Aamber Pegasus
Keyboard |
The Aamber Pegasus is a home computer first produced in New Zealand in 1981 by Technosys Research Labs.[1]
The hardware was designed by Stewart J Holmes. The software was designed by Paul Gillingwater, Nigel Keam and Paul Carter.
It is thought[who?] that Apple Computer introduction of the Apple II computer into the New Zealand market, and its subsequent heavy educational discounting was the final nail in the coffin for Technosys and the Aamber Pegasus computer.
Total production numbers are unknown, but it is thought "around one hundred" were sold.[2][3]
Technical specifications
- CPU: Motorola MC6809C at 4 MHz
- Memory: 4k RAM, later versions 64k RAM
- Input: QWERTY style key-matrix keyboard
- Output: TV via RF modulator
- Display: 32 x 16 characters, ASCII character set;[4] 256x256 pixels monochrome at 50Hz[5]
Software
An optional multi ROM board in conjunction with a rotating dial allowed switching between 6 EPROM banks containing multiple language environments, games and applications. The EPROM based language environments include EXTENDED BASIC, Pascal, BASIC (a variant of Tiny BASIC), MAD (Assembler/Disassembler) and Forth. Games available on EPROM are TANKS, INVADERS and GALAXY WARS. Other software included MONITOR (the system BIOS which needed to be present for the system to run) and a word processor application called WORD. The system allowed loading of programs by cassette. Some available cassettes include SNAKES, STAR TREK, HANGMAN and CHARACTER GENERATOR.
Networking
A network version of the Aamber Pegasus provided connectivity to a 6809-based server (SWTPC-6809).[6] Especially the networking version attempted to address the New Zealand Government's computers in schools initiative,[7] but never produced the hoped-for large orders.
Unusual design features
One of the most unusual aspects of the machine is that to save the cost of a CRTC, the processor set up some bits on the 6821(PIA) to control the row being read out, then stepped through a series of NOPs so that the
On the left side of the Pegasus motherboard you can see a small blob of putty. This putty is hiding a series of diodes that act as a simplistic 8-bit ID. This 8-bit ID will only allow EPROMs encoded with a corresponding ID to work in any individual machine. For example, an EPROM from a machine numbered 2569 will not work in another Pegasus with a different ID.
Modern emulation
The MAME emulator supports the Aamber Pegasus under the name "Pegasus",[8] and a number of the original manuals are available at the Internet Archive.[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b Aamber Pegasus, Applefritter
- ^ Doran, Bob; Trotman, Andrew (2018). "Preserving Our Heritage: New Zealand Made Computers". The Rutherford Journal. 5.
- ^ Doran, Bob; Trotman, Andrew. "Preserving our Heritage: NZ-made Computers" (PDF). CS Dept. University of Otago. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ Aamber Pegasus Manual. NZ: Technosys Research Labs. 1981. pp. 2–02.
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: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "Aamber Pegasus". HFS DB. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
- ^ "Technosys Aamber Pegasus". 2017-02-26. Archived from the original on 2017-02-26. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
- ^ "New Zealand Internet History - Waikato Linux Users Group". Archived from the original on 2010-05-23. Retrieved 2010-04-24.
- ^ "Aamber Pegasus". Arcade Database. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
- ^ "AAMBER Pegasus Manuals". Internet Archive. Retrieved 5 October 2018.