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Notes |
Manufacturer |
Microbee Systems (Australia) |
Model |
Various, MicroBee 32 was commonest. |
Date Launched |
June 1982 |
Price |
Not known |
Microprocessor type |
Zilog Z80A @ 2 MHz |
ROM size |
16 kilobytes |
Standard RAM |
16 or 32 kilobytes. |
Maximum RAM |
Depended on model — up to 128 kilobytes |
Keyboard type |
Typewriter style |
Supplied language |
Microworld BASIC |
Text resolution |
64 x 16 characters |
Graphics resolution |
128 x 48 or 512 x 256 pixels |
Colours available |
Original MicroBee was monochrome. |
Sound |
Single channel through internal speaker. |
Cassette load speed |
300 or 1200 baud |
Dimensions (mm) |
355 x 230 x 55 |
Special features |
In versions not supplied with a disk drive, the RAM was battery-backed CMOS. |
Good points |
High graphics resolution. |
Bad points |
Few obvious faults once version with colour was available. Perhaps biggest limitation was a shortage of software compared to higher-selling computers. |
How successful? |
Sold well to schools in Australia, and many were exported to Sweden and Russia. |
Comments |
In 1978 Owen Hill and the electronic components company Applied Technology joined up to market Hill's design for a small computer. It was initially sold as a self-assembly kit, with instructions published in the magazine Your Computer. Once sales to schools started it was sold pre-assembled. |
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