--- title: Mindset Corp. Graphics computer categories: - Computers types: - Professional Computer origins: - U.S.A. years: - '1984' cpus: - 16-bit Intel 80186 params: name: Graphics computer image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_systemcut_s1.jpg company: /companies/mindset-corp company_name: Mindset Corp. specs: - label: NAME value: Graphics computer - label: MANUFACTURER value: Mindset Corp. - label: TYPE value: Professional Computer - label: ORIGIN value: U.S.A. - label: YEAR value: '1984' - label: END OF PRODUCTION value: Unknown - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: None - label: KEYBOARD value: Full-stroke 84-key keyboard with separate numeric keypad - label: CPU value: 16-bit Intel 80186 - label: SPEED value: 6 MHz - label: CO-PROCESSOR value: Two custom VLSI chips that handle graphics load - label: RAM value: 128 KB expandable to 384 KB - label: ROM value: Unknown - label: TEXT MODES value: 40 or 80 columns x 25 lines - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 320x200, 640x400 (interlaced) - label: COLORS value: 16 (for 320 mode), 2 (for 640 mode) all from 512 color palette - label: SOUND value: 4 voice sound (optional stereo module planned, adding another 4 ) - label: I/O PORTS value: RF modulator, NTSC composite out, analog RGB, synch, mouse, sound - label: BUILT IN MEDIA value: Two modular ROM/NVRAM cartridge slots. Optional dual 5.25 - label: OS value: MS-DOS 2.11 - label: POWER SUPPLY value: Built-in Power switching supply unit - label: PRICE value: $2400 (2 floppy drive, 256K RAM configuration) tabs: - photos - hardware - software forum_thread: 960 photos: - title: DOUBLE-DECKER MAIN UNIT subtitle: '' text: Notice the two ROM/NVRAM modules mounted on the front of the bottom main unit. image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_system_s1.jpg - title: FRONT VIEW subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_systemfront_s1.jpg - title: KEYBOARD AND MOUSE CLOSE-UP subtitle: '' text: The nice two-red-button mouse was made in Japan. It was one of the rare models to use a metal ball. image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_keyboard_s1.jpg - title: RUNNING subtitle: '' text: When not in use, the Mindset displays a rotating Mindset logo. image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_running_s1.jpg - title: CONNEXION subtitle: '' text: The two units are connected and fixed together by a large bus connector. image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_connector_s1.jpg - title: COMPLETE SYSTEM subtitle: '' text: Complete system with a Taxan Vision 420 colour monitor and a Xerox Diablo C150, one of the first and expensive colour ink-jet printer. image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_completesystem_s1.jpg - title: REAR SIDE subtitle: '' text: |- From left to right:\ • Audio output jack\ • Composite video output jack\ • TV/RF video output jack\ • TV channel selector\ • RGB video output DB9 connector\ • External sync DB9 connector\ • Aux. In and Out jacks (we have no information about them) The system also featured 6 expansion slots, 3 in the main unit (above the rear connectors) and 3 in the disk/memory module. They were designed for future expansion that never see the light. image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_rear_s1.jpg - title: INSIDE subtitle: '' text: Two expansion cards are mounted vertically. The front one supports the ROM/RAM module slots, the rear one is used for the connexion with the FDD/RAM module and also supports three expansion slots. image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_opened_s1.jpg - title: MAINBOARD subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** The two VLSI chips specially designed for the Mindset. They manage the graphics processing off the CPU\ **(2)** Rear expansion card\ **(3)** TV/RF modulator\ **(4)** Connector for the front expansion card\ **(5)** Two Intel 8042 microcontroller chips provide memory and I/O management\ **(6)** 32 KB base RAM memory (4x4416 chips). The rest of the RAM memory is located in the expansion module\ **(7)** Beeper\ **(8)** 32 KB BIOS ROMs (2x27128) image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_mainboard_s1.jpg - title: INSIDE THE EXPANSION MODULE subtitle: '' text: The expansion module holds two half-size 5.25" 360 KB floppy-disk drives, 96 KB of basic RAM (soldered chips) and 128 KB of additional RAM (socketed chips). This module also provides three expansion slots. image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_insidefdunit_s1.jpg - title: CUSTOM CHIPSET CLOSE-UP subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_chipset_s1.jpg - title: MINDSET LABEL subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/mindset_label_s1.jpg hardware: - title: PARALLEL PRINTER MODULE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/mindset_printermodule_s1.jpg screenshots: - title: LUMINA PAINT subtitle: Picture made with the Lumina Paint program text: '' image: /media/museum/software/mindset_graphics_graphdemo_s1.jpg oc_id: 986 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230417011654/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=986 date: '2023-04-17' --- This little-known graphics workstation is an intriguing example of the many, varied machines introduced in the mid 1980's. The Mindset microcomputer, designed by two ex-Atari engineers, offered graphics performance far beyond that of other personal computers on the market at the time of its introduction in early 1984. Based on the rarely seen, 16-bit Intel 80186 (also used in the [Tandy Model 2000](/museum/tandy-radio-shack-2000/)), the Mindset was a powerful graphics workstation built on a (mostly) MS-DOS compatible core. Two custom VLSI chips shouldered the burden of graphics heavy lifting; offering graphics performance 50 times that of the IBM PC, leaving the CPU free to handle other chores. The system unit was striking to behold. Crafted by industrial design group, **GVO**, of Menlo Park, CA, the Mindset was chosen for a place in the Museum of Modern Art. The main system unit lacked floppy disk storage but instead sported two, front-mounted ROM/NVRAM module ports. The system's serial and parallel interface, as well as system memory expansion, were also modular. A dual floppy drive expansion module attached to the top of the unit, giving it a futuristic, double-decker look (most units were sold with the floppy drive module bundled in). The Mindset was one of the very first computers to come standard with a mouse; in this case, a two-button unit with a somewhat unwieldy, heavy cord and a metal mouse ball.\ 11 advanced graphics modes which could be seen on any of the system's three graphics outputs; impressive flexibility for its day. A very powerful paint program, **Lumena** from Time Arts, Inc., was available for the Mindset, allowing the creation of stunning, static images from its palette of 512 colors. Beyond the static, however, the machine's custom graphics hardware was capable of performing frame buffer animation at a speed 50 times greater than that of the IBM PC. There were rumors that Atari CEO, Jack Tramiel, was considering purchasing the Mindset to bring it under the Atari flag. This did not happen, but it is interesting to note that the original [Atari ST](/museum/atari-130-st-260-st/) series computers, released a year later, featured almost exactly the same graphics modes and palette depth as the Mindset micro. More information about this notable entry in computing history can be found at [this on-line version](http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v11n2/50_Mindset_micro_pushing_th.php) of a Feb. '85 *Creative Computing* review. Thanks to **Blake Patterson** for information.