---
title: GEM 1000 Junior Computer / Charlemagne 999
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Belgium
years:
- '1983'
cpus:
- Zilog Z80A
params:
  name: GEM 1000 Junior Computer / Charlemagne 999
  image: /media/museum/photos/gem_1000_1.jpg
  company: /companies/gem
  company_name: GEM
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: GEM 1000 Junior Computer / Charlemagne 999
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: GEM
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Belgium
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1983'
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: Maybe 1984
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Basic (in French for the Charlemagne !)
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: |-
      50 rubber keys (blue for the Charlemagne)\
      QWERTY with Basic statements (MC-1000)\
      RESET, CTRL, SPACE, SHIFT, RETURN
  - label: CPU
    value: Zilog Z80A
  - label: SPEED
    value: 3.58 MHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Motorola MC 6847P (video)
  - label: RAM
    value: 16 Kb, upgradable to 64 Kb
  - label: ROM
    value: 8 Kb
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 32 x 16
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 256 x 192
  - label: COLORS
    value: '8'
  - label: SOUND
    value: AY-3-8910 from General Instruments, 3 channels (8 octaves) + white noise
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: |-
      270 x 175 x 72 mm\
      600 gr
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Tape interface (1200 baud), expansion port, 2 x joystick ports, RF Video output
  - label: OS
    value: CP/M with vaporware 5''1/4 disk-drive
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: External PSU, 9V DC 1A
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: |-
      RAM expansions (16 Kb/64 Kb)\
      Joysticks\
      Centronics printer interface\
      Floppy disk (96 Kb)\
      Coleco & Atari VCS carts adaptater !
  - label: PRICE
    value: |-
      304 (winter 83)\
      165 (april 84)
  tabs:
  - photos
  forum_thread: 417
  photos:
  - title: GEM 1000
    subtitle: ''
    text: This is one of the versions of the GEM-1000. The case is particular and the 50 rubber keys are blue. Note the power led at the top-right side...
    image: /media/museum/photos/gem_1000.jpg
  - title: THE GEM-1000 - JUNIOR COMPUTER - CHARLEMAGNE 999
    subtitle: ''
    text: This is the same computer but the case seems different, and it has 3 names !
    image: /media/museum/photos/gem_junior_computer.gif
  - title: THE GEM FAMILY
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/gem_family.gif
  - title: MC-1000 COLOR COMPUTER
    subtitle: ''
    text: This is the MC-1000 computer from CCE, a brazilian company. It is strangely similar to the GEM Charlemagne... The keys are black and Basic statements are written above them.
    image: /media/museum/photos/gem_mc1000.jpg
  oc_id: 420
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608214752/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=420
    date: '2023-06-08'
---

A quite little strange computer, which appeared under different designs...

The original model seems to be the [Rabbit Computer RX83](/museum/rabbit-computer-rx83/) announced at the 1983 CES. It looks like the computer was produced in Hong-Kong and then proposed to several companies in the rest of the world to market the computer under their own brand.

However no such computers have been found so far, maybe proving that the original company failed to produce the computer, or that it canceled the project at last minute, or that so few were sold that it's difficult to find a specimen today...

But if you look at the pictures section, you'll notice the that the computer evolved in different plastic cases. The "Charlemagne" picture, shows a case and keyboard identical to the [CCE MC1000 computer](/museum/cce-mc-1000/). This means that the project was finally marketed in Brazil, exclusively for CCE, and that the CCE MC1000 is indeed an incarnation of the GEM 1000/Rabbit Computer RX83.

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>