Telmac 1800
1977 microcomputer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Telmac 1800[1] is an early microcomputer that was delivered in kit form.[2] It was introduced in 1977 by Telercas Oy,[3][4][5] the Finnish importer of RCA microchips. Most of the 2,000 kits manufactured over four years[5] were bought by electronics enthusiasts[1] in Finland, Sweden and Norway.
Telmac 1800 assembled using a briefcase as a computer case. | |
| Type | Home computer, Computer kit |
|---|---|
| Released | 1977 |
| Units sold | 2000 |
| Media | Compact Cassette |
| CPU | RCA 1802 (COSMAC) microprocessor CPU |
| Memory | 2 kB RAM, expandable to 4 kB |
| Display | 64×128 pixels display resolution |
| Graphics | RCA CDP1861 |
| Sound | fixed frequency tone |
| Successor | Telmac TMC-600 / Telmac TMC-2000 |
An expansion board, OSCOM, later became available, and included an alphanumeric video display, and up to 12 kB of memory. A 4 kB Tiny BASIC could be run on this configuration.[6]
The first-ever commercial video game to be developed in Finland, Chesmac, was developed by Raimo Suonio on a Telmac 1800 computer in 1979.[7]
The Telmac 1800 was followed by the Oscom Nano and the Telmac 2000.
Major features
- RCA 1802 (COSMAC) microprocessor CPU @ 1.75 MHz[3][4]
- Cassette tape interface[4]
- 2 kB RAM, expandable to 4 kB[3][4]
- RCA CDP1861 'Pixie' video chip, 64×128 pixels display resolution[1][3][4]
- Sound limited to a fixed frequency tone [3][4]
- Able to run a CHIP-8 interpreter[8]
