--- title: CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY CUBIC 99 categories: - Computers types: - Portable origins: - Singapore years: - '1984' cpus: - '6502' params: name: CUBIC 99 image: /media/museum/photos/creative_cubic99_system_3.jpg company: /companies/creative-technology company_name: CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY specs: - label: NAME value: CUBIC 99 - label: MANUFACTURER value: Creative Technology - label: TYPE value: Portable - label: ORIGIN value: Singapore - label: YEAR value: October 1984 - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: Talking Basic interpreter (Apple ll compatible) - label: KEYBOARD value: Full-Stroke 68 keys with numeric keypad & function keys - label: CPU value: 6502 and Z80-A - label: SPEED value: unknown - label: RAM value: 64 KB expandable to 192 KB - label: VRAM value: 2 KB CMOS RAM - label: ROM value: 16 KB - label: TEXT MODES value: 40 or 80 col. x 24 lines - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 40 x 40 or 280 x 192 pixels (2 to 18 Hi-Res. pages) - label: COLORS value: '16' - label: SOUND value: Speech synthetiser and tones generator - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: Unknown - label: I/O PORTS value: RGB and Composite video, Microphone jack, serial and parallel interfaces, Light-pen - label: BUILT IN MEDIA value: 2 x F.D. 5.25 inches - 40 tracks - 48 TPI - 160 KB - label: OS value: Apple ll and CP/M operating systems - label: POWER SUPPLY value: Built-in 70 W P.S.U. - label: PERIPHERALS value: Cubic 10 MB Winchester Hard-disk unit and Apple ll cards - label: PRICE value: Unknown tabs: - photos - hardware photos: - title: 'SYSTEM PICTURE #1' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/creative_cubic99_system_1.jpg - title: 'SYSTEM PICTURE #2' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/creative_cubic99_system_2.jpg - title: BACK SIDE subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** Keyboard connector\ **(2)** Composite B/W video chinch plug\ **(3)** RGB video output connector\ **(4)** Microphone jack for voice recording\ **(5)** Parallel printer connector\ **(6)** Light-pen connector\ **(7)** Serial interface connector (mounted on serial card) image: /media/museum/photos/creative_cubic99_backside_1.jpg - title: INSIDE CUBIC 99 subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** 64 KB RAM memory chips (8 x 4164)\ **(2)** Serial interface card\ **(3)** Chinese characters generator card\ **(4)** 128 KB RAM optional card\ **(5)** Floppy drives controller card\ **(6)** Power supply\ **(7)** fan image: /media/museum/photos/creative_cubic99_inside_1.jpg - title: CUBIC MOTHERBOARD subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** Z80-A microprocessor\ **(2)** 6502 microprocessor\ **(3)** 64 KB RAM memory chips (8 x 4164)\ **(4)** Two ROM chips holding the Talking Basic interpreter\ **(5)** RAM expansion card specific slot\ **(6)** Apple ll compatible slots\ **(7)** Analog joysticks connector\ **(8)** Parallel printer connector\ **(9)** RGB video out connector\ **(10)** Composite B/W video out connector\ **(11)** Speech synthetiser ROM chip\ **(12)** Keyboard connector image: /media/museum/photos/creative_cubic99_motherboard_1.jpg hardware: - title: CREATIVE SERIAL CARD subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/creative_cubic99_serialcard_1.jpg - title: CREATIVE CHINESE CHARS. GENERATOR subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/creative_cubic99_chinesecard_1.jpg - title: CREATIVE 128 KB RAM CARD subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/creative_cubic99_128kram_1.jpg - title: CREATIVE F.D. CONTROLLER CARD subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/creative_cubic99_fdcontroler_1.jpg comments: - author: cvxmelody date: Wednesday 13rd November 2019 text: |- There is another Apple II clone from Singapore - the LINGO 128 by Limco Products. It has dual 6502/Z80 CPU, RGB, integrated parallel/serial etc. There are at least two models, I have the early one. (The later Mk II has a revised motherboard design, a different case, and requires separate ROM card for Applesoft and DOS 3.3 compatibility) Check out the video I made showing Lingo 128:-\ https://youtu.be/I8h_bxqPsMw Unfortunately I don''t have the compatible detached keyboard, anyone want to sell me one??! Also how to enable the PAL composite colour output? - author: Adam Yap (Singapore) date: Wednesday 29th April 2015 text: My father bought the Cubic99 in 1984. It was donated to Creative Technology''s heritage centre sometime in 2000. - author: Tan Yong Lak (Siongapore) date: Tuesday 25th November 2008 text: |- Hi,\ Got Sim''s email ? Need schematics for the cubic 99 apple 2 clone in order to resurrect mine. My cubic99 dead but not buried. thks - author: Paul (Singapore) date: Friday 21st April 2006 text: Yes, I know Patricia. She used to run the Cubic 99 User Club in Funan. I think she joined CANON after she left Creative. Not sure where she is now. Should be around 40 plus by now. - author: Eddie Manuel (Singapore) date: Wednesday 24th March 2004 text: We need old computers of same model in bulk..... - author: Eric Koh (Singapore) date: Thursday 2nd October 2003 text: |- Got mine from Funan, Singapore.\ The sales lady Patricia was hot!!!\ Where r u now, Pat? oc_id: 590 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608215921/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=590 date: '2023-06-08' --- This computer, also known as *the Talking Computer*, was fully compatible with the [Apple II](/museum/apple-ii/) and the CP/M operating systems thanks to its dual processor motherboard (6502 and Z80). It was manufactured by the Creative Technology Cie. which will later become wide-world known for its Sound Blaster cards. Cubic 99 also had a vocal synthesizer which allowed the user to record and to reproduce words in English or Chinese language. Several commands of the BASIC language also allowed the computer to say sentences entered as string variables. The sound was of poor quality, but it was the best in low-cost sound technology of the time. Creative was a company based in Singapore. The graphic on the screen of the model shown is celebrating Singapore's 25th year of independence, which was in 1990. Thanks to **Philip Hurst** for his help.
We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.