Prawez (computer)

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Prawez [ ˈpravɛts ] ( Bulgarian Правец ) was a computer brand that was manufactured in the Bulgarian city ​​of Prawez between 1980 and the beginning of the 1990s by the KMT-Prawez (Combine for Microprocessor Technology Prawez ( КМТ - Правец (Комбинат Таконат ТакерорнарМепо Пикоцер ) . It was mainly Apple and IBM replicas. The Prawez series at times represented up to 40% of all desktop computers traded within the Council for Mutual Economic Aid (Comecon).

history

The Bulgarian Communist Party (BKP) decided in the early 1980s to start producing its own microcomputer series. As part of the RGW, these were defined as a device class to be exchanged. However, they did not develop completely new systems, but specialized in cloning existing models. Another decisive factor was that Bulgaria was classified as a developing country and various export restrictions for modern technology did not apply to the same extent as for other Comecon countries.

The first IMKO models (individual microcomputer - Индивидуален Микро КОмпютър ) were developed by the Institute of Technical Cybernetics and Robotics . In 1981 about 50 pieces of the IMKO model were produced, which was popular with users, mainly because of its ease of use. In 1982, production of the improved IMKO-2 began.

The IMKO-2 / Prawez-8 systems were as perfect replicas as possible of the Apple II . The development of the IBM-compatible Prawez 16 series began in 1984. In the branch in Plovdiv , the Pyldin-601 ( Пылдин-601 ) home computer was manufactured from 1988 onwards. Across all models, around 60,000 computers were manufactured annually.

In 2013, a company that had secured the naming rights presented a Pravetz 64M laptop. The development is not related to the original production.

Processor manufacturing

In 1985, Bulgaria's first chip factory went into operation in Prawez. Among other things, the processors CM601 (a Motorola 6800 clone), the CM630 (a replica of the 6502 ) and the peripheral modules CM602 (PIA MC6821 ), CM604 (SSDA MC6852), CM606 (Timer MC6840) and CM607 (CRT controller MC6845 ) manufactured. The modules CM631 , CM632 and CM633 form a chipset compatible with the Apple IIe .

Models

Overview

model Period processor Working memory (RAM) Memory (ROM) Drives operating system comment
IMKO 1980-1981 Intel 8080 A / 2 MHz 16 kB 2 kB or 8 kB
Prawez 82 / IMKO-2 1982-1986 Synertek 6502/1 MHz 48 kB (up to 64 kB) 12 kB 1 or 2 floppy 5.25 ″ (external) Apple DOS , ProDOS
Prawez 8E 1985 6502/1 MHz 48 kB (up to 128 kB) 16 kB 1 or 2 floppy 5.25 ″ Apple DOS, ProDOS Apple IIe compatible, motherboard made in Taiwan
Prawez 8M (military) 1985-1987 Synertek 6502/1 MHz + Z80 / 4 MHz 64 kB (up to 128 kB) 12 kB 1 or 2 floppy 5.25 ″ Apple DOS, ProDOS, CP / M All-in-one housing, built-in special modem
Prawez 8D 1985-1992 CM630 / 1 MHz 48 kB 16 kB Cassette / floppy BIOS / Oric Basic, DOS-8D (for DISK II Drive), Oric DOS or Sedoric Oric Atmos compatible
Prawez 8A 1986-1988 CM630 / 1 MHz 64 kB (up to 1088 kB) 16 kB 1 or 2 floppy 5.25 ″ Apple DOS, ProDOS Apple IIe compatible
Prawez 8Co 1989-1994 CM630 / 1 MHz 128 kB 16 kB 1 or 2 floppy 5.25 ″ Apple DOS, ProDOS Home computer, floppy disk controller and interfaces integrated, only three slots
Prawez 8C 1990-1994 CM630 / 1 MHz 128 kB (up to 1088 kB) 16 kB 1 or 2 floppy 5.25 ″, HDD Apple DOS, ProDOS like 8Co, but improved motherboard and more expansion options
Prawez 8VC 1990 - ???? CM630 / 1 MHz 128 kB (up to 1088 kB) 16 kB 1 or 2 floppy 5.25 ″, HDD Apple DOS, ProDOS Computer and monitor in one device, separate keyboard
Pyldin-601 1988-1991 CM601 / 1 MHz 64 kB 4-68 kB Cassette, later floppy UniDOS Manufactured in the branch in Plovdiv
Prawez 16 1984-1988 8088 / 4.77 MHz 256 kB, 512 kB (up to 640 kB) 64 kB 1 or 2 Floppy 5.25, HDD (5 MB, 10 MB or 20 MB) SPS-DOS 3.3 ( MS-DOS clone)
Prawez 16 E / ES 1988 - ???? NEC V20 / 8 MHz 640 kB - 1 or 2 floppy 5.25 ″, HDD (20 MB) SPS-DOS 3.3
Prawez 16 T. 1988 - ???? 8088/10 MHz 640 kB - 1 or 2 floppy 5.25 ″, HDD (20 MB) SPS-DOS 3.3 Turbo (10 MHz)

Prawez 8

With the exception of the Prawez 8D, all models of the Prawez 8 series were fully compatible with the Apple II. It was possible to use software from the original Apple II and, from 8E, the Apple IIe without any changes. Character generator ROM and monitor ROM have been slightly modified to display the Cyrillic alphabet (Cyrillic uppercase instead of lowercase Latin alphabet letters). The changes were the same as for the Apple II plus for Katakana . In addition, the start message has been changed to IMCO or IMCO-2M (instead of APPLE] [ ).

The Prawez 8M was a version specially produced for military use in a metal housing with an integrated monitor and movable keyboard. The main board was a further development of the Prawez 82. In addition to a Z80 CPU for CP / M operation, 64 kB of RAM were also permanently installed. The control corresponded to the Apple II Language Card . There were different variants according to the area of ​​application, e.g. B. There are keyboard variants with a built-in joystick for positioning tasks. A limited number was also produced in the later Prawez 8A housing for general use, also under the designation 8M.

The Prawez 8Co was a compact version of the Prawez 8A, similar to the Apple IIc , but still in a desk housing. Floppy disk controller, serial and parallel interfaces were integrated, the RAM was permanently equipped with 128 kB and could not be expanded. 80-character display was possible by default. The device was intended as an upscale home computer. The Prawez 8C was the subsequent, parallel produced version with the same basic structure but full expansion options for professional use. The Prawez 8VC was based on the same motherboard as the Prawez 8C, but in a housing that already contained the monitor and offered a remote keyboard.

In the late 1980s, the Uzbek-Bulgarian joint venture Option was founded in Tashkent to produce computers specially adapted for use in schools in Uzbekistan. It is estimated that more than 50% of the computer classes in schools in the Republic of Uzbekistan (around 2500 schools) have been equipped with these computers.

Prawez 8D

The Prawez 8D ( домашний - dt. Heim / Haus) was intended as a home computer and a compatible replica of the Oric Atmos . In addition to the 6502 clone CM630 (1 MHz), an AY-3-8912 sound generator as well as 48 KB RAM and 16 KB ROM were installed. The white case was much larger than that of the Oric and contained a comfortable, standard-sized keyboard. The power supply was built in. Thanks to the built-in modulator, a television could be used instead of a special computer monitor. The ROM contained modified graphics routines to support a Cyrillic character set in addition to the Latin one. At the beginning only storage on cassette was planned. From 1990 a floppy controller and the DOS-8D operating system were offered. The computer is not widely used.

Prawez 16

The Prawez 16 (ES1839), initially referred to as IMKO-4, is an extensive IBM-XT clone. Different variants, including the 8086, were produced. The computers are considered slow, especially because of the built-in drives. Later models also included 286 and 386sx CPUs. Shortly before the end of production, a computer based on the Intel 486 was presented.

Pyldin-601

The Pyldin-601 ( Пылдин-601 ) was a home computer with the CM601 replica of the Motorola 6800 CPU as the processor. It was made in Plovdiv.

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