847 |  |  | [1]
UK  | Acorn Computers | BBC Micro | 6502 | 1981 | TV, RGB, composite video | Cassette, diskette option | 6845, SAA5050 Teletext |  | Optional processor boards; Several models, see article | [citation needed]
UK  | Acorn Computers | Electron | 6502 | 1983 | TV, RGB, composite video | Cassette, cartridge option, diskette option | Custom ULA "Aberdeen" | BBC Micro |  | [citation needed]
UK  | Acorn Computers | BBC Master | 65SC12 | 1986 | TV, RGB, composite video | Diskette, cassette, cartridge | 6845, SAA5050 Teletext | BBC Micro | Several models, also sold as Olivetti Prodest PC128S | [citation needed]
UK  | Acorn Computers | Acorn Archimedes | ARM RISC | 1987 | RGB Monitor | Diskette, hard drive |  |  | several models | [citation needed]
UK  | Acorn Computers | A7000 | ARM RISC | 1995 | RGB Monitor | Diskette, hard drive |  | Acorn Archimedes |  | [citation needed]
UK  | Amstrad | CPC 464, 664, 6128 | Z80 | 1984 | dedicated mono or RGB monitor | cassette, diskette | 6845 and custom LSI "Gate Array" |  | Several models | [citation needed]
UK  | Amstrad | 464 Plus, 6128 Plus | Z80 | 1990 | dedicated mono or RGB monitor | cassette, diskette, cartridge | Custom ASIC | Amstrad CPC 464 | Several models | [citation needed]
UK  | Amstrad | PCW | Z80 | 1985 | dedicated integrated monochrome | diskette |  |  | Several successive models | [citation needed]
UK  | Amstrad | PC1512 | 8086 | 1986 | dedicated mono or RGB Monitor | Diskette, hard drive |  | IBM PC | PC compatible aimed at the home market | [citation needed]
China  | Tsinghua University and other department  | CEC-I Zhonghua teaching machine  | 6502  | 1986  | TV  | cassette, 5.25-inch floppy  |  | Apple  | 64 KB RAM, 32 KB ROM (BASIC, LOGO)  |
USA  | APF Electronics, Inc. | Imagination Machine | 6800 | 1979 | TV | Cassette, optional floppy, cartridge |  |  | Expansion pack for a video game console that provided programmability | [citation needed]
USA  | Apple Computer | Apple II | 6502 | 1977 | Monitor, TV | Cassette, optional floppy |  |  | Several models, several descendants, and many third-party clones | [citation needed]
USA  | Apple Computer | Apple IIe | 6502 | 1983 | Monitor, TV | Cassette, optional floppy |  | Apple |  | [2]
USA  | Apple Computer | Apple IIc | 65C02 | 1984 | Monitor, TV | floppy disk drive |  | Apple | Portable, but not integrated like a modern laptop | [2]
USA  | Apple Computer | Apple IIc Plus | 65C02 | 1988 | Monitor, TV | floppy disk drive |  | Apple | Portable, but not integrated like a modern laptop | [citation needed]
USA  | Apple Computer | Apple II Plus | 6502 | 1979 | Monitor, TV | floppy disk drive |  | Apple |  | [citation needed]
USA  | Apple Computer | Apple IIGS | 65C816 | 1986 | Monitor, TV | floppy disk, optional hard drive |  | Apple |  | [citation needed]
USA  | Apple Computer  | Apple Macintosh | 68000 | 1984  | Monitor  | diskette, optional CD ROM  |  |  |  |
UK  | Apricot Computers/Applied Computer Technology | Apricot F1 | 8088 | 1984 | Monitor | floppy disk |  | MS-DOS | Ran MS-DOS but not IBM compatible; several descendant models | [2]
Netherlands  | Aster Computers | CT-80 | Z80 | 1982 | Monitor | floppy disk |  | TRS-80 | Newdos-80 CP/M Videotex terminal, Various models | [citation needed]
USA  | Atari, Inc. | Atari 8-bit computers | 6502B, -- late 400/800s and XL/XEs use a Custom 6502 variant called "Sally" | 1979–1987 | TV | Cassette, optional floppy disk, cartridge | ANTIC+CTIA/GTIA custom LSI |  | Also used as cartridge video game consoles | [2]
USA  | Atari Corporation | Atari ST | 68000 | 1985 | Monitor, TV | Floppy disk, optional hard disk | Custom LSI |  | Several related models | [3]
USA  | Atari Corporation | Atari TT | 68030 | 1990 | Monitor | Floppy disk, hard disk | Custom LSI | Atari ST | Several related models |
USA  | Atari Corporation | Falcon | 68030 \+ 56001 | 1992 | Monitor, TV | Floppy disk, hard disk | Custom LSI | Atari ST Compatibility modes | Some models has been modified and sold under license with C-Lab brand |
USA  | Bally Consumer Products | Bally Brain video game/home computer | Z80 | 1979 | TV | Cassette, cartridge |  |  | A video game console with programmability | [4]
USA  | Bally Consumer Products | Bally Astrocade | Z80 | 1977 | TV | Cassette, cartridge |  |  | A video game console with programmability, several models and revisions | [citation needed]
Romania  | Brasov Computer | CoBra | Z80 | 1986 | Monitor | Cassette, diskette |  | ZX Spectrum | CP/M | [5]
UK  | Camputers | Lynx | Z80 | 1983 | Monitor | Cassette | 6845 |  | Several related models | [citation needed]
Various  | Various manufacturers | Various models | Z80 | 1983 | TV | Cassette, optional floppy, cartridge | TMS 9918 | MSX standard |  | [citation needed]
USA  | Coleco | Coleco Adam | Z80 | 1983 | Monitor, TV | Cassette (custom built-in), optional floppies | TMS9928A | Colecovision console, Applesoft BASIC, Optional CP/M |  | [2]
USA  | Commodore | PET | 6502 | 1977 | Built-in monochrome monitor | Cassette |  |  | Several 6502 descendants, more or less compatible | [citation needed]
USA  | Commodore | VIC-20 | 6502 | 1980 | TV | Optional cassette, optional floppy, cartridge | VIC custom LSI |  | PET-style BASIC, extended | [1]
USA  | Commodore | Commodore 64 | 6510 | 1982 | TV | Optional cassette, optional floppy, cartridge | VIC II custom LSI |  | Optional dual processor in cartridge could run CP/M plus version 3.0 | [2]
USA  | Commodore | Commodore SX-64 | 6510 | 1982 | Built-in color monitor | Built-in floppy, optional cassette, cartridge | VIC II custom LSI | Commodore 64 | Portable with keyboard that attached to cover monitor and disk drive | [2]
USA  | Commodore | MAX Machine | 6510 | 1982 | TV | Optional cassette, cartridge | VIC II custom LSI | VIC-20 |  | [citation needed]
USA  | Commodore | Commodore 16 and 116 | 8501 (6502) | 1984 | TV | Optional cassette, optional floppy, cartridge | TED custom LSI |  |  | [2]
USA  | Commodore | Plus/4 | 8501 (6502) | 1984 | TV | Optional cassette, optional floppy, cartridge | TED custom LSI | Commodore 16 |  | [2]
USA  | Commodore | Commodore 128 | 8502 (6502)/ Z80 | 1985 | TV | Optional cassette, optional 5.25-inch floppy, optional 3.5-inch floppy, cartridge | VIC II and MOS 8563 custom LSI | C64 compatibility mode | Dual processor could run CP/M plus version 3.0 | [citation needed]
USA  | Commodore | Amiga | 68000 | 1985 | Monitor, composite video | Diskette, optional hard drive | Custom LSI |  | Several models with 680X0 family processors | [6]
Hong Kong  | Comx World Operations | Comx-35 | RCA 1802 | 1983 | TV | Cassette, optional floppy disk | CDP 1879 |  |  | [citation needed]
Belgium  | Data Applications International | DAI Personal Computer | 8080 | 1980 | TV | Cassette, optional floppy disk | Programmable Graphics Generator custom LSI |  |  | [citation needed]
Hong Kong  | Vtech  | VTech Laser 200 | Z80 | 1985 | TV | Cassette, optional floppy disk | 6847 |  | Also sold by Dick Smith as the VZ200 and by others under other names | [citation needed]
Hong Kong  | EACA | Video Genie family  | Z80 | 1980–1982 | TV | Cassette, optional floppy disk |  | TRS 80 Model 1 (mostly) | Rebadged and sold by others, see article | [citation needed]
Hong Kong  | EACA  | Colour Genie | Z80 | 1983 | TV | Cassette, optional floppy disk, cartridge | 6845 | TRS 80 Model 1 (mostly) | Rebadged and sold by others, see article | [citation needed]
Hong Kong  | Rabbit  | Rabbit RX83 | Z80 | 1983 | TV | Cassette | 6847 | GEM 1000 | Rebadged and sold by others, see article |
Czechoslovakia  | Didaktik | Alpha, Beta  | Z80 | 1986 | TV | Cassette, optional floppy disk |  | PMD 85 |  | [citation needed]
Czechoslovakia  | Didaktik  | Gama | Z80 | 1987 | TV | Cassette, optional floppy disk |  | ZX Spectrum | Also M and portable variants, see article | [citation needed]
UK  | Dragon Data | Dragon 32/64 | 6809 | 1982 | TV, composite video | Cassette, optional floppy disk | 6847 | Radio Shack Color Computer |  | [citation needed]
USSR  | Dubna  | Dubna 48K | Z80 (compatible) | 1991 | TV | Cassette, optional floppy disk | Custom LSI | ZX Spectrum |  | [citation needed]
USSR  | Elektronika | BK-0010 | PDP 11 (compatible) | 1985 | TV | Cassette, optional/homemade floppy disk | Custom LSI |  |  | [citation needed]
USSR  | AGAT | AGAT-9 | Native/Apple II compatible | 1984 | TV/Monitor | Floppy disk | Custom LSI | Agat computer | Agat computer | [7]
Serbia  | Elektronska Industrija Niš | Pecom 32, Pecom 64 | RCA 1802 | 1985 | TV | Cassette | CDP 1869 | COMX-35 |  | [citation needed]
France  | Exelvision | EXL 100 | TMS 7020 | 1984 | Monitor | Cartridge, Cassette, Disquette optional | TMS 3556 |  | Used infrared connection for keyboard and joystick | [citation needed]
USA  | Exidy | Exidy Sorcerer | Z80 | 1978 | Monitor | Cassette, optional 3rd party expansion to diskettes |  |  |  | [citation needed]
UK  | Locurnals/Intelligent Software  | Enterprise 64 and 128 | Z80 | 1985 | TV, monitor | Cassette, | Custom ASIC "Nick" |  |  | [citation needed]
Hong Kong  | Lambda Electronics  | Lambda 8300 | Z80 | 1985 | TV | Cassette, |  | ZX80, ZX81 | ZX81 compatible also sold as PC8300, Power 3000 and BASIC 2000 | [citation needed]
USA  | Various manufacturers  | Apple II clones | 6502 | 1979 | TV, monitor | Cassette, optional diskette |  | Apple II | Many anonymous or obscure companies made copies of the Apple II, some illegally duplicating the Apple ROM contents | [citation needed]
USA  | Franklin Computer Corporation | Franklin ACE series  | 6502 | 1982 | TV, monitor | Diskette, cassette |  | Apple II |  | [citation needed]
Japan  | Fujitsu | FM Towns series  | 80386SX | 1989 | Monitor | CD ROM, optional hard drive |  | Semi Windows compatible | Almost a video game console | [citation needed]
Japan  | Fujitsu | FM-7 series  | 6809 | 1982 | TV | Diskette |  | Radio Shack Color Computer | Several models | [citation needed]
Belgium  | GEM (Groupement européen d'études) | GEM 1000 also known as GEM 1000 Junior Computer, and the French Charlemagne 999  | Z80 | 1985 | TV, monitor | Cassette, cartridge | 6847 |  | French BASIC for the Charlemagne, but uses QWERTY | [8][9][10]
UK  | Grundy Business Systems  | Grundy NewBrain | Z80 | 1982 | TV, monitor, built-in 1 line display | Cassette, Floppy diskette |  | Radio Shack Color Computer BASIC | Several models | [citation needed]
Brazil  | Gradiente | Gradiente Expert | Z80 | 1985 | TV, RGB monitor | Cassette, cartridge, diskette expansion available |  | MSX compatible | Several models | [citation needed]
USA  | Honeywell | Honeywell 316#Kitchen Computer | DDP 16 Minicomputer | 1969 | Binary lights | None offered (contemporary systems would have used paper tape) | No video |  | Honorary home computer, marketed but never sold. | [11]
USA  | IBM | IBM PC | 8088 | 1981 | Monitor | Cassette, floppy diskette, Optional CD Rom | CGA, EGA, VGA |  |  |
USA  | IBM | PCjr | 8088 | 1984 | Monitor, composite video | Cassette, floppy diskette, cartridge | VGA | IBM PC |  | [2]
USA  | IBM | IBM PS/1 | 8088 | 1990 | Monitor, | Floppy diskette, hard drive |  | IBM PC |  | [citation needed]
USA  | Interact  | Interact Home Computer | 8080 | 1979 | TV | Cassette |  |  |  | [citation needed]
USA  | Intelligent Systems Corporation | Compucolor II | 8080 | 1977 | TV | Diskette ( I: 8-track) |  |  |  | [citation needed]
USSR  | Intercompex  | Hobbit | Z80 compatible | 1990 | TV, monitor | Cassette, floppy drive |  | ZX Spectrum | Several models for export and home markets | [citation needed]
USSR  | Iskra  | Iskra-1030 | 8086 compatible | 1989 |  | floppy drive |  |  |  | [12]
Croatia  | Ivasim  | Ivel Ultra | 6502 compatible | 1984 |  | floppy drive |  | Apple II |  | [13]
Croatia  | Ivasim  | Ivel Z3 | 6502 compatible | 1983+ | Built-in monitor | floppy drive |  | Apple IIe |  | [citation needed]
UK  | Jupiter Cantab | Jupiter Ace | Z80 | 1982 | TV | Cassette, 3rd party diskette | custom ASIC |  | FORTH instead of BASIC | [citation needed]
Sweden  | Luxor | ABC 80 | Z80 | 1978 | TV | Cassette, 3rd party diskette |  |  | also made in Budapest, ABC 800 office versions had disk drives | [citation needed]
USA  | Mattel | Aquarius | Z80 | 1983 | TV | Cassette, cartridge |  |  |  | [citation needed]
France  | Matra | Matra Alice | 6803 | 1983 | TV | Cassette |  | Radio Shack TRS 80 MC 10 |  | [citation needed]
UK  | Memotech | Memotech MTX500, MTX512, RS128 | Z80 | 1983 | TV, monitor | Cassette, diskette, hard drive, cartridge |  |  |  | [2]
Australia  | Microbee Systems | MicroBee series  | Z80 | 1983 | TV, monitor | Cassette, later models floppy diskette, | 6545 |  | Several models | [citation needed]
Brazil  | Comércio de Componentes Eletrônicos | CCE MC-1000 | Z80 | 1985 | TV, monitor | Cassette, cartridge | 6847 | GEM 1000 | Probably based on Belgian GEM 1000 followed up by MC-4000 | [citation needed]
Brazil  | Microdigital Eletronica | TK82C series  | Z80 | 1985 | TV, monitor | Cassette, cartridge |  | ZX80, ZX81 | TK90X Several models | [citation needed]
France  | Micronique  | Hector 1 | 8080 | 1979 | TV | Cassette |  | Interact Home Computer |  |
UK  | Miles Gordon Technology | SAM Coupé | Z80 | 1989 | Monitor, composite video | Floppy diskette, | Custom ASIC |  |  | [citation needed]
Taiwan  | Multitech | Microprofessor III | 6502 | 1983 | TV, Monitor | Floppy diskette, cassette |  | Apple IIe |  | [citation needed]
USA  | Mindset Corporation  | Mindset | 80186 | 1984 | Monitor | Floppy diskette |  | IBM PC semi-compatible |  |
USA  | Montgomery Ward | CyberVision 2001 | RCA 1802 | 1978 | Monitor | Cassette |  |  |  |
Japan  | NEC | NEC PC-100 | 8086 | 1983 | Monitor | Floppy diskette, |  | MS-DOS | Various models, many too costly for home market | [citation needed]
Japan  | NEC Home Electronics | PC-6000 series | Z80 | 1981 | TV, Monitor | Cassette, cartridge |  |  | Several models | [14]
Japan  | NEC | PC-8000 series | Z80 | 1979 | RGB Monitor | Cassette, later models with floppy diskettes, |  |  |  |
Japan  | NEC | PC-8800 series | Z80 | 1981 | RGB Monitor | Cassette, later models with floppy diskettes, |  |  | Several models, also called PC-88 | [citation needed]
Japan  | NEC | PC-9800 series | 8086 | 1982 | RGB Monitor | floppy diskettes, diskettes, CD ROM optional |  |  | Several models, also called PC-98 |
USA  | Radio Shack | TRS-80 Color Computer CoCo, Coco 2, Coco 3  | 6809 | 1980 | Monitor | Cassette, floppy diskette, cartridge |  |  | Several models | [2]
USA  | Radio Shack | TRS-80 Model I | Z80 | 1977 | Monitor (built in) | Cassette, optional floppy diskette |  |  | See List of TRS-80 clones. Later models aimed more at hobby/small business, but this one was priced like a home computer. | [citation needed]
USA  | Radio Shack | TRS-80 MC-10 | 6803 | 1983 | TV | Cassette, | 6847 |  | See also Matra Alice | [citation needed]
USA  | Radio Shack | Tandy 1000 series  | 8088 (depends on model) | 1987 | TV, Monitor | Cassette, floppy diskette |  | IBM PC Jr | Several models in series | [citation needed]
USA  | RCA | COSMAC VIP | RCA 1802 | 1977 | Monitor | Cassette |  |  |  |
Germany  | Schneider Computer Division | Euro PC | 8088 | 1988  | Monitor  | Floppy diskette  | Hercules, CGA | IBM PC XT | Several descendant models including 80286 and 80386SX processor and EGA, VGA adapters  | [15]
UK  | Oric Int'l/Tangerine | Oric-1 | 6502 | 1983 | TV, Monitor | Cassette, optional floppy drive | semi-custom ASIC (ULA) |  |  | [16]
UK  | Oric Int'l/Tangerine | Oric Atmos  | 6502 | 1984 | TV, Monitor | Cassette, optional floppy drive | semi-custom ASIC (ULA) | Oric-1 |  | [16]
UK  | Oric Int'l/Tangerine | Oric Telestrat  | 6502 | 1986 | TV, Monitor | Cassette, optional floppy drive, ROM based Cartridge | semi-custom ASIC (ULA) | Oric-1 |  | [16]
Croatia  | PEL Varaždin  | Galeb | 6502 | 1981 | TV, Monitor | Cassette |  |  |  | [citation needed]
Croatia  | PEL Varaždin  | Orao | 6502 | 1984 | TV, Monitor | Cassette |  |  |  | [citation needed]
Netherlands  | Philips | P2000 | Z80 | 1980 | TV, Monitor | Cassette, optional floppy diskette, cartridge | Teletext chip |  | Several models, disk models fairly costly by home computer standards | [citation needed]
Netherlands  | Philips | G7480 | Z80 | 1983 | TV | Cassette, cartridge |  | Magnavox Odyssey 2 | Home computer expansion module for G7400 game console |
Netherlands  | Philips | VG5000 | Z80 | 1986 | TV, Monitor | Cassette |  |  |  |
Netherlands  | Philips | Philips :YES | 80186 | 1985 | Monitor | Floppy diskette |  | IBM PC semi-compatible |  | [citation needed]
Bulgaria  | Pravetz | Pravetz series 8, including -83, -83, -84, -8M/E/A/S.  | CM630 (6502 clone) | 1985 | TV, Monitor | Cassette, floppy diskette |  | Apple II | Several models, company later made IBM PC compatibles. | [17]
Bulgaria  | Pravetz | Pravetz 8D | 6502 | 1982 | TV, Monitor | Cassette, floppy diskette |  | Oric-1/Atmos |  | [18]
Bulgaria  | Pravetz | IMKO-1 | 6502 | 1980 | TV, Monitor | Cassette, floppy diskette |  | Apple II | High cost compared to later Western home computers | [17]
New Zealand  | Progeni Systems / Polycorp  | Poly-1 | 6809 | 1981 | Built-in colour monitor | Floppy diskette | SAA5050 Teletext |  |  | [19][20][21]
Brazil  | Prológica  | Prológica CP-400 | 6809 | 1984 | TV, Monitor | Cassette, floppy diskette |  | Radio Shack Color Computer |  | [citation needed]
East Germany  | VEB Robotron | KC 85 | Z80 compatible | 1984 | TV | Cassette |  |  | Theoretically available to consumers. | [citation needed]
East Germany  | VEB Robotron | KC 87 | Z80 compatible | 1987 | TV | Cassette, cartridge |  |  | Theoretically available to consumers | [citation needed]
East Germany  | VEB Robotron | Z1013 | Z80 compatible | 1985 | TV | Cassette |  |  | Order queue of one year and collection in person only. | [citation needed]
South Korea  | Samsung | SPC-1000 | Z80 | 1983 | dedicated mono or RGB monitor | cassette |  |  |  |
Japan  | Sega | SC-3000 | Z80 compatible | 1983 | TV | Cassette, cartridge, optional floppy |  |  |  | [citation needed]
Japan  | Sega | AI Computer | NEC V20 | 1986 | TV | cartridge |  |  |  |
Japan  | Sharp | MZ series | Z80 compatible | 1979 | TV | Cassette, cartridge, optional floppy |  |  | Many models in the series, escalating to small business systems | [citation needed]
Japan  | Sharp | Sharp X1 | Z80 compatible | 1982 | TV, dedicated monitor | Cassette, cartridge, optional floppy |  |  | Several models | [citation needed]
Japan  | Sharp | Sharp X68000 | 68000 | 1987 | Monitor | Floppy diskette, optional hard disk |  |  | Several models | [citation needed]
UK  | Sinclair Research | ZX80 | Z80 | 1980 | TV | Cassette | Custom ASIC |  | Initially also available as a kit, and see MicroAce for an unlicensed knock-off | [citation needed]
UK  | Sinclair Research | ZX81 | Z80 | 1981 | TV | Cassette | Custom ASIC | ZX80 | See also List of ZX80/81 clones and Timex Sinclair | [1]
UK  | Sinclair Research | ZX Spectrum | Z80 | 1982 | TV | Cassette, later models floppy diskette | Custom ASIC |  | See List of ZX Spectrum clones | [citation needed]
UK  | Sinclair Research:  | Sinclair QL | 68008 | 1984 | TV, monitor | "Microdrive" tape | ZX8301 Custom ASIC |  | Spin-off to several related products, see List of Sinclair QL clones | [2]
Japan  | Sord Computer Corporation | Sord M200 Smart Home Computer | Z80 | 1977 | TV | Floppy disk |  |  |  | [22]
Japan  | Sord Computer Corporation CGL Home Computers | Sord M5 CGL M5 | Z80 | 1982 | TV | Cassette, optional floppy disk |  |  |  | [citation needed]
USA  | Spectravideo | SV-318 | Z80 | 1983 | TV | Cassette, floppy disk | Custom ASIC |  |  |
Taiwan  | Tatung | Tatung Einstein | Z80 | 1984 | dedicated monitor | floppy disk |  |  |  |
New Zealand  | Technosys | Aamber Pegasus | 6809 | 1984 | TV, monitor | Cassette |  |  | Educational network version made | [citation needed]
USA  | Texas Instruments | TI-99/4, TI-99/4A | TMS9900 | 1979 | TV, monitor | Cassette, optional floppy disk drive | TMS9918 |  | Several models, more common 4A in 1981; some compatibles made by others | [citation needed]
Czechoslovakia  | Tesla | PMD 85 | 8080 | 1985 | TV, monitor | Cassette |  |  |  | [citation needed]
Czechoslovakia  | Štátny majetok Závadka š.p., Závadka nad Hronom  | MAŤO | 8080 | 1989 | TV, monitor | Cassette |  | PMD 85 | Also made as a kit | [23]
France  | Thomson | TO7 | 6809 | 1982 | TV, monitor | Cassette, cartridge |  |  |  | [citation needed]
France  | Thomson | MO5 aka Olivetti Prodest PC128  | 6809 | 1984 | TV, monitor | Cassette, cartridge |  |  | Successor model MO6 in 1986, and others | [citation needed]
USA/
UK/
Portugal  | Timex Sinclair | Timex Sinclair 1000 and 1500 | Z80 | 1982 | TV, monitor | Cassette, optional cartridge |  | ZX80, ZX81 |  | [2]
USA/
UK/
Portugal  | Timex Sinclair | Timex Sinclair 2048 | Z80 | 1984 | TV | Cassette, cartridge | Custom ULA | ZX Spectrum |  | [citation needed]
Portugal  | Timex Sinclair | Timex Computer 2048 | Z80 | 1984 | TV | Cassette, cartridge | Custom ULA | ZX Spectrum |  | [citation needed]
USA/
UK/
Portugal  | Timex Sinclair | Timex Computer 2068 | Z80 | 1983 | TV | Cassette, cartridge | Custom ULA | ZX Spectrum | Several related models | [citation needed]
Portugal/
Poland  | Timex Sinclair | Komputer 2086 | Z80 | 1986 | TV | Cassette, cartridge, optional floppy diskette | Custom ULA | Sinclair 2068 |  | [citation needed]
Japan  | Tomy | Tomy Tutor (US) /Grandstand Tutor (UK)  | TMS9900 | 1986 | TV | Cassette, cartridge, optional floppy diskette |  | TI-99/4A near-compatible |  | [citation needed]
USSR  | Vector  | Vector-06C | 8080 compatible | 1987 | TV | Cassette, 3rd party cartridge and floppy diskette |  |  |  | [citation needed]
USA  | Videobrain  | VideoBrain Family Computer | Fairchild F8 | 1977 | TV | Cartridge, optional cassette |  |  |  | [citation needed]
Hungary  | Videoton  | TVC | Z80 | 1986 | TV | Cassette, floppy diskette |  |  |  | [24]
Hungary  | Microkey  | Primo  | Z80 (compatible) | 1984 | TV | Cassette |  |  |  | [25]
Norway  | West Computer AS  | West PC-800 | 6502, Z80 | 1984 | TV, monitor | Cassette, floppy diskette |  | Apple II, CP/M |  | [26]
Origin  | Manufacturer  | Model  | Processor  | Year  | Video Type  | Mass storage  | Video Chip
(see list)  | Compatibility  | Remarks  | Ref

## List of hobby, kit, or trainer computers

[edit]

See also: List of early microcomputers

This type of microcomputer required significant electronics skills to assemble or operate. They were sometimes sold in kit form that required the user to insert and solder components in a printed circuit board. They may have had just blinking lights and toggle switches, or a hexadecimal display and a numeric keypad. While some units were possibly expandable to the "checkbook balancing/homework typing" stage, most were intended more for education on the use and application of microprocessors. See also Microprocessor development board, Single-board computer.

* Altair 8800
* Apple I and also Replica 1
* Applix 1616
* Compukit UK101
* Dick Smith Super-80 Computer
* Educ-8 non-microprocessor kit computer
* Elektor Junior Computer
* Elektor TV Games Computer
* Ferguson Big Board
* Galaksija, a build-it-yourself home computer that created a wave of enthusiasts
* Heathkit H8 and relations
* Heathkit H11
* Heath ET-100 8088 trainer
* Kenbak-1
* KIM-1
* LNW-80
* MK14
* Mark-8
* Micro-Professor MPF-I
* Nascom 1 and Nascom 2
* Newbear 77-68
* Processor Technology SOL 20
* PSI Comp 80 (computer)
* SCELBI
* Sinclair ZX80 kit
* Tangerine MICROTAN 65
* TEC-1
* Wave Mate Bullet
* Z 1013

## School computers

[edit]

These were aimed at the class room, not the living room. Some types were popular in the centrally planned economies of eastern Europe where Western computers were scarce, or in the early days of computer education in Western schools. Popular home computers of the period[clarification needed] were fitted with various types of network interfaces[clarification needed] to allow sharing of files, large disk drives, and printers, and often allowed a teacher to interact with a student, supervise the system usage, and carry out administrative tasks from a host computer.

* Acorn Archimedes (and derivatives)
* Aster CT-80
* BBC Micro
* Commodore SuperPET/SP9000
* Compis
* IQ 151
* LINK 480Z
* Regency Systems R2C
* Research Machines 380Z Industrial and school systems
* Tiki 100
* TIM-011
* Unisys ICON
* Chromebooks

## Cardboard and demonstrator "computers"

[edit]

Logic demonstrators illustrated some of the logical principles of computer circuits, but were incapable of automatic operation or non-trivial calculations. Some were literally cardboard, others used combinations of switches and lamps to show how logical operations worked. Some products demonstrated logical operations purely mechanically.

* CARDboard Illustrative Aid to Computation cardboard computer logic demonstrator
* Digi-Comp I, mechanical logic demonstrator
* Digi-Comp II, mechanical logic using marbles
* Geniac, non-electronic logic demonstrator
* Minivac 601, logic trainer that demonstrated computer circuits

## See also

[edit]

* Electronics portal

* History of computer hardware in Eastern Bloc countries
* Homebrew Computer Club
* Homebuilt computer
* List of home computers by video hardware classified by video interface
* List of computers running CP/M contains a list of personal computers running CP/M. These were usually intended for small office use.
* List of Soviet computer systems includes many "home" systems as well as office and "big iron" systems.
* Market share of personal computer vendors
* Popular Electronics
* Simon (computer), a relay computer (demonstrator) from 1950
* SWTPC
* TV Typewriter

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c Survey of 150 computers, Computing Now, September 1984 pp. 8-31
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Survey of 200 computers, Computing Now ISSN 0823-6437, April 1985 pp. 14-44,
3. ^ Eric Jensen The Atari 520ST, BYTE Vol.11 No. 6 ISSN 0360-5280 pg. 233-238
4. ^ What's New, BYTE Magazine July 1979 pg. 240
5. ^ Walgenbach, Kerstin & Stefan. "HCM: East-European Home-Computer ..." www.homecomputer.de.
6. ^ Bill Markwick, The Amiga 500, Electronics and Technology Today February 1988 pp. 18-20
7. ^ Rezun, Miron (1996). Science, technology, and ecopolitics in the USSR. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 71–72\. ISBN 0-275-95383-1.
8. ^ "Silicium : Avis de recherche 1". silicium.org. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
9. ^ "Charlemagne". Vidéo7. August 1983.
10. ^ "GEM 1000 Junior Computer / Charlemagne 999". Old computers. Archived from the original on 2010-06-05. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
11. ^ Atkinson, P. (2010). "The Curious Case of the Kitchen Computer: Products and Non-Products in Design History". Journal of Design History. 23 (2): 163–179\. doi:10.1093/jdh/epq010.
12. ^ "Iskra 1030 retrieved 2012 Dec 4". Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
13. ^ "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". www.old-computers.com.
14. ^ "ASCII EXPRESS : PC-8800・PC-6000 NECのニューマシン、遂にデビュー". ASCII (in Japanese). 5 (11). 1981.
15. ^ "Schneider EuroPC II - MCbx". www.oldcomputer.info.
16. ^ a b c "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". www.old-computers.com.
17. ^ a b "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". www.old-computers.com.
18. ^ "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". www.old-computers.com.
19. ^ The Poly Preservation Project
20. ^ "Kiwi Nuggets Forum: Poly 1 Educational Computer". www.creationz.co.nz.
21. ^ ""Preserving our Heritage NZ-made Computers", Bob Doran, CS Dept. University of Auckland & Andrew Trotman, CS Dept. University of Otago" (PDF).
22. ^ Japan, Information Processing Society of. "M200 Smart Home Computer Series-Computer Museum". museum.ipsj.or.jp.
23. ^ "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". www.old-computers.com.
24. ^ "Videoton TV Computer". Retrieved March 27, 2011.
25. ^ Képes, Gábor. "Computing is for everyone - computers for everyone!". Inventing Europe. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
26. ^ Gulbrandsen, Eirik (April–May 1985). "West PC-800 en talentfull maskin" (PDF). Mikrodata (in Norwegian). Vol. 3, no. 3\. Computerworld Norge. pp. 8–12\. ISSN 0800-269X.

## External links

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Media related to Home computers at Wikimedia Commons

* Obsolete technology website -- Information about many old computers.
* old-computers.com -- Web Site dedicated to old computers.
* oldcomputer.info -- Web site with information about many old computers.
* History of Computers -- online magazine featuring pictures and information about many computers made between the 1970s and the early 1990s
* epocalc The complete inventory of microcomputer manufacturers