#BBC Micro

[mistfunk]

Mistigram: @blippypixel has drawn this #BBCMicro animation of a #mainframe computer suite (and its 9-track vacuum column magnetic tape drives!) from the flexible #IBMSystem360 family of machines, sold for a bit over a decade starting in 1965. This piece was included in the MIST1121 artpack collection.

[ui-alcoholic]

Enterprise 64/128 (1985) (formerly ELAN 64/128)

After the 1982 introduction of the ZX Spectrum, Hong Kong trading company Locumals commissioned Intelligent Software to develop a home computer in the UK. During development, the machine had the codename DPC. The machine was also known by the names Samurai, Oscar, Elan, and Flan before the Enterprise name was finally chosen. The succession of name changes was mainly due to the discovery of other machines and companies with the chosen name.

The Enterprise has a 4 MHz Z80 CPU, 64 KB or 128 KB of RAM, and 32 KB of internal read-only memory that contains the EXOS operating system and a word processor. The BASIC programming language was supplied on a 16 KB ROM cartridge, it had to be inserted into the left side of the machine. Cartridges containing other programming languages ​​(Forth, Lisp, Pascal) were also produced. In this way, games or user programs could be stored on the cartridges. The maximum supported ROM size of the cartridges was 64Kb.

Two application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips take some of the workload off of the central processor. They are named 'NICK' and 'DAVE' after their designers, Nick Toop, who had previously worked on the Acorn Atom, and Dave Woodfield. 'NICK' manages graphics, while 'DAVE' handles sound and memory paging. The Z80, like all 8-bit CPUs, could only address 64 KB of memory, so "bank switching" was required to access more memory. The Enterprise's memory can be expanded to 4 MB without any tricks (and this is a 'plain' 8-bit machine like the ZX-Spectrum or Commodore 64)

Enterprise was announced to the press in September 1983, and some 80,000 machines were pre-ordered by the time of its April 1984 sales launch. The product did not ship until 1985, by which point the UK home computer market was already dominated by the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and Acorn BBC Micro with the 16-bit era on the horizon (Commodore Amiga, Atarti ST, etc)

After the initial manufacturing run of 80,000 units, it is believed that no further units were made, so the Enterprise is among the rarer home computers of the 1980s.

source of images: 8bit home computer museum

more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_(computer)

https://www.theregister.com/2013/10/24/elan_flan_enterprise_micro_is_30_years_old/

[teletextart]

BBC Micro by Pete Fagan

Currently showing at the Teletext50 exhibition on Yle Teksti-TV, Finland. Info: https://teletextart.co.uk/teletext50-art-exhibition-on-yle-text-in-finland-7-october-11-november-2024

[speculatrix]

Repairing a BBC Master #3: Power checks

Repairing a BBC Master #3: Power checks

Now that we know the sickly BBC Master’s power supply is okay, it’s time to check whether that power is getting to all the chips on the board. Luckily, the schematics help us here in more ways than one. On the first page is a table of all the ICs with pin numbers for their VCC and GND connections. I have this printed out and on a clipboard for easy reference. I also have the schematic PDF…

[mingos-commodoreblog]

RECOIL 6.4.0 - Retro Computer Image Library decodes Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari Portfolio, Atari ST/TT/Falcon, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, Commodore 16/116/Plus4, Commodore 128, Electronika BK, FM Towns, HP 48, Macintosh 128K, MSX, NEC PC-80/88/98, Oric, SAM Coupe, Sharp X68000, Tandy 1000, Timex 2048, TRS-80, TRS-80 Color Computer, ZX81 and ZX Spectrum picture formats. The project contains a simple viewer, plug-ins for general-purpose image viewers and editors, and an everything-to-png converter.

[marnanel]

When I was about 8 we had a game called Podd on the computers at school. Podd was a tomato that you could order around by typing verbs.

8yo me patched the binary so FART produced the same effect as EXPLODE, and yes it was hilarious.

Anyway, here's my JavaScript port of Podd.

[hedgehogofaf]

When you know the game that Polybius actually was and that it wasn't in fact a myth.

Bonus points if you know why this guy is an idiot.

How ironic that Barati supremacy is not it fact hype but the people trying to disprove it scientifically actually are driven by hype. When did scientific documentation become a game of follow the leader and not, you know, scientific documentation.

[everygame]

Christmas Crackers (A-G) (BBC Micro)

This post is for subscribers only! You can subscribe for just $1 a month at https://ko-fi.com/mathewkumar to read this! But wait! If you're looking for a Christmas present for that hard to please friend or relative, why not buy them a copy of Every Game I've Finished 14>24, "Probably the best physical collection of game criticism available on this planet" according to one of the user reviews on Amazon? Paperbacks available at .COM, .CA, CO.UK and all the other regional Amazons! So even if your granny lives in Australia you can still buy her a copy. Which I recommend, she'll love it.

[doyouknowthisgame]

[sleetmonster]

after a week of oopsies getting in the stream we're FINALLY BACK. PERFORMING FOR YOU. what is it tonight? Why, it's a deep dive into the wonderful world of BBC Micro games!

(don't tell jax but i don't know what the fuck these are i was just kind of yes-anding her about these the whole time so i'm in for as much of a surprise as you are)

[halestromthewhoobsessed]

Not nearly enough Splinx the Cat appreciation in the Doctor Who fandom, it clearly is one of the best companions in the entire franchise and we are SLEEPING on it

[mistfunk]

Mistigram: the smell of fresh grass, the feel of the warm sun on your face and the wind blowing through your hair... @blippypixel wonders if one can get away with trading it all away for its mere appearance in this #BBCMicro hirez screen, 'Choice', included in the MIST1121 artpack collection.

[arconinternet]

Making the Most of the Micro (Video, 1983)

You can watch this TV series about the BBC-branded 8-bit computer here.

[teletextart]

Nixon Resigns by Dave Hingley

Currently showing at the Teletext50 exhibition on Yle Teksti-TV, Finland. Info: https://teletextart.co.uk/teletext50-art-exhibition-on-yle-text-in-finland-7-october-11-november-2024

[speculatrix]

Repairing a BBC Master #1 – plan of attack

Repairing an #Acorn #BBC Master, part 1 – plan of attack #retrocomputing #bbcmicro

So my poor Acorn BBC Master Turbo is sick … again. And I feel a little bit responsible. Quick recap: the Master developed a problem some years ago. This was ‘fixed’ when a very generous person donated a motherboard from his machine. I never did find the cause of the problem. Since then, however, the machine has spent a lot of its time stored in a cupboard because … reasons. The other day I…

[mingos-commodoreblog]

RECOIL 6.4.4 - A viewer of pictures in native formats of 20th century computers: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari 8-bit, Atari Portfolio, Atari ST/TT/Falcon, BBC Micro, Commodore VIC-20, Commodore 64, Commodore 16/116/Plus4, Commodore 128, Electronika BK, FM Towns, HP 48, Macintosh 128K, MSX, NEC PC-80, NEC PC-88, NEC PC-98, Oric, Psion Series 3, SAM Coupé, Sharp X68000, Tandy 1000, Timex 2048, TRS-80, TRS-80 Color Computer, Vector-06C, ZX81 and ZX Spectrum.