The History of Personal Computing

Sharp MZ-80K Ad

Debuting in Japan in 1978, then in Europe in 1979, the Sharp MZ-80K series of computers were some of the most popular personal computers in those regions. The series continued well into the mid-1980s. Its name stands for “M” as in microcomputer and then “Z-80” for the microprocessor that it uses. From the first model to the MZ-2200 released in 1983, all of the MZ series included the CPU, monitor, keyboard and tape recorder in a single unit, similar to the early Commodore PET. Continue reading Sharp MZ-80K…

OSI Model 500 (Superboard I)

Ohio Scientific Inc. was a US based computer company that designed microcomputers from 1975 to 1981. The OSI Model 500 system was their earliest system, launched in 1977. It was a very simple single-board computer based on the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, but it lacked video circuitry, therefore a serial terminal had to be used. All of the computers that OSI’s went on to design used the 6502. In 1978, they released the Superboard II, also known as the Model 600. It was only available as a ready-built system, although the user had to build or buy a five volt external power supply to power it. The Superboard II included a keyboard, 4K of RAM, BASIC-in-ROM and cost just $279. OSI’s Challenger 1P and Challenger IIP-MF computers used the Superboard II as their main boards. Continue reading OSI Superboard (I and II)…

The Nascom 1 was the first in a series of two single-board computer kits released between 1977 and 1979 by Nasco in the UK. They were both based on the Zilog Z80 microprocessor and included a keyboard and video interface, a serial port and two 8-bit parallel ports. The system was unique for the time, since it included a full “real” keyboard and a video interface was uncommon. The hobbyist had to hand-solder about 3,000 joints on the board.
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