Dinosaur Sightings: Computers from the 1970s

During the disco days of the 1970s, personal computers moved out of the electronic hobbyist's garage or basement and into the office, classroom, and family den. This gallery showcases several 1970-era machines from Steven Stengel's vintage computer collection. Steven has graciously allowed us to republish his photos and descriptions. You can find a much more detailed description of each machine and additional photos of Steven's collection on his Web site www.oldcomputers.net.

MSAI 8080

Built by IMS Associates, Inc. of San Leandro, California, the IMSAI 8080 is one of the first consumer computers available.

IBM 5100 Portable PC

The Model 5100 is IBM's first microcomputer, i.e. not a mainframe, and is also considered the world's first portable computer. Although at 55-pounds, it might best be described as "self-contained" rather than "portable".

MOS KIM-1

The KIM-1 (Keyboard Input Monitor) microcomputer is the grand-daddy of all 6502 microprocessors systems. It was originally created by MOS Technology, the inventor of the 6502 microprocessor, as a way to demonstrate the power of the 6502 to the industrial community.

Processor Technology Sol-20 Terminal Computer (1 of 3)

Named for "The wisdom of Solomon", or possibly Popular Electronics magazine editor Les Solomon, since the Sol-20 made its first appearance on the cover of that magazine.

Processor Technology Sol-20 Terminal Computer (2 of 3)

Processor Technology Sol-20 Terminal Computer (3 of 3)

Rockwell AIM 65 (1 of 2)

Numerous different cases were available for the AIM 65, two of which are shown here. The black case seen here is a two piece, inexpensive plastic molded case.

Rockwell AIM 65 (2 of 2)

The tan case to the left is all metal with a built-in power supply.

Apple II

The Apple II, or Apple ][, became one of the most popular computers ever. Although it is a vast improvement over the Apple I, it contains the same processor and runs at the same speed.

Vector Graphic: Vector 1

In 1976, Vector Graphic designed and sold static RAM and other expansion cards for S-100 computers. The company was run by two women - Lore Harp (founder and chairman) and Carole Ely. Bob Harp, Lore's husband, was the design engineer. Eventually they released an entire computer based on their technology - the Vector 1.

Commodore PET

This is the first Commodore computer, the PET, or the Personal Electronic Transactor. It appears that they just made up that description, though, as the name "PET" was apparently chosen to capitalize on the pet rock fad going on at the time.

Radio Shack TRS-80 Model I

As one of the first home computers ever, the TRS-80 was a great success. Tandy wasn't expecting many sales, but this, their first computer, sold 10,000 units in the first month alone. It includes everything you need to have a real computer of your very own - the computer, monitor and cassette deck for loading and saving data.

NorthStar Horizon (1 fo 2)

Starting out in 1976 as a computer stored called "Kentucky Fried Computers", they had to change their name due to impending litigation from Kentucky Fried Chicken! Their first product was a Floating Point Math Board for S-100 computers. After this, they developed an inexpensive floppy disk system for existing computers, which quickly led to possibly the first computer with built-in floppy drives - the NorthStar Horizon.

NorthStar Horizon (2 fo 2)

With the top removed as seen above, you can see the heavy-duty linear power supply on the right side, as well as the two floppy drives. On the left is space for 12 S-100 cards to be installed. This particular system is packed with memory - seven 64K RAM cards for a total of 448K RAM!

Heathkit H8 (1 of 2)

The H8 was the first computer available from Heathkit, released in late 1977.

Heathkit H8 (2 of 2)

The Heathkit-designed H8 hardware was not compatible with any other computer system, which was not unusual for the day. While some systems used the common S-100 bus scheme, Heathkit designed their own "Benton Harbor" 50-pin expansion bus, with ten expansion slots available in the H8.

Exidy Sorcerer Dynasty smart-ALEC (1 of 2)

Before the Sorcerer computer, Exidy Inc. was a leading manufacturer of home and arcade video games. They decided that they had the knowledge and expertise to design and market a home computer.

Exidy Sorcerer Dynasty smart-ALEC (2 of 2)

The Sorcerer is the first computer to use ROM cartridges for instant program loading and access!

Ohio Scientific Challenger 4P

The Challenger 4P is comprised of the OSI 502 (CPU) and 540 (video) cards. The Challenger 4PMF (mini-floppy) includes the OSI 505 (CPU), 527 (Memory), 540 (video), and A13 (disk connect) cards. Both have the OSI 542 (keyboard) and A15 (I/O panel).

Synertek SYM Model 1

The SYM-1 is similar to the KIM-1, another single board computer (SBC) which was released by MOS two years earlier, in 1976.

Interact Model One

The Interact computer had a very short manufacturing run of less than a year. The Interact Company went bankrupt soon after production started and only a few thousand made it into stores.

Radio Shack TRS-80 Model II

The TRS-80 Model II microcomputer system, designed and manufactured by Radio Shack in Fort Worth, TX, was not intended to replace or obsolete the Model I, it was designed to take up where the Model I left off - a machine with increased capacity and speed in every respect, targeted directly at the small-business application market.

Bell & Howell

Founded in the early 1900's, Bell & Howell has always been associated with audio-video equipment - cameras, projectors, and the like. In 1979, they had a computer system which they sold mainly to educational institutions - you couldn't buy one, it wasn't available in your local computer store.

SwTPC S/09

SwTPC was originally an electronics supply company, selling power supplies, inexpensive video displays, and electronics kits to hobbyists. After computer chips became popular, they sold those as well, eventually creating and selling their own line of computers.

Heathkit H8 computer from 1977

Following the success of their Heathkit H8 computer from 1977, Heathkit released the Heathkit H89 "all-in-one" computer in late 1979

Atari 400

The Atari 400 and 800 were both announced in December 1978, though they didn't actually start shipping until late in 1979.

Atari 800

Designed to look like a friendly typewriter, the Atari 800 is an expandable system with two easily accessible cartridge ports under a front cover, and a removable top with four expansion slots inside.

Texas Instruments TI-99/4

For $1,150 you received the TI-99/4 console and one of the largest computer monitors ever released. The console has polished metal trim, giving it a quality appearance. The monitor is really a 13-inch Zenith color TV modified slightly to look and act like a computer monitor.

Dinosaur Sightings: Computers from 1980-1983

The 1980s was a decade when cool cops patrolled the streets of Miami and Reaganomics drove US fiscal policy. It was also the decade when PCs went mainstream. This gallery showcases several 1980-1983 machines from Steven Stengel‘s vintage computer collection. Steven has graciously allowed us to republish his photos and descriptions. You can find a much more detailed description of each machine and additional photos of Steven‘s collection on his Web site www.oldcomputers.net.

Hewlett-Packard Model 85

Similar in appearance to the IBM 5100 from five years earlier in 1975, the Hewlett-Packard HP-85 is an all-in-one portable computer system with a built-in keyboard, 5" screen, thermal printer, tape storage unit, and the BASIC programming language.

Hewlett-Packard Model 85 - topless

With its top off, it can be seen that the HP-85 has a clean and simple layout. On the left is the monitor and display circuitry, on the right is the thermal printer and tape storage mechanism. The main motherboard is beneath the keyboard, shown here folded up. Except for the eight memory chips, all of the chips are custom HP designed.

IBM 5110 model 3

BM‘s lowest-priced computer to date--in 1980, that is! Also the heaviest desktop computer ever - 105 pounds (48 kg)!

IBM 5110 model 3 - open

The card-cage is removed from the back of the system - the computer logic is contained on eight cards installed here.

Radio Shack Color Computer

The gray/silver color scheme was fetching for the original TRS-80 Model I computer, but it just doesn‘t work on the Color Computer - it has to be one of the ugliest computers ever.

While the "CoCo" is Radio Shack‘s first color computer, it is not the first color computer ever. There were others, the first being the Apple II from three years earlier.

Radio Shack Pocket Computer

This new TRS-80 Computer is another "first" from the company which brought you the best-selling, world renowned TRS-80. A truly pocket-sized Computer (not a programmable calculator). Of course it is an ultra-powerful calculator too... And it "speaks" BASIC - - the most common computer language, and the easiest to learn.

You‘ll soon be impressed by the phenomenal computing power of this hand-held TRS-80 - - ideal for mathematics, engineering and business application.

Radio Shack TRS-80 Model III

The Model III is basically an upgrade of the Model I, which was released three years earlier. It has the same CPU, but it is faster, has more memory, and the floppy drives hold twice as much data, although the Model I could be upgraded to some of these features.

But the major reason for developing the Model III was because the FCC had just instituted new regulations about RF emissions generated by computers and other electronic devices. The Model I was completely unshielded and was unable to pass the emission restrictions.

Apple III

Since 1977, Apple had been making millions of dollars on their Apple II line of computers. They sold hundreds of thousands of them, and it was the primary money maker for the company.

But Apple didn‘t expect the Apple II to continue to be so successsful, so they set out to design an even better system, the Apple III, specifically for the business environment.

Commodore VIC-20

The VIC-20 was the first inexpensive color computer available, costing less than $300. It can only display 22 characters of text per line, so its use for business applications is minimal, but people loved it for games - it has good color, a joystick port, and it was cheap.

The VIC-20 is also the first computer ever to sell over 1 million units, just a few months ahead of the Apple II 1 million mark, and production of the VIC-20 was up to 9000 units a day, with sales reaching $305 million. The price of a VIC-20 eventually dropped to less than $100, the first color computer to do so.

Sinclair ZX81

In 1980, British company Sinclair released their ZX80 computer for $199.95.

One year later, they released the new and improved ZX81. Compared to the ZX80, the ZX81 was much cheaper, at only $99.95, the first computer for under $100. The ZX81 has the same microprocessor and runs at the same speed as the ZX80, but it has a better BASIC programming language and is cheaper to produce, due to having fewer chips and a simpler design.

Osborne 1

Released in 1981 by the Osborne Computer Corporation, the Osborne 1 is considered to be the first true portable computer - it closes-up for protection, and has a carrying handle. It even has an optional battery pack, so it doesn‘t have to plugged into the 110VAC outlet for power.

Epson HX-20

If you‘re interested in "firsts", this is one of them. The Epson HX-20 can be considered the first so-called laptop computer.

Everything is included for a real portable computer - a full-size keyboard, an LCD screen, printer, storage device, built-in rechargeable batteries.

Harkening back to the old-days, the HX-20 has a built-in Monitor application for direct manipulation of the system memory.

Rockwell AIM 65/40

Rockwell AIM 65/40 computer:

AIM = Advanced Interactive Microcomputer.

65= Rockwell 6502 processor.

40= 40 column display.

An upgrade of the original Rockwell AIM-65 which was released in 1976, this model has a larger display, among other features.

Kaypro II

The Kaypro II was the first computer released by Non-Linear Systems, in 1982. Non-Linear Systems was founded by Andy Kay in 1952. But they didn‘t make computers back then, they made digital multimeters. You see, Andy Kay is the inventor of the digital multimeter.

Franklin Ace 100

The Apple II series of computers were very popular - so popular in fact, that other computer companies released "clone" computers based on the Apple design.

The Franklin Ace 100 is one such clone of the original Apple II computer.

Franklin Ace 1000

The Apple II series of computers were very popular, so popular in fact, that numerous clones were manufactured by other computer manufacturers.

The Franklin Ace 1000 is clone of the Apple II Plus computer. Franklin made numerous Apple clones, the first being the Franklin Ace 100, a clone of the original Apple II.

Commodore 64

Although it looks like an unimpessive keyboard-like box, the C-64 was wildly popular. More C-64‘s have been sold than any other single computer system, even to this day. That‘s about 17 million systems, according to the Commodore 1993 Annual Report. In a 1989 interview, Sam Tramiel, then-president of Commodore, said that "When I was at Commodore we were building 400,000 C64s a month for a couple of years.

Apple Lisa

Officially, "Lisa" stood for "Local Integrated Software Architecture", but it was also the name of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs‘ daughter.

The Lisa is the first commercial computer with a GUI, or Graphical User Interface. Prior to the Lisa, all computers were text based - you typed commands on the keyboard to make the system respond. Now, with the Lisa, you just point-and-click at tiny pictures on the screen with a small rolling device called a ‘mouse‘.

Kyotronic clones

n the early 80‘s, Kyocera (Kyoto Ceramics) of Japan designed an excellent portable computer based on the 80C85 CPU. This computer was so great in fact, that Tandy, NEC, and Olivetti all licensed the design from Kyocera and released their own computers with similar features.

These can be considered the world‘s first laptop computers, and were very popular due to their full size keyboard, great portablility, and large display. Newspaper reporters loved them!

The Tandy TRS-80 model 100 "Micro Executive Workstation" was by far the most popular, due to the Radio Shack chain of electronics stores throughout America.

From the KC-85 BASIC Reference Manual: "The large LCD screen gives it extremely advanced graphics capabilities for a portable computer (240 X 64 dots)."

Coleco Adam

Ah, finally, "The first, complete, single-package family computer that includes all necessary hardware and software", at least in Coleco‘s eyes.

Released in October 1983, the Adam was available in two versions, as an add-on to the very popular ColecoVision game system, or as a stand-alone home computer system, as seen above.

At $600, the Adam was a great deal, including a letter-quality printer, high speed built-in storage, and 64K of user RAM.

Radio Shack TRS-80 MC-10

The TRS-80 MC-10 (MC=Micro Color) is a scaled-down version of the original TRS-80 Color Computer computer from 1980. The reason for this is apparently because cheap, simple computers seem to be popular, and the MC-10 has a few things going for it which most of the Sinclairs lacked - a better keyboard, and a color display.

Dynalogic Hyperion

As one of the few computers from Canada, the Hyperion is a portable computer system similar to the Compaq Portable. Both were designed to be IBM compatible, but only the Compaq is said to be 100 percent accurate. The Hyperion fails to run many software titles reliably.