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Notes |
Manufacturer |
Jupiter Cantab (UK) |
Model |
Ace |
Date Launched |
September 1982 |
Price |
£90 |
Microprocessor type |
Zilog Z80A @ 3.25 MHz |
ROM size |
8 kilobytes |
Standard RAM |
3 kilobytes |
Maximum RAM |
49 kilobytes theoretically |
Keyboard type |
Rubber sheet, similar to Sinclair Spectrum's, with conductive rubber pads under each key which bridged tracks on the printed circuit board. |
Supplied language |
FORTH |
Text resolution |
32 x 24 characters |
Graphics resolution |
64 x 46 pixels |
Colours available |
Monochrome (white text on black background) |
Example Screenshot |
|
Sound |
Single channel through internal speaker |
Cassette load speed |
1500 baud |
Dimensions (mm) |
215 x 180 x 35 |
Special features |
Used the FORTH programming language which was particularly suited to controlling external hardware. |
Good points |
Very fast program execution. |
Bad points |
As the only common implementation of FORTH there was little third-party software for the ACE. |
How successful? |
Unfortunately not very successful other than with a small number of enthusiasts interested in FORTH. Jupiter Cantab folded in November 1983. |
Comments |
If the specification above makes the Ace sound like a cross between the Sinclair ZX81 and ZX Spectrum this is no coincidence. Jupiter Cantab was formed by Richard Altwasser, who designed much of the hardware of the Sinclair Spectrum and later worked for Amstrad, and Steven Vickers who wrote the system software and manuals for the ZX81 and Spectrum. |
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