Mindset (computer)
VRAM 32 KB ROM | |
Removable storage | Cartridges |
---|---|
Display | Composite, RGB |
Graphics | Custom VLSI 320×200 with 16 colors 640×400 with 2 colors 512 color palette |
The Mindset is an
The system didn't sell well and was only on the market for about a year. This was lamented by industry commenters, who saw compatibility taking precedence over innovation. Its distinctive case remains in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
History
Roger Badertscher was head of Atari, Inc.'s Home Computer Division until 1982 when he resigned in order to set up a new company to produce a new personal computer.[4] As president of Mindset Corporation,[5] he brought a number of Atari engineers with him.
Design
In most computer systems of the era, the
Badertscher compared the chipset to the
The Mindset's look was designed by Robert Brunner who would go on to provide design and direction for all Apple product lines from 1989-1997. His distinctive case for the Mindset is included by the Museum of Modern Art, New York, in its permanent collection.[7][8]
As development continued and it became clear that the machine would be ready before the MS-DOS-based Microsoft Windows 1.0 was, Bill Gates became personally involved in the project to assist Mindset in emulating IBM character graphics without losing performance. Once Mindset officials determined that most of the desirable software was compatible, development was frozen and the OS burned to ROM in late 1983. The ROM does not run about 20% of the PC software base, including Microsoft Flight Simulator. WordStar is one of the PC applications reported to run, and Mindset publicized a list of 60 applications that run unmodified. The software base was expected to increase dramatically once a final version of Windows was released.[6]
Before its release, in early 1984 Jack Tramiel is rumored to have tried to buy Mindset's technology.[7][9] before ultimately buying Atari and designing a new machine from off-the-shelf parts, the Atari ST.
Release
The Mindset was released on 2 May 1984.
Mindset's president said its graphics capabilities were unmatched except on US$50,000 workstations. At the time it garnered critical acclaim, with reviewers universally praising its graphics and overall performance which was much faster than contemporary PCs.[11] although in many cases with the caveat that the market was rapidly standardizing.
Disappearance
By the summer of 1984, it was clear the system was not selling as expected, and the company re-purposed it for the video production and graphics design markets. That was followed in August by a round of layoffs, and another in January 1985,
By 1985, when it was clear the system was not living up to its promise and Windows 1.0 was a flop in general, John J. Anderson published a review of the system decrying that the personal computer market was beginning to value compatibility over technology. He wrote:
...the marketplace has "matured," and in its maturation process it has lost much of its original spark, innovation, and imagination. Today supposed graphics "experts" think of graphics in terms of when to use a pie chart as opposed to a bar chart. Today a program like City had better run on the Commodore 64, or else be capable of charting the cost of equity capital. Today the idea of designing machines that push the envelope of graphics price/performance has caved in to the design of machines that are compatible but cheaper. It is a shift in emphasis that makes the micro world a colder place for those who are motivated enough to seek something more.[7]
Mindset II
The Base System Unit is referred to as Model M1001; later a "Mindset II" computer was released, a
It is possible to genlock any Mindset System to a Mindset II. In such a case, the composite video output of one Mindset is used as an external video source for the Video Production Module connected to the Mindset II. It is very important that the Mindset System being used as a video source be set in the interlaced mode. Otherwise, vertical locking will not occur.
The Mindset II is referred to on the front of the user guide as Model# M1500, however other internal pages reference is an M1000-II and also make mention of Mindset Video Production Module Model# M1011. The system included 512 KB system RAM, 128 KB VRAM, and 40 KB ROM.[14] The primary resolution was 640x400, 4-color, double-buffered.[14]
Description
The system architecture is based on the
Mindset's design is modular in many aspects. The top of the case has an opening to access its system bus; this allows for the expansion module to plug into the main computer module to add memory and one or two disk drives. The Mindset was designed by several ex-Atari engineers[6] like the Amiga 1000, another computer of the era with an advanced graphics subsystem and modular expandability. Jack Tramiel (forming Tramel Technology, Ltd.) tried to buy Mindset's technology in Spring of 1984.[7]
A dual 5.25-inch floppy drive module that sits above the main unit was available and part of the common sales configuration for the system. The module also includes 224 KB of expansion memory as well.
Mindset has dual front-mounted ROM cartridge ports with a locking knob on the left side of the main computer module to lock the ROM modules into place. The Mindset has the option (through its System Configuration Utility) to be able to select whether the system boots from left or right ROM carts, or disk drive. Cartridges can also contain
While released in 1984, models of the M1001 Mindset computer with BIOS ROM code 1.07 and earlier show a copyright notice of (c) 1983 Mindset Computer Corp.
Sound processor
Mindset has a custom sound-processor (CSP). The optional Sound Module adds a second CSP, along with a right channel audio output jack. There are four operating modes:[16]
Mode | Name | Description |
---|---|---|
1 | Music | Four musical voices with limited effects, wavetable lookup |
2 | Sound Effects/Music | Three voices with sound effects, modified wavetable lookup |
3 | Max Voice | Six voices with limited controls, all voices same volume, ramped waveform |
4 | See-Through | Direct access to DAC |
Rear ports
The rear of the computer is equipped with the following ports:
- Audio left
- Composite out
- TV/RF
- Channel 3/4 select switch
- RGB video
- EXT sync
- Aux in
- Aux out
The rear of the main computer module also has 3× 36-pin Expansion bus slots.
The Dual Disk/Memory Expansion Unit adds an additional three 36-pin Expansion bus slots to the system.
Expansion modules
- Dual Disk Drive / Memory Expansion Module. Some are marked Model # M1003 and others M1004, despite there being no internal or external differences.
- Printer Module – parallel
- RS-232-C Module – serial
- Modem Module 300
- Modem Module 1200
- 128 KB memory "Cartridge Module"
- Hard Drive System, consisting of an Interface "Cartridge Module" and HD loader on NVRAM cartridge
- Stereo Module – adds right channel output jack and second sound processor
Peripherals
- Mouse
- Analog joystick
- Touch Tablet
- Video Production Module – video fader
Video game
Only one video game has been released for the Mindset:[17][18][19]
- Vyper (Synapse Software, 1984)
References
Citations
- ^ a b c "Sord's lap size, Zenith's compatibility, and Mindset's graphics mark new models". PC Magazine. May 1, 1984. p. 49.
- ^ Williams, Gregg (April 1984). "Product Preview: The Mindset Personal Computer". Byte Magazine. 9 (4): 270–293.
- ^ a b Zientara 1984, p. 43.
- ^ The New York Times, Aug 25, 1982, Section D, page 2
- ^ InfoWorld Jun 4 1984, page 42
- ^ a b c d e "InfoWorld Mar 19 1984". 19 March 1984.
- ^ a b c d e Anderson 1985, p. 50.
- ^ "MOMA The Collection Robert Brunner, Mindset Personal Computer, 1983".
- ^ Chin, Kathy (14 January 1985). "Atari Awash In Product Rumors". InfoWorld: 20.
- ^ Shea, Tom (7 May 1984). "Putting the computer on a pedestal". InfoWorld.
- ^ Christopher, Tom (12 June 1984). "Mindset: Visually Boggling MS-DOS Compatible". PC Magazine: 47.
- ^ McCarthy, Michael (25 February 1985). "Corvus Cuts Price, Mindset Cuts Staff". InfoWorld: 15.
- ^ McGeever, Christine (9 September 1985). "Mindset Asks Chapter 11 Protection". InfoWorld: 10.
- ^ a b "Mindset II Brochure" (PDF). Bitsavers.
- ^ Anderson 1985, p. 50: "However, perhaps because the Mindset has failed to set the industry on fire, our version of GW-Basic arrived on disk rather than ROM. It seems unlikely to me that new ROM software is likely to appear for the machine, let alone costly CMOS RAM cartridges."
- ^ "Mindset Software Developers Guide" (PDF). Bitsavers. Mindset Corporation.
- ^ "Vyper". Gaming History. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
- .
- ^ Mace, Scott (May 14, 1984). "Electronic Antics: Seeing Is Believing". InfoWorld: 38.
Bibliography
- Anderson, John (February 1985). "Mindset micro; pushing the envelope, or whatever happened to innovation?". Creative Computing: 50.
- "Stylish Graphics Lead PC Parade". PC News: 49. 1 May 1984.
- Mace, Scott (19 March 1984). "The Mindset Computer". InfoWorld: 20–22.
- Lima, Tony (13 August 1984). "Mindset: A versatile IBM PC compatible with excellent graphics". InfoWorld: 54–56.
- Zientara, Marguerite (17 September 1984). "Cheap Chips: Will graphics be the next market to explode?". InfoWorld: 43–44.