CCE MC-1000
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 | |
| Manufacturer | CCE (Indústria e Comércio de Componentes Eletrônicos) |
|---|---|
| Type | Home computer |
| Released | 1985 |
| Introductory price | Cr$ 1.1 million |
| Discontinued | 1986 |
| Media | Cassette tape |
| Operating system | BASIC |
| CPU | Zilog Z80A @ 3.57 MHz |
| Memory | 16 KB RAM (expandable to 64 KB) |
| Display | 32×16 text in 8 colors; 128×64, 128×96, 128×192, 256×192 graphics with 2 background and 3 foreground colors |
| Graphics | MC6847 |
| Sound | AY-3-8910 |
| Input | Keyboard |
The MC-1000 Color Computer[1] was a home computer produced in Brazil by CCE (Indústria e Comércio de Componentes Eletrônicos)[2][1] and released in February 1985.[3][4][5][6]
The machine shares some hardware heritage with the GEM 1000/Charlemagne 999 and the Rabbit RX83.[7][8][9][10] Like the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, BASIC commands were typed by pressing a single key.
It was not popular due to outdated technical specifications and lack of compatibility with established 8-bit systems of the time.[11]
The GEM 1000 Junior Computer, also known as Charlemagne 999 in Belgium and sold by Vidéo Direct International (VDI),[7][12] was a low cost toy home computer for children from 5 years upwards, produced by Taiwan based Gem International Corporation and introduced in 1983.[13] It was part of a family consisting of the GEM-2000 Family Mini-Computer, GEM-3000 Family Super Computer and the GEM-4000 Professional Computer.[14][15]
The GEM 1000 had 16 KB of RAM. BASIC commands were typed by pressing a single key using a dialect similar to Applesoft BASIC.[13] The Charlemagne 999 used French instead of English keywords.[7]
The Rabbit RX83, produced by Rabbit Computers of Hong Kong had 2 KB of RAM, limiting the display to 32×16 characters in 8 colors or 128×64 graphics with 2 background and 3 foreground colors. It was launched at the 1983 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show with a price of just US$99.[16][17][18]
The MC-1000 Color Computer was similar to these machines but released years later in 1985,[13][9][10][19] when the Brazilian market was already saturated with cheap machines offering similar features. As such, it did not attract much attention even though it was touted as a "Brazilian computer".
The fact that it was not a clone of popular 8-bit systems (like the Apple, TRS-80 or the Sinclair Spectrum) did not contribute to its popularity.[11] In addition to poor design and having a chiclet keyboard, the MC-1000 had only 16 KB of RAM which was small by the standards of the time.
The machine was commercialized up to 1986.[10]
Technical specifications
- CPU: Zilog Z80A, 3.57 MHz[2]
- Memory: 16 KB RAM expandable to 64 KB; 8 KB ROM; up-to 6 KB VRAM[2]
- Keyboard: 50-key rubber Chiclet keyboard
- Display: Motorola MC6847[20] (32×16 text in 8 colors; 128×64, 128×96, 128×192, 256×192 graphics with 2 background and 3 foreground colors)
- Sound: AY-3-8910[20] (3 voices and white noise)
- Ports: cassette recorder interface (1200 bit/s), TV output connector, joystick