---
title: Oric STRATOS / IQ 164
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- United Kingdom
years:
- '1984'
cpus:
- 6502 A
params:
  name: STRATOS / IQ 164
  image: /media/museum/photos/oric_stratos.jpg
  company: /companies/oric
  company_name: Oric
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: STRATOS / IQ 164
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Oric
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: United Kingdom
  - label: YEAR
    value: Never released - conceived in 1984
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Oric Super Extended Basic
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: |-
      QWERTY, mechanical, same as Atmos & Telestrat\
      ESC, DEL, CTRL, 2 SHIFT, FUNCT, RETURN, arrows
  - label: CPU
    value: 6502 A
  - label: SPEED
    value: 1 mHz
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 kb, 37486 bytes free
  - label: ROM
    value: 48 kb, up to 112 kb with 2 rom-packs
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 x 28 (80 x 26 planned)
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: |-
      240 x 200, 8 colors\
      High Resolution with 16 colors planned
  - label: COLORS
    value: 8 (16 planned)
  - label: SOUND
    value: |-
      General Instruments AY-3-8912\
      3 voices, 8 octaves
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 34,8 x 26 x 7,1 cm
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: |-
      2 cartridge slots\
      2 joystick sockets\
      RF Video output\
      Shugart disk-drive port\
      RS232c connector\
      Parallel / Centronics port\
      Expansion port\
      Modem DIN plug\
      Tape-Recorder DIN plug
  - label: OS
    value: RANDOS v1.0
  - label: PRICE
    value: 457 in 85 (never released/sold)
  tabs:
  - photos
  forum_thread: 236
  photos:
  - title: PETER WATERWORTH
    subtitle: ''
    text: Peter Waterworth (Research & Development Manager) presents the Stratos in December 84.
    image: /media/museum/photos/oric_stratos2.jpg
  - title: PARIS - FEBRUARY 85
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The Stratos presented at Micro-Expo, Paris - February 85 -

      The keyboard is the same as the one of the Atmos
    image: /media/museum/photos/oric_stratos3.jpg
  - title: SIDE VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The Stratos - March 85 -\
      This model was given to Eureka when they bought back Oric

      The rom-packs slots area is inclined (like The Telestrat), which is different from the prototypes seen before (?).

      On the picture you can see one of the two joystick ports and the reset button.
    image: /media/museum/photos/oric_stratos_side.jpg
  - title: STRATOS REAR 2
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The Rear of the Stratos owned by Eureka in March 85

      From left to right:

      RS232 | Modem | power-in | Disk interface | Expansion port | Centronics | RF video output | RVB output | Tape-recorder
    image: /media/museum/photos/oric_stratos_rear2.jpg
  - title: PRESENTATIONS...
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      Presentation of the Stratos - December 84 - at the Oric Research Center, Cambridge Technopark, UK

      From left to right:\
      Andy Brown (Software Manager)\
      Peter Waterforth (Research & Development Manager)\
      Dave Hitchcox (Custom Chip Manager)
    image: /media/museum/photos/oric_stratos1.jpg
  - title: A WORKING STRATOS ?
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The Stratos in action - March 85 -\
      This model was given to Eureka when they bought back Oric

      Here's what is written on the screen:

      RANDOS V1.0\
      ORIC Super Extended Basic V2.0 (?)\
      For help type\
      !HELP (return)\
      For a demonstration type\
      !DEMO (return)\
      Ready
    image: /media/museum/photos/oric_stratos_complete.jpg
  - title: STRATOS REAR 1
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The rear of the Stratos presented at "Micro-Expo" in February 85

      From left to right:\
      RS232 | Modem | power-in | Disk interface | Centronics? | UHF | RVB output | Tape-recorder
    image: /media/museum/photos/oric_stratos_rear1.jpg
  - title: TELESTRAT REAR
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The Rear of the Telestrat in 1986

      From left to right:

      Phone | RS232 | Minitel | power-in | Disk interface | Expansion port | Centronics | Midi | RVB output | Tape-recorder
    image: /media/museum/photos/oric_telestrat_rear.jpg
  oc_id: 226
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230606190153/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=226
    date: '2023-06-06'
---

The Oric Stratos was planned to replace the [Oric Atmos](/museum/oric-atmos/). It was quite close to the Atmos but had some clever enhancements like a built-in floppy disk controller.

This computer was never marketed but when Euréka purchased Oric, the Stratos project inspired a lot the [Telestrat](/museum/oric-telestrat/) computer.