--- title: SEMI-TECH (STM) Pied Piper categories: - Computers types: - Professional Computer origins: - U.S.A. years: - '1983' cpus: - Zilog Z80A params: name: Pied Piper image: /media/museum/photos/semitech_piedpiper_system_s2.jpg company: /companies/semi-tech-stm company_name: SEMI-TECH (STM) specs: - label: NAME value: Pied Piper - label: MANUFACTURER value: Semi-Tech (STM) - label: TYPE value: Professional Computer - label: ORIGIN value: U.S.A. - label: YEAR value: May 1983 - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: None - label: KEYBOARD value: Typewriter keyboard, QWERTY, 62 keys - label: CPU value: Zilog Z80A - label: SPEED value: 4 MHZ - label: RAM value: 64 kb - label: VRAM value: 2 KB - label: ROM value: 8 KB - label: TEXT MODES value: 40 or 80 columns x 24 lines - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: None - label: COLORS value: '16' - label: SOUND value: None - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 51 (W) x 27 (D) x 10 (H) cm / 6.25 Kg. - label: I/O PORTS value: serial / parallel port , RF Modulator - label: BUILT IN MEDIA value: 5.25'' disk-drive (720kb) - label: OS value: CP/M 2.2 - label: POWER SUPPLY value: Built in power supply unit - label: PERIPHERALS value: External 5.25 floppy drive, internal RAM card and modem card, Hard disk interface - label: PRICE value: $1299 (1983) tabs: - photos - adverts forum_thread: 203 photos: - title: LARGE VIEW subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/semitech_piedpiper_system_s1.jpg - title: LEFT SIDE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/semitech_piedpiper_leftside_s1.jpg - title: RIGHT SIDE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/semitech_piedpiper_rightside_s1.jpg - title: SECOND FDD subtitle: '' text: With external 5.25" FDD unit image: /media/museum/photos/semitech_piedpiper_dualdrive_s1.jpg - title: BACK SIDE subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** External fllopy drive unit connector\ **(2)** Z80 bus connector\ **(3)** Reset switch\ **(4)** Serial port DIN socket\ **(5)** Parallel printer connector\ **(6)** Optional Modem card location\ **(7)** Power switch and socket image: /media/museum/photos/semitech_piedpiper_backside_s1.jpg - title: 'INSIDE #1' subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** Switching power supply unit\ **(2)** Video chip (unknown reference)\ **(3)** Nec 8279 Keyboard/Display interface chip\ **(4)** Keyboard connector\ **(5)** Z80 processor, here a SGS version\ **(6)** 2 KB Video RAM - 4 x 2114 chips\ **(7)** Internal expansion connectors for modem and RAM cards\ **(8)** 64 KB main RAM - 8 x 4164 chips\ **(9)** FDD controller chip and connector image: /media/museum/photos/semitech_piedpiper_inside_s1.jpg - title: 'INSIDE #2' subtitle: '' text: RAM, ROM and FD controller chips. image: /media/museum/photos/semitech_piedpiper_inside_s2.jpg - title: 'INSIDE #3' subtitle: '' text: Complete system with Mitsubishi 5.25" floppy disk drive installed. image: /media/museum/photos/semitech_piedpiper_inside_s3.jpg - title: MANUALS subtitle: '' text: User and 'Perfect' suite manuals image: /media/museum/photos/semitech_piedpiper_manuals_s1.jpg - title: ORIGINAL MODEL subtitle: '' text: To be franck, the Pied Piper model we own isn't as clean as the above pictures. We had to 'slightly' retouch them... image: /media/museum/photos/semitech_piedpiper_realsystem_s1.jpg - title: CLONE subtitle: '' text: In 1985, a company called STM took up the design of the Pied Piper to make a PC compatible system. The detachable keyboard covered a LCD display. The system also featured a built-in printer. It had a very short life. image: /media/museum/photos/semitech_piedpiper_clone_s1.jpg - title: SEMI-TECH BUILDING subtitle: '' text: |- Semi-Tech building (Markham Ontario Canada).\ The whole 3 story building and land were belonged to Semi Tech until the company went bankrupt. **Steve Otsuka** who worked for Semi Tech during 1982-1987 says:\ We were cash rich (over $100M), and bought a mainframe computer from Control Data which occupied one floor, mini-computer from DEC VAX series, expensive paintings, old China collectibles. Inside Semi Tech there were people with creative brains including myself (sorry to say this but I was a key engineer) and some of the most advanced projects in North America that time which you would be surprised. Thanks to **Steve Otsuka** for information and picture. image: /media/museum/photos/semitech_building_s1.jpg adverts: - title: 'SEMI-TECH BROCHURE #1' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/pubs/semitech_piedpiper_brochure_s1.jpg - title: 'SEMI-TECH BROCHURE #2' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/pubs/semitech_piedpiper_brochure_s2.jpg - title: US ADVERT (MAY 1983) subtitle: '' text: No info in this advert about the display that could be used (TV, composite, colour, B/W?) image: /media/museum/pubs/smt_piedpiper_pub_1982%5B2%5D.jpg - title: NEW ZEALAND REVIEW subtitle: '' text: |- Review from a New Zealand magazine. Notice the prices in Australian$ at the bottom right of the page. Thanks to **Murray Moffatt** from New Zealand image: /media/museum/pubs/semitech_piedpiper_pub_s2.jpg - title: UK ADVERT, OCT. 1983 subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/pubs/semitech_piedpiper_pub_s1.jpg oc_id: 193 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608213119/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=193 date: '2023-06-08' --- Not much is known about this small computer, designed in Canada and presented at the 1983 NCC show (Anaheim, California), in May. It was marketed then as a portable computer! Quite strange as when you have look at the picture, it looks more like a desktop computer, no built-in screen... In fact it had a handle on the back and a plastic cover for the keyboard. One could carry it like a briefcase. You still needed a monitor (TV) at the other location, however... Anyway, the Pied Piper apparently didn't last long. All we know is that it was intended to be marketed in the US, at $1300. It was based upon a Z80 CPU, had a 5''1/4 disk-drive built-in (720 KB) and used CP/M. It was sold with a complete "Perfect Software" package.\ The modem card was optional, manufacturered in Hong Kong at Semi Tech Hong Kong Ltd. According to **Terry Danyleyko** who worked for Semi Tech, 1000 pieces were sold to China. A Chinese CP/M was even written specially for the Pied Piper. --- **Tim Gieseler** reports :\ I sold ONE pied-piper at my short-lived computer store around 1983-4. There was nothing portable about it, but it was a smallish CP/M machine distinguished by it's use of a standard video monitor (none was supplied) and an unusually large single floppy drive compared to the Eagle/Kaypro/TRS-80s of the day. It was able to read/write many of the numerous floppy formats, as well. The "Perfect" software, same as supplied by Kaypro, was universally horrible, buggy, barely functional - but heavily promoted by the manufacture and bundled by many computer makers.