--- title: Matra Hachette ALICE categories: - Computers types: - Home Computer origins: - France years: - '1983' cpus: - Motorola 6803 params: name: ALICE company: /companies/matra-hachette company_name: Matra Hachette specs: - label: NAME value: ALICE - label: MANUFACTURER value: Matra Hachette - label: TYPE value: Home Computer - label: ORIGIN value: France - label: YEAR value: '1983' - label: END OF PRODUCTION value: |- Alice 4k : 1982\ Alice 32 : end of 1985 - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: Basic Microsoft 1.0 (1982) - label: KEYBOARD value: |- AZERTY, chicklet keyboard\ 47 keys (1 SHIFT, 1 CONTROL, BREAK, ENTER)\ Basic statements written above each key - label: CPU value: Motorola 6803 (a cross between 6800 and 6809) - label: SPEED value: 0.89 MHz - label: CO-PROCESSOR value: MC-6847 Video Generator - label: RAM value: |- Alice 4k : 4 kb, 3 kb left for user\ Alice 32 : 16 kb, 8 kb left for user - label: ROM value: |- Alice 4k : 8 kb\ Alice 32 : 16 kb - label: TEXT MODES value: |- Alice 4k : 32 x 16\ Alice 32 : 32 x 16, 40 x 25, 80 x 25 - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: |- Alice 4k : 64 x 32\ Alice 32 : 64 x 32, 160 x 125, 320 x 250 - label: COLORS value: |- Alice 4k : 9\ Alice 32 : 9 with Basic, 32 with machine code - label: SOUND value: 1 channel - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 51 x 216 x 178 / 850gt - label: I/O PORTS value: |- Expansion port (18 pins)\ Tape-recorder (1500 bauds)\ TV (7 pins DIN plug)\ I/O serial port (4 pins DIN plug) - label: POWER SUPPLY value: 10v - 1,3A - label: PERIPHERALS value: Printer, 16k RAM expansion - label: PRICE value: |- 182 (France, dec. 83)\ 118 (France, july 85)\ 53 (France, april 87) tabs: - photos - adverts - hardware - connectors - emulators - links - docs photos: - title: FRONT VIEW subtitle: '' text: '' image: null - title: UNDER THE THING subtitle: '' text: '' image: null - title: SIDE VIEW 1 subtitle: '' text: '' image: null - title: SIDE VIEW 2 subtitle: '' text: You can spot here the on/off switch. image: null - title: REAR VIEW subtitle: '' text: Power in | TV plug | Expansion bus | Red RESET button | Serial DIN plug | Tape recorder DIN plug image: null - title: INSIDE THE ALICE subtitle: '' text: '' image: null - title: KEYBOARD (LEFT) subtitle: '' text: We can see here the only CONTROL key and the other keys with their basic statements and graphical characters associated. image: null - title: KEYBOARD (RIGHT) subtitle: '' text: Here is the only SHIFT key. Note also the BREAK key... image: null - title: ALICE 4K MOTHERBOARD subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** 8 bits 6803 microprocessor running (slowly) at 890 Khz.\ **(2)** Cassette recorder connector. Data transfer rate is of 150 char./second.\ **(3)** Serial connector, mainly used for printers. Data tranfer rate is of 60 char./second.\ **(4)** System init button (Reset).\ **(5)** Extensions connector mainly for used the 16 Kb. RAM expansion pack.\ **(6)** 8 Kb. Rom chip. Holds the Microsoft Basic interpreter.\ **(7)** 6847 Video chip.\ **(8)** RGB video output connector.\ **(9)** Power connector. Power is supplied by an external unit.\ **(10)** Heat cooler.\ **(11)** 4 Kb. Ram chips (2 x 4016 of 2 Kb. each). image: null - title: ALICE 32 MOTHERBOARD subtitle: '' text: 'This is the new version of the Alice : Alice 32 (codenamed "Alice 2" on the mother board). "32" because it has 16k RAM + 16k ROM. It also has a better video generator (9345).' image: null - title: THE ALICE CASE subtitle: '' text: |- This was how the Alice 32 was sold as an initiation package. It includes the Alice 32 + 16k RAM expansion + a tape recorder + Basic and Assembler documentation + tapes. The whole package was sold for 2495fr in 1984. image: null - title: THE ALICE HANDBOOK subtitle: '' text: 'The Alice handbook, illustrated by Moëbus, is a true success. It summarizes perfectly the objectives set by Matra-Hachette for the Alice : demystify computers and make it usable by the youngest. The content of this handbook is also neat, progressive, didactic and strewn with humour.' image: null adverts: - title: FRENCH ADVERT subtitle: '' text: '"Alice, a computer for all levels"' image: null - title: 'FRENCH ADVERT #2' subtitle: '' text: '"With the Alice, change the level without changing the computer"' image: null - title: 'FRENCH ADVERT #3' subtitle: '' text: |- "With a cool teacher, computers is a child game" "Alice, the Basic teacher" image: null - title: 'FRENCH ADVERT #4' subtitle: '' text: |- "Learn computers with a cool teacher" "Alice, the Basic teacher" image: null hardware: - title: THE ALICE THERMIC PRINTER subtitle: '' text: |- This small printer can print on 32 colons for normal characters, use double width and print semi-graphic characters. It has a transfer rate of 600 bps and can print at a speed of 30 cps. It was shipped with its Alice RS232 cable and cost 995 fr in october 84. image: null - title: DISK-DRIVE AND JOYSTICK INTERFACE subtitle: Vaporware !!! text: |- This is the only known picture of the vaporware 3.5'' disk-drive and joystick interface for the Alice. They were presented at the Micro-Expo exhibition in Paris in february 1985, along with a modem (not pictured here). Only the disk-drive and modem are vaporware. The joystick interface was indeed released. image: null - title: JOYSTICK EXPANSION subtitle: '' text: |- With this add-on, you can use a joystick with the Alice. But you can't use a memory expansion at the same time :-( Thanks to [www.mapetitecollection.com](http://www.mapetitecollection.com/) for the picture image: null - title: 16 KB RAM ADD-ON subtitle: '' text: |- This little thing adds up 16 kb RAM to the Alice and also enables high resolution possibilities through the use of machine code. It was shipped with the documentation "Allez plus loin avec Alice". It cost 595 fr (October 84). Thanks to [www.mapetitecollection.com](http://www.mapetitecollection.com/) for the picture image: null - title: TAPE RECORDER subtitle: '' text: |- This small tape recorder was all red. The Exelvision computer used the same one, but it was black (good point Silicium ;-) ) This little thing cost 595fr in October 84. Thanks to [www.mapetitecollection.com](http://www.mapetitecollection.com/) for the picture image: null - title: RF TV VIDEO ADAPTER subtitle: '' text: |- This thing was used when your TV had no scart/peritel video connector. The Alice could then be connected via the RF TV cord, but the display was only black & white. Thanks to [www.mapetitecollection.com](http://www.mapetitecollection.com/) for the picture image: null connectors: - title: SERIAL INTERFACE subtitle: '' text: |- 1 - CD (Carrier Detection)\ 2 - RD (Receive Data)\ 3 - GND (Ground)\ 4 - TD (Transmit Data) image: null - title: TAPE INTERFACE subtitle: '' text: |- 1 - Audio DATA out\ 2 - Ground\ 3 - Audio DATA in\ 4 - Not used\ 5 - Not used 4 & 5 were planned to be used for Remote control of the tape-recorder, but this function was not implemented into the MC-10 / Alice. image: null - title: RGB VIDEO / AUDIO OUTPUT subtitle: '' text: |- 1 - Commutation\ 2 - Ground\ 3 - Red\ 4 - Video\ 5 - Green\ 6 - Audio\ 7 - Blue image: null - title: EXPANSION PORT subtitle: '' text: |- The sketch represents the connector when you look at the back of the MC-10 / Alice (see Reset button on right). 1 - 2 = GND (Ground)\ 3 - 10 = D0..D7 (Data Buses)\ 11 = R/W (Read/Write signal)\ 12 - 27 = A0..A15 (Address buses)\ 28 = E (CPU clock, 1Mhz)\ 29 = SEL (peripherals invalidation entry)\ 30 = RESET (hard reset)\ 31 = NMI (non-maskable CPU interrupts)\ 32 = +5v (power in, 5v 300mA)\ 33 - 34 = GND (ground) image: null emulators: - title: DCAlice url: http://alice32.free.fr/index.html platform: Windows text: Excellent working Alice emulator - title: Emucompboy's Alice emulator url: http://www.geocities.com/emucompboy/ platform: Windows text: This is the first real Alice emulator !! (MC-10 emulators do not emulate Alice) - title: Emucompboy's MC-10 Emulator url: http://www.geocities.com/emucompboy/ platform: Windows text: Nice Windows emulator - title: The MC-10 Emulation project url: http://www.student.cs.uwaterloo.ca/~camennie/mc10/ platform: Unix / Linux text: Still active ? - title: The MESS project url: http://www.mess.org/ platform: Multiplatform text: This multi-platform emulator can emulate the MC-10 links: - title: Alice FAQ url: http://membres.lycos.fr/romualdl/alice/alice_faq.txt text: Useful source of information about the Alice systems - title: Alice page url: http://membres.lycos.fr/romualdl/alice/alice.html text: Excellent dedicated pages full of info by Romuald Line, includes a FAQ - title: Inside the Radio Shack MC-10 url: http://www.slowcomputing.org/ssouth/mc10/ text: Simon South's excellent and useful page. Lot of hardware info. - title: My MC10 Home Page url: http://mymc10.tripod.com/ text: Lot of stuff here, especially software. Cool. - title: The MC-10 archive url: http://mc10archive.com text: Small dedicated site with extended Basic available + utilities, games and documents to download ! - title: TRS-80 MC10 Club (Yahoo club) url: http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/trs80mc10club text: The heart of the MC-10 community. Quite active. docs: - title: DECOUVREZ LE BASIC url: http://alice32.free.fr/doc/index.html cover: null text: |- [**DECOUVREZ LE BASIC**](http://alice32.free.fr/doc/index.html)written by Matra & Hachette  compiled/archived by Daniel Coulom\  type of document : DJV\  source : [DCAlice website](http://alice32.free.fr/) - title: RÉSUMÉ DES COMMANDES ET FONCTIONS BASIC url: http://alice32.free.fr/doc/index.html cover: null text: |- [**RÉSUMÉ DES COMMANDES ET FONCTIONS BASIC**](http://alice32.free.fr/doc/index.html)written by Matra & Hachette  compiled/archived by Daniel Coulom\  type of document : DJV\  source : [DCAlice website](http://alice32.free.fr/) - title: GUIDE D'INSTRUCTIONS DE L'ÉDITEUR ASSEMBLEUR url: http://alice32.free.fr/doc/index.html cover: null text: |- [**GUIDE D'INSTRUCTIONS DE L'ÉDITEUR ASSEMBLEUR**](http://alice32.free.fr/doc/index.html)written by Matra & Hachette  compiled/archived by Daniel Coulom\  type of document : DJV\  source : [DCAlice website](http://alice32.free.fr/) - title: ALLER PLUS LOIN AVEC ALICE url: http://alice32.free.fr/doc/index.html cover: null text: |- [**ALLER PLUS LOIN AVEC ALICE**](http://alice32.free.fr/doc/index.html)written by Ediciel / Matra & Hachette  compiled/archived by Daniel Coulom\  type of document : DJV\  source : [DCAlice website](http://alice32.free.fr/) - title: MC-10 SERVICE MANUAL url: '#' cover: null text: |- **MC-10 SERVICE MANUAL**\ written by Radio Shack  compiled/archived by Jim Marek\  type of document : PDF - title: EXTENSION JOYSTICK url: http://alice32.free.fr/doc/index.html cover: null text: |- [**EXTENSION JOYSTICK**](http://alice32.free.fr/doc/index.html)written by Matra & Hachette  compiled/archived by Daniel Coulom\  type of document : DJV\  source : [DCAlice website](http://alice32.free.fr/) - title: LECTEUR ENREGISTREUR DE CASSETTE url: http://alice32.free.fr/doc/index.html cover: null text: |- [**LECTEUR ENREGISTREUR DE CASSETTE**](http://alice32.free.fr/doc/index.html)written by Matra & Hachette  compiled/archived by Daniel Coulom\  type of document : DJV\  source : [DCAlice website](http://alice32.free.fr/) - title: TP-10 OPERATION MANUAL url: http://themc10archive.com/node/44 cover: null text: |- [**TP-10 OPERATION MANUAL**](http://themc10archive.com/node/44)written by Tandy  compiled/archived by Gary (JaGF)\  type of document : PDF\  source : [The MC10 archive](http://themc10archive.com) comments: - author: Stéphane (France) date: Wednesday 15th October 2014 text: My first computer also ! I had it for my birthday (I was ten), and asked my parents the manuel one month before ... At the date, I knew it by heart ! small computer but great memories ^^ I remember this car game, I spent hours on it :-) - author: Stéphane date: Wednesday 15th October 2014 text: My first computer also ! I had it for my birthday (I was ten), and asked my parents the manuel one month before ... At the date, I knew it by heart ! small computer but great memories ^^ I remember this car game, I spent hours on it :-) - author: François Parmentier (Nancy, France) date: Wednesday 27th October 2010 text: |- This was my first computer too!\ It had a very good documentation (I read it all in one night), to learn programming.\ I bought the 16KB extension. This gave me the taste for computer science (and thanks to that, I hold a computer science PhD.) - author: Mirko Sala (Bangkok, Thailand) date: Tuesday 21st June 2005 text: This was my first computer. The user manual was great, and allowed me to get starte programming where most of my friends would just buy ready made code. If if was not for this box, today I would not be an IT engineer ;) - author: James Tamer (California USA) date: Thursday 18th November 2004 text: The Alice 32 isn't much like the 4K Alice, because of its use of a completely different video chip. Its description should be either separated completely, or put on the Alice 90's page. - author: TheClue (Salerno, italy) date: Thursday 27th June 2002 text: I can't believe! An user manual illustrated by Moebius!!!!!!! But it...it...it...IT IS GREAT! related: - /museum/matra-hachette-alice-90 - /museum/sysdata-eletronica-microcolor - /museum/tandy-radio-shack-mc-10 oc_id: 60 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230604043238/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=60 date: '2023-06-04' --- As the [Sinclair ZX-81](/museum/sinclair-zx-81/), the Alice was clearly marketed as an initiation machine. In 1981, Matra signed a deal with Tandy/RadioShack to develop a [MC-10](/museum/tandy-radio-shack-mc-10/) clone for 1983 : the Alice. Matra then worked with Hachette (both were owned by the Lagardère group) to produce the documentation and to organize the distribution. Last but not least, the well known and excellent french illustrator Moebius drew a beautiful illustration for the docs and the box of the Alice. Alice is quite limited in its possibilities but is also quite pleasant to use. Its case is whole red and the computer really looks like a toy. Several educational programs were developed for this computer. Then in 1984, Matra presents a new version : The Alice 32 with 16 kb RAM and improved graphical possibilities. But this computer was, like the MC 10, a flop in the marketplace. It was replaced one year later by the [Alice 90](/museum/matra-hachette-alice-90/).