Nascom
Nascom 1 and 2 were kits for single-board computers , which were offered in 1977 and 1979 by the English company Nascom Microcomputers .
The computers were based on the Zilog Z80 processor and offered a keyboard and a display interface (video out with 16 lines with 48 columns each). In addition to a serial interface that could save data on tape according to the Kansas City Standard (KCS), there was also a Z80 PIO with two parallel interfaces with 8 bits each.
The Nascom Microcomputers was sold to Lucas Logic in 1981 after financial difficulties . Parallel to their work, a group led by Nascom founder John Marshall founded the Gemini Microcomputers (also Gemini Company / Microvalue ).
The predecessor of the successful Turbo Pascal compiler and the integrated development environment (IDE) for CP / M and MS-DOS were developed and sold for the Nascom under the name Blue Label Software Pascal .
The MESS emulator system simulates Nascom computers on modern hardware.
Features of the Nascom 1 (1977)
- CPU: Zilog Z80 with 1 or 2 MHz clock frequency. (8-bit processor).
- RAM: 1 kB, expandable by 16 kB on external memory card.
- VRAM: 1 kB ( screen memory for 48 characters on 16 lines).
- ROM: 1 or 2 kB.
- Permanent storage: cassette interface with 244 baud .
- I / O: RS-232 , RF-out, video-out with TTY and PIO connection.
- Programming: Z80 machine code or Microsoft BASIC .
Features of the Nascom 2 (1979)
- CPU: Zilog Z80 A with 2 or 4 MHz clock frequency. (8-bit processor).
- RAM: 10 kB, expandable to 32 kB.
- ROM: 10 kB including 8 kB Microsoft BASIC .
- Permanent storage: Cassette interface with 300/1200 baud according to the Kansas City standard.
- I / O: RS-232 , RF-out, video-out with TTY and PIO connection. Expandable with an additional I / O board.
- Programming: Z80 machine code or Microsoft BASIC .
Web links
- www.nascomhomepage.com - Nascom resurgence page - Offers an emulator and blue label software Pascal
- www.myplace.nu/nascom/index2.htm - Nascom nostalgia site