--- title: Dragon Data Ltd Dragon 32 categories: - Computers types: - Home Computer origins: - United Kingdom years: - '1982' cpus: - Motorola MC6809EP params: name: Dragon 32 image: /media/museum/photos/dragondata_dragon-32_1.jpg company: /companies/dragon-data-ltd company_name: Dragon Data Ltd specs: - label: NAME value: Dragon 32 - label: MANUFACTURER value: Dragon Data Ltd - label: TYPE value: Home Computer - label: ORIGIN value: United Kingdom - label: YEAR value: January 1982 - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: |- Microsoft Extended Basic\ Basic Interpreter 1.0 (1982) - label: KEYBOARD value: |- QWERTY Mechanical keyboard\ 53 keys - label: CPU value: Motorola MC6809EP - label: SPEED value: 0,9 Mhz - label: CO-PROCESSOR value: Motorola MC-6847 Video Display Generator - label: RAM value: 32 kb - label: ROM value: 2 x 8K or 16K EPROM comprising Microsoft Extended BASIC - label: TEXT MODES value: 32 x 16 - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 'Several graphic modes, max : 256 x 192 (with 2 colors)' - label: COLORS value: '8' - label: SOUND value: |- 1 voice, 5 octaves with the Basic\ 4 voices, 7 octaves with machine code - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 38 (W) x 32.5 (D) x 9.7 (H) cm / 2.1 kg - label: I/O PORTS value: TV connector, 2 analogue joystick ports, cassette port, Centronics parallel printer port, cartridge slot, composite monitor port - label: PRICE value: |- Dragon 32 : 455 (France, november 83)\ Dragon 32: 211 (France, november 85) tabs: - photos - adverts - hardware - software - links photos: - title: INSIDE DRAGON 32 subtitle: '' text: |- The Motorola 6809 used by the Dragon 32 is one of most powerful 8 bit microprocessor of the market. Programmers like it particularly because it is easy to program. However, it is difficult to convert programs written for other processors towards the 6809. This is maybe why the Dragon games library was never as rich as those of Z80 or 6502 based systems. **(1)** 2 quartz are used for microprocessor and video signal synchronization.\ **(2)** 32 Kb. RAM holded in 8 chips.\ **(3)** 2 ROM chips hold the Microsoft Basic interpreter and I/O routines.\ **(4)** Motorola 6809 microprocessor.\ **(5)** Expansion connector mainly used for game cartridges.\ **(6)** Power connector. Power is supplied by an external supply unit.\ **(7)** Power regulator with its cooler and filtering condensers.\ **(8)** Two PIA chips (Peripherals Interface Adaptor) manage the keyboard and external peripherals.\ **(9)** On/Off Switch.\ **(10)** RGB interface for colour monitor.\ **(11)** Modulator generating T.V. aerial signal.\ **(12)** Video chip.\ **(13)** Connector for standard parallel Centronics printers.\ **(14)** Connector for 1 or 2 joysticks compatible with Atari standard.\ **(15)** Connector for cassette recorder with remote control.\ **(16)** System Reset button.\ **(17)** Mechanical keyboard with 4 cursor control keys. image: /media/museum/photos/dragon_32_inside_1.jpg - title: DRAGON 32 PASCAL LANGUAGE MANUAL subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/dragon-1.jpg - title: THE DRAGON BASIC USER'S MANUAL subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/dragon-7.jpg - title: DUST COVER subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/dragon32_dustcover_1.jpg - title: BOX subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/dragon_dragon32_box_2.jpg adverts: - title: ADVERT - "AFTER BLASTING SOME ALIENS..." subtitle: '' text: Thanks to Richard Harding for this picture image: /media/museum/pubs/dragon32_pub_after-blasting-some-aliens.jpg - title: UK ADVERT, OCT. 1983 subtitle: '' text: |- Here are the 20 questions :-)\ If you're looking for your first home computer, may we make a suggestion.\ Tear out this page.\ And ask these questions of every computer you look at.\ 1\) Is the basic price reason­able, say under £180?\ 2\) Does it work with a monitor as well as with an ordinary UHF TV?\ 3\) Does it include a basic training manual that doesn't require a science degree to understand?\ 4\) Does it have colour?\ 5\) And sound?\ 6\) Does it take cassettes?\ 7\) And cartridges?\ 8\) And can you operate them with joysticks working directly off the basic unit?\ 9\) Does it have a profes­sional quality keyboard that's guaranteed for twenty million de­pressions (and no headaches)?\ 10\) Does it have colour graphics that are capable of producing detailed pictures?\ 11\) Is the case robust enough to stand up to the kids?\ ­12) Does it use a standard language that's not a million, miles away from English?\ 13\) Is there an expanding range of high quality sofrware available from the makers?\ 14\) Does the software in­clude educational programs for adults as well as the very young?\ 15\) And is there sofrware sophisticated enough to satisfy the experts?\ 16\) Does it use the most up to date technology, for instance the 6809E microprocessor?\ 17\) Will it drive a standard printer directly from the basic unit?\ 18\) Is it made in the UK?\ 19\) And for the basic price will I get an easily accessible, yet large memory of at least 32K?\ 20\) Or willI have to add lots of extras (and lots of money for that much?\ After you've finished pester­ing every computer salesman in sight, compare your answers to these, Courtesy of the Dragon 32 (this is,after all, an ad for the Dragon)\ Questions 1-19. Yes,yes,yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes and yes.\ Question 20. No.\ If you're thinking that that's a lot of computer for the money. you'd be right.\ However, when you come to read the handbook you'll soon realise that somethings missing. The jargon usually asso­ciated with computers.\ You see every part of the Dragon has been carefully designed to be easily under­stood,even by total beginners. Yet it has all the features an expert could want Just ask it. image: /media/museum/pubs/dragon_32_pub_s1.jpg - title: GREEK ADVERT (MARCH 1985) subtitle: '' text: '' image: null hardware: - title: 5'' DISK-DRIVE subtitle: '' text: '186k, Single Side, Operating system: OS9' image: /media/museum/hardware/dragon_diskdrive.jpg - title: THE DRAGON 32/64 DUAL 5.25'' DISK-DRIVE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/dragon_64_doublefd_1.jpg - title: INSIDE F.D. UNIT subtitle: '' text: |- The disk drive option is provided in 2 parts: the floppy drive unit, and an interface cartridge connected to the computer. Each formated disk can hold 180 Kb. Data are stored on 40 concentric tracks, each one made of 18 sectors of 256 bytes each. **(1)** One or two disk drives can be mounted in the case.\ **(2)** Interface cartridge that fits into the Dragon expansion connector.\ **(3)** First disk drive.\ **(4)** Magnetic heads and its mechanisms.\ **(5)** Disk rotation motors.\ **(6)** Power supply.\ **(7)** Connector for the cartridge flat cable. image: /media/museum/hardware/dragon_32_insidefd_1.jpg - title: DRAGON JOYSTICKS subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/dragon_joysticks.jpg - title: 'DRAGON JOYSTICK #2' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/dragon_64_joystick_s1.jpg - title: LIGHT PEN subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/dragon_lightpen.jpg - title: DUST COVER subtitle: '' text: Beautiful, no ?! image: /media/museum/hardware/dragons-data_dragon32_dustcover_1.jpg screenshots: - title: CASH MAN, DRAGONCHESS, ... subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/dragon32_software_4k7_1.jpg - title: BONKA subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/dragon_bonka.jpg - title: COSMIC ZAP subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/dragon_cosmiczap.jpg - title: FROGGER subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/dragon_frogger.jpg - title: KATERPILLAR ATTACK subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/dragon_katerpillar_attack.jpg - title: LEGGIT subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/dragon_leggit.jpg links: - title: Dragon & Tandy CoCo Resources url: http://www.burgins.com/dragon.html text: '' - title: Dragon, The Archive url: http://www.dragondata.co.uk/ text: Nice and complete Dragon dedicated site - title: Graham's Dragon Page url: http://www.grempc.demon.co.uk/dragon/ text: Information, articles and links related to the Dragon - title: Home of On-A-Stick Productions Inc. or jon's home page url: http://www.onastick.clara.net/ text: '' - title: The DRAGON Archive url: http://www.dragon-archive.co.uk/ text: A site dedicated to the Dragon series of computers. Includes software archive, history of the dragon and much more. comments: - author: Nick Blackburn (Isle of Man, UK) date: Wednesday 16th June 2021 text: Hi Eddie Lee (Cardiff ), Do you still have your Dragon 32? I know its been a few years but you might still have it. Thanks! Nick - author: mazhar said (United Kingdom) date: Wednesday 3rd February 2021 text: hello i typed in (9/85) dragon user a word processing program (in machine code) however i dont know the start end exec address of it please can some 1 help me out here thanks - author: Dave (Virgina, USA) date: Sunday 6th September 2015 text: First, and only home computer, was a 32 and kept it until 2000. Initially bored from playing Space Invaders non-stop for a week, I started programming. What a world that opened up! BASIC followed by machine code, dabbling in graphics, audio, and hardware interfacing. Luckily my first job used a product line with a 6809 CPU for analog and digital interfacing! - author: Eddie Lee (Cardiff ) date: Thursday 30th July 2015 text: I have a Dragon 32 available to a good home, don''t know if it still breathes fire as I haven''t switched it on for years. If anyone wants it let me know - author: Andrew Norton (United States) date: Monday 4th April 2011 text: |- I got a 32 used, from Thornleys (a pork processing plant in Chorley) in 1986. The system, a tape drive, the dragon floppy drive a a big bag of software. Plus a Juki daisywheel wide-format printer. It ran the databases for our family business for years, and I used it daily until I moved to the US in 2002, where it was put in storage. In 91+92 i even went to the last Dragon store in Valletta to buy more software. Ah fun times..... - author: Tanny date: Friday 11th March 2011 text: Hi this computer i had for a whole year and a bit - it helped me pass one o level and fail all the rest - i sent it back to the catologue company in a bid to upgrade to the Dragon64 but never did so as my parents would not let me buy a computer ever again due to me failing my exams!! - author: MR Bailey (Somerset, England, UK) date: Saturday 20th November 2010 text: |- Ah these beasts helped get me into computing as a youngster!\ I have one but it wont seem to work anymore due to some video IC going bust I think :''( brian if yours is still available or anyone else wants to get rid of their old dragon a good home is here and I am dying to try out all my old tapes some of which should contain my own software I programmed over the long nights! (god computing was so much more fun "back in the day" lol) - author: carolyn myers (england) date: Wednesday 20th October 2010 text: I am looking for two games by microdeal for the dragon 32.They are Racerball and Galagon. Can anybody help direct me to where I could buy them please ? - author: brian estcourt (uk) date: Tuesday 27th July 2010 text: i have a as new dragon 32 computer, plus dragon 32 printer...in the original boxes, anybody interested email me...brian - author: Jose Luis Medina (ES) date: Sunday 22nd October 2006 text: |- Wow... Dragon 64 was my first computer...it was the gilty I start to interest on computers... 20 yrs later.. I continue working on them!!! I'keep my Dragon 64 working (with it's infamous orange monitor) after a couple of repairings. - author: Gabriel Klein (Haifa Israel) date: Sunday 17th September 2006 text: |- Dragons 32 and 64 were a great success here in Israel from 1983. They successfully competed Atari, Apple, Commodore Sinclair, BBC, Tandy and others and in many cases won on speed, color, sound, size and price. Support was available through UK and local centers. They had plenty of additional materia:. Hardware add-ons (joysticks, single and dual floppy drives, matching displays, cables, cassette drives) Software was avilable in all forms (magazines, listings, cassettes and later floppies too) and we used to have several fan clubs with many both young and experienced programmers who exchanged programs on buletin boards and even on one of the very first "internet" networks that used the old dial up standalone modems. You guys wouldnt believe to what heights we brought that original flight simulator, after groups of veteran pilots added their knowhow to programmers to create a real life simulator.....\ I bought my first 32 in 1983 and traded it in for the 64 a year later. It was my first PC and a fabulous machine for learning machine code, basic, pascal, OS9 op system which actually was a subset of unix and more. The dragons followed me from my days as an electronics student, through marriage, several homes, two kids and a long Hi-tec carreer. I gave away the 64 in 1997 in perfect condition with all its manuals and software, after many years serving faithfully my two kids. I naturally switched in the late 80's to PCs of which I had almost every type and size but will never forget those dragons which allowed me to enter the magic world of computers and electronics - and did a faster and better job than all my proffesors put together. Farewell, little dragons - You'll always have a place in my heart. - author: Renato Tramontina (NL) date: Wednesday 15th March 2006 text: Sometime in the 80's I was saving all my pocket money to buy one of these machines. One day I finally had the needed fl 900,- (orso), I went to the shop only to discover the price was increase$d with another fl 50. Which I didn't have. In the end I never bought one, snif, snif. - author: Len (UK) date: Friday 21st May 2004 text: |- Did you know that some Dragon 32s shipped with 64k boards which had failed\ quality control at 64 status but passed as 32s. One could enable the full\ 64k on some 32s by inputting "&hffd7" at the prompt.\ Just an in case you weren't aware of this.\ I had a 32k board in mine in 1983 but knew a guy with a 32, potential 64\ Dragon and the above did indeed enable 64k access. Stability was another\ matter.\ If I recall correctly, the modulater needed constant tweeking via a small\ screw in the back of the machine. The disk drives cost more than the\ machine. - author: Bryan Lister (U.K.) date: Friday 31st October 2003 text: |- Still got my Dragon up in the loft, never could bring myself to part with it. Got mine in late 1982 (I think) with £199 taken out of my birthday money account. It was a fortune for a (then) school boy to buy. Another peculiarity with the machine was that its video display was not full screen but a window with in. I chose the Dragon over a Sinclair Spectrum as it could display NINE colours over the Spectrum's EIGHT. Oh how things have changed. The software support was good for the Dragon, with companies like MicroDeal and Salamander offering the best titles. However, in those days programmes had to be loaded from cassette tape and this was a somewhat haphazard process, especially after the tape had been used many times and stretched a bit. I also recall spending a huge amount of time typing in an enormous amount of code for what looked like a very promising (!) flight simulator programme published in a magazine. All I ever got were error codes which was really frustrating after all that effort. I put it on one side and promised myself that I would come back to it and see if I could trace the problem. That cassette is still in the loft, and 21 years later, I have still not done it. It was a great machine and the early 1980s was such a fantastic time for schoolboys playing with the first home computers. A real adventure. - author: John O'Leary (U.K.) date: Tuesday 2nd September 2003 text: |- This was my first computer that I didn't design myself. It combined rubbish (e.g. CPU generated sound) with genius (e.g. the 6809 and coprocessor). I remember winning a copy of Jet Set Willly (on cassette tape) from some English magazine for writing a program in machine code to calculate square roots of arbitrarily large numbers. I didn't have a printer so I wrote it out on paper and posted it to them!\ I taped a cartridge game at a shop and wrote a dissasembler and assembler to relocate it into RAM. To debug it, I made a little PCB that plugged in to generate a non-maskable interrupt when unavailable memory was accessed. Aah, nostalgia isn't what it used to be!!! - author: Alan Abbott (Cheshire) date: Thursday 6th February 2003 text: |- I have four Dragon 32's and one Dragon 64.\ I collect them.\ I am trying to find a copy of pettigrews diary (never did finish that game)! - author: marc cross (london) date: Sunday 22nd December 2002 text: please help me!! i recently found my dregon32 and all attachments baring a cassete deck how or can i use a conventional player and or do i need a specific lead (tons of quality games to play but cant load) - author: Kevin Webster (Derby) date: Wednesday 28th August 2002 text: |- The Dragon 32 was also my first computer. I recently found it up in my parents loft, but cannot find the power supply. If anyone could help me out here I would be very grateful.\ I would love to be able to play those old classic games again. - author: Roger Russell (Swansea, Wales.) date: Monday 10th June 2002 text: I've still got 3 Dragon 32's here, and tons of software, was my first ever color computer, and it was made about 5 miles from where I live, happy days back then :) - author: Fred (US) date: Monday 29th April 2002 text: I used to sell these things back in Dixons in Southampton, England back in the 80's. It was always a toss up for the buyer between this and the Atari - but this was able to draw a circle - machine sold ! - author: Rob (Chapel Hill, US) date: Monday 4th March 2002 text: |- I still have mine..just had a lot of stuff shipped over from UK to new home in NC, USA. Bottom of one box... dragon 32, those nasty joysticks and about 100 cassette tapes. I cut my computing teeth on a Dragon 32.. I loved it, even that green screen. I'll see if it works very soon..anyne for Donkey King? - author: Paul Dixon (UK) date: Monday 4th March 2002 text: |- This was my first computer and I wish I still had mine. The normal screen mode was usually a nasty green, but late in its life, my screen turned a pleasant shade of orange! The other thing I remember about it was that the high resolution graphics modes could not support text output - you had to "draw" text onto the screen using a logo-like language built into the Microsoft basic intepreter! It was also ahead of its time in supporting the needs of overclockers! A simple poke to a particular memory address resulted in a 33% speedup! related: - /museum/dragon-data-ltd-dragon-200 - /museum/dragon-data-ltd-dragon-64 oc_id: 117 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230416221449/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=117 date: '2023-04-16' --- The DRAGON 32 enjoyed a pretty good success in Europe. Its ROM holds the Operating System and a version of the Microsoft Extended BASIC. One of its characteristics is partial compatibility with the [Tandy TRS 80 Color Series](/museum/tandy-radio-shack-color-computer/). They can use same peripherals and some cartridges, but most ROM calls will fail on the other computer.\ However, the Dragon did have at least two advantages over the first TRS-80 Color computer: A typewriter-style keyboard that was somewhat better than the tandy's calculator-like keys; and a Centronics parallel-printer port. Two years later, Welsh launched the [DRAGON 64](/museum/dragon-data-ltd-dragon-64/) which has the same characteristics except the added memory (64k RAM instead of 32k), a RS232c port and minor ROM changes.