Computer History Wiki - User contributions [en]

Comart

2017-12-15T18:52:39Z

Aball: /* The Quad had a network port */

Comart were a British manufacturer of single and multi-user microcomputers that ran operating systems from the Digital Research CP/M family.
== S100 ==
The Communicator was built on the popular S-100 bus. A later S-100 model featured an 80386 processor card, ran Concurrent DOS 386 and supported multiple users via serial terminals.
== Workstation ==
The Comart Workstation was a single-user microcomputer built around the Intel 80186 microprocessor. 256K of RAM was soldered to the mainboard and 512K could be added via a 512K daughterboard. The Workstation could run MS-DOS and offered some degree of compatibility with the IBM PC. It could run Digital Research GEM graphical user interface and Comcart offered a Mouse Systems optical mouse similar to that used with SUN workstations. The Workstation could also run Concurrent CP/M-86 (or Concurrent DOS), which supported multitasking and Comart Net, a proprietary LAN technology. The case had two 5.25" drive bays. Models were available with one or two 720K double-sided quad-density floppy disk drives and a 10M MFM hard disk drive. A utility later became available that could
format 20M or 40M hard disks for use in the Workstation.
== Quad ==
The Comart Quad, developed from the Workstation, shared many common parts including the case, power supply and disk drives. It lacked the mouse port and on-board graphics and instead had four serial ports to plug terminals into. With Concurrent CP/M-86 four users could each be running four programs each. The Quad retained the Workstation's Comart Net port.

Comart

2017-12-15T18:42:53Z

Aball: /* First attempt at a summary page for Comart */

Talk:Amstrad

2017-12-15T17:52:10Z

Aball: Filing question.

I'm not sure how to add this to the category of Manufacturers.

Amstrad

2017-12-14T17:28:44Z

Aball: /* PCW */

Amstrad is a British consumer electronics company that built (amongst other things) several popular microcomputer families.
== CPC ==
Amstrad's original 8-bit home microcomputer range aimed to provide a complete package: a colour or monochrome CRT monitor supplied power to the computer, which had the keyboard and a cassette or 3" floppy disk drive built in.
*CPC-464
*CPC-664
*CPC-6128
*CPC-464+
*CPC-6128+
== PCW ==
Building on the success of CPC home computers, the PCW (Personal Computer / Word-processor) family offered an affordable computer for office use. Initial models shipped with a 3" single-sided 180K floppy drive and a double-sided "flippable" boot disk. One side booted into Locomotive Software's LocoScript word-processor. The other side booted into CP/M-Plus (CP/M-80 3.0). Initial models shipped with a dedicated dot matrix printer and later models had a daisywheel printer that provided "typewriter quality" output but was rather loud in operation.
*PCW-8256
*PCW-8512
*PCW-9512
*PCW-9512+
*PCW-10

== PC ==
Amstrad built IBM-compatible PCs including the wonderfully weird PC-1512, the popular PC-1640. The PC-2000 series saw a move to 3.5" disk drives and the introduction of models based on the 80286 and 80386 microprocessors. The PC-3000 series saw a move to more conventional PC construction: the power supply moved from the monitor to inside the system unit's sturdy metal case. Later series included i486 models, small form-factor PCs and even a model with a built in Sega Megadrive!

Amstrad

2017-12-14T17:25:55Z

Aball: First attempt at a page for Amstrad.

Amstrad is a British consumer electronics company that built (amongst other things) several popular microcomputer families.
== CPC ==
Amstrad's original 8-bit home microcomputer range aimed to provide a complete package: a colour or monochrome CRT monitor supplied power to the computer, which had the keyboard and a cassette or 3" floppy disk drive built in.
*CPC-464
*CPC-664
*CPC-6128
*CPC-464+
*CPC-6128+
== PCW ==
Building on the success of CPC home computers, the PCW (Personal Computer / Word-processor) family offered an affordable computer for office use. Initial models shipped with a 3" single-sided 180K floppy drive and a double-sided "flippable" boot disk. One side booted into Locomotive Software's LocoScript word-processor. The other side booted into CP/M-Plus (CP/M-80 3.0).
*PCW-8256
*PCW-8512
*PCW-9512
*PCW-9512+
*PCW-10
== PC ==
Amstrad built IBM-compatible PCs including the wonderfully weird PC-1512, the popular PC-1640. The PC-2000 series saw a move to 3.5" disk drives and the introduction of models based on the 80286 and 80386 microprocessors. The PC-3000 series saw a move to more conventional PC construction: the power supply moved from the monitor to inside the system unit's sturdy metal case. Later series included i486 models, small form-factor PCs and even a model with a built in Sega Megadrive!

Commodore C16

2017-12-14T16:51:41Z

Aball: /* Fix VIC-20 link */

The Commodore C16, released in 1984 was probably intended to replace the Commodore [[VIC-20]]. The case resembled that of the VIC 20 or original [[Commodore 64]] but was distinctive in that it was black with grey keys. It had a 6502-compatible processor (MOS 7501 or 8501) and 16K of RAM. The C16 used Kernel and BASIC ROMs from the Plus/4 but did not include the integrated application software. It offered Commodore BASIC 3.5.

Commodore Business Machines

2017-12-14T16:50:19Z

Aball: /* Mainstream 8 bit era */

'''Commodore Business Machines''' was the maker of the famous Commodore PET and [[Commodore 64]] as well as several business and home-oriented microcomputers. After they bought out [[MOS Technology]], maker of the [[MOS 6502]], they entered the computer market, starting with the [[KIM-1]] single board computer designed by [[Chuck Peddle]] and originally sold by MOS Technology.

== Early 8 bit era ==

The early days started out with the [[KIM-1]]. Commodore went onwards producing the PET computers. There were several models of PET computers including the:

*PET 2001
*PET 4000
*PET 8000
*SuperPET 9000

The PET models were known at the time for being an all in one solution, and found their way into many educational markets due to their solid construction.

== Mainstream 8 bit era ==

The mainstream years were known for the best selling [[VIC-20]], [[Commodore 64]], and [[Commodore 128]] personal computers. The Commodore 64 is probably best known as it has sold an estimated 30 million units, the most successful for any single model of any computer ever. Other interesting models include the [[Commodore C16]] and [[Commodore Plus/4]].

== 16 bit computing ==

During this time, Commodore transitioned to the [[Amiga]] family with the purchase of [[Hi-Torro]], after their deal started to fall thru with [[Atari]]. These machines were noted for having a [[MC68000|68000]] CPU running at 8MHz, and a co-processor set similar in concept to the [[Atari 400]].

Models of the time include:

*[[Amiga 1000]]
*[[Amiga 500]]
*[[Amiga 600]]
*[[Amiga 1500]]
*[[Amiga 2000]]

== 32 bit machines ==

The move from the 68000 CPU to the 68020, 68030 and 68040 marked a transition to 32bit word computing.

Models include:

*[[Amiga 1200]]
*[[Amiga 3000]]
*[[Amiga 3000/UX]]
*[[Amiga 3000T]]
*[[Amiga 4000]]

Around this time, Commodore also tried to enter the video game console arena with a stripped down Amiga 1200 with a built-in CD player called the [[CD-32]]. However, because of a patent fight they were barred entry to the United States. Commodore was in financial trouble before the CD-32 gamble, but being locked out of the #1 video game market in the world sealed Commodore's fate.

{{stub}}

==See Also==

[[Category:Computer Manufacturers]]

Commodore C16

2017-12-14T16:49:44Z

Aball: Added BASIC version.

The Commodore C16, released in 1984 was probably intended to replace the [[Commodore VIC20]]. The case resembled that of the VIC 20 or original [[Commodore 64]] but was distinctive in that it was black with grey keys. It had a 6502-compatible processor (MOS 7501 or 8501) and 16K of RAM. The C16 used Kernel and BASIC ROMs from the Plus/4 but did not include the integrated application software. It offered Commodore BASIC 3.5.

Commodore C16

2017-12-14T16:48:11Z

Aball: Description of the Commodore C16.

Commodore Business Machines

2017-12-14T16:38:13Z

Aball: /* Mainstream 8 bit era */

'''Commodore Business Machines''' was the maker of the famous Commodore PET and [[Commodore 64]] as well as several business and home-oriented microcomputers. After they bought out [[MOS Technology]], maker of the [[MOS 6502]], they entered the computer market, starting with the [[KIM-1]] single board computer designed by [[Chuck Peddle]] and originally sold by MOS Technology.

== Early 8 bit era ==

The early days started out with the [[KIM-1]]. Commodore went onwards producing the PET computers. There were several models of PET computers including the:

*PET 2001
*PET 4000
*PET 8000
*SuperPET 9000

The PET models were known at the time for being an all in one solution, and found their way into many educational markets due to their solid construction.

== Mainstream 8 bit era ==

The mainstream years were known for the best selling [[VIC-20]], [[Commodore 64]], and [[Commodore 128]] personal computers. The Commodore 64 is probably best known as it has sold an estimated 30 million units, the most successful for any single model of any computer ever. Other interesting models include the [[Commodore C16]] and [[Commodore Plus 4]].

== 16 bit computing ==

During this time, Commodore transitioned to the [[Amiga]] family with the purchase of [[Hi-Torro]], after their deal started to fall thru with [[Atari]]. These machines were noted for having a [[MC68000|68000]] CPU running at 8MHz, and a co-processor set similar in concept to the [[Atari 400]].

Models of the time include:

*[[Amiga 1000]]
*[[Amiga 500]]
*[[Amiga 600]]
*[[Amiga 1500]]
*[[Amiga 2000]]

== 32 bit machines ==

The move from the 68000 CPU to the 68020, 68030 and 68040 marked a transition to 32bit word computing.

Models include:

*[[Amiga 1200]]
*[[Amiga 3000]]
*[[Amiga 3000/UX]]
*[[Amiga 3000T]]
*[[Amiga 4000]]

Around this time, Commodore also tried to enter the video game console arena with a stripped down Amiga 1200 with a built-in CD player called the [[CD-32]]. However, because of a patent fight they were barred entry to the United States. Commodore was in financial trouble before the CD-32 gamble, but being locked out of the #1 video game market in the world sealed Commodore's fate.

{{stub}}

==See Also==

[[Category:Computer Manufacturers]]

Category:Computer Manufacturers

2017-12-14T16:36:14Z

Aball: /* Manufacturers which should get pages */

This is a category of Computer Manufacturers.

== Manufacturers which should get pages ==
[[Acorn]] -- [[Altos]] -- [[Amstrad]] -- [[AT&T]] -- [[Coleco]] -- [[Comart]] -- [[Computer Automation]] -- [[Control Data Corporation]] -- [[Cray]] -- [[Cromemco]] -- [[Data General]] -- [[Elliott]] -- [[Epson]] -- [[Exidy]] -- [[Franklin]] --[[Heathkit]] -- [[IBC]] -- [[ICL]] -- [[IMSAI]] -- [[Kaypro]] -- [[Logica VTS]] -- [[MITS]] -- [[Morrow]] -- [[NeXT]] -- [[North Star]] -- [[OSBORNE]] -- [[Otrona]] -- [[Polymorphic Systems]] -- [[Processor Technology]] -- [[Psion]] -- [[Radio Shack]] -- [[Sanyo]] -- [[Science of Cambridge]] --[[Sinclair Research]] -- [[SouthWest Technical Products Corporation (SWTPC)]] -- [[Silicon Graphics]] -- [[Tektronix]] -- [[Terak]] -- [[Texas Instruments]] --[[Timex]] (Sinclair) -- [[Unisys]] -- [[Vector Graphic]] -- [[Wang]] -- [[Xerox]] -- [[Zenith]]

Category:Computer Manufacturers

2017-12-14T16:35:21Z

Aball: /* Manufacturers that should get pages */

This is a category of Computer Manufacturers.

== Manufacturers which should get pages ==
[[Acorn]] -- [[Altos]] -- [[Amstrad]] -- [[AT&T]] -- [[Coleco]] -- [[Comart]] -- [[Computer Automation]] -- [[Control Data Corporation]] -- [[Cray]] -- [[Cromemco]] -- [[Data General]] -- [[Elliott]] -- [[Epson]] -- [[Exidy]] -- [[Franklin]] --[[Heathkit]] -- [[IBC]] -- [[ICL]] -- [[IMSAI]] -- [[Kaypro]] -- [[MITS]] -- [[Morrow]] -- [[NeXT]] -- [[North Star]] -- [[OSBORNE]] -- [[Otrona]] -- [[Polymorphic Systems]] -- [[Processor Technology]] -- [[Psion]] -- [[Radio Shack]] -- [[Sanyo]] -- [[Science of Cambridge]] --[[Sinclair Research]] -- [[SouthWest Technical Products Corporation (SWTPC)]] -- [[Silicon Graphics]] -- [[Tektronix]] -- [[Terak]] -- [[Texas Instruments]] --[[Timex]] (Sinclair) -- [[Unisys]] -- [[Vector Graphic]] -- [[Wang]] -- [[Xerox]] -- [[Zenith]]