yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
b274874139
1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
276 lines
12 KiB
Markdown
276 lines
12 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Acorn Computer BBC Master
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Home Computer
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origins:
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- United Kingdom
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years:
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- '1986'
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cpus:
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- 65C102
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params:
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name: BBC Master
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image: /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_system_1.jpg
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company: /companies/acorn-computer
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company_name: Acorn Computer
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: BBC Master
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Acorn Computer
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- label: TYPE
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value: Home Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: United Kingdom
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- label: YEAR
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value: February 1986
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- label: END OF PRODUCTION
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value: '1993'
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: BBC BASIC IV interpreter
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: Full stroke 93 key with numeric keypad and 10 function keys
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- label: CPU
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value: 65C102 (an evolution of the 6502)
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- label: SPEED
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value: 2 MHz.
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- label: RAM
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value: 128 KB
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- label: ROM
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value: 128 KB (Expandable)
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 40/80 x 25 lines, 20/40/80 x 32, Teletex mode (40 x 25 x 8 colours)
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 160/320/640 x 256 dots in 2 to 8 colours
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- label: COLORS
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value: 8 among 16
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- label: SOUND
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value: 4 chanels, 8 octaves - SN76489 sound generator
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 46.7 (W) x 34.5 (D) x 7.5 (H) cm.
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: Tube expansion, BBC High Speed Bus, FDD interface, User interface, RS423 serial, Analog, Econet network, Parallel, tape recorder, TV/RF, RGB & Composite outputs,
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: Cassette & FDD interfaces
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- label: OS
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value: MOS
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Built-in switching power supply unit
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: External FDD unit, processor card, etc.
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- label: PRICE
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value: £499
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tabs:
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- photos
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- hardware
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- emulators
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- links
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- docs
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forum_thread: 831
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photos:
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- title: BBC MASTER
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_system_2.jpg
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- title: 'KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP #1'
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subtitle: ''
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text: Notice the function-key help insert which can be changed according to the software used.
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image: /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_keyboardcloseup_2.jpg
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- title: 'KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP #2'
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subtitle: ''
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text: Twin cartridge housings, numeric keypad and Master series logo.
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image: /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_keyboardcloseup_1.jpg
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- title: REAR CONNECTORS
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** Econet network DIN plug\
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**(2)** Audio out RCA jack\
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**(3)** Tape recorder DIN plug\
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**(4)** Serial RS423 DIN plug\
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**(5)** Analogue port DB15 connector\
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**(6)** Analogue RGB video out\
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**(7)** Composite video out\
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**(8)** TV/RF video out\
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**(9)** Optional modem cable
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image: /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_back_1.jpg
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- title: BOTTOM CONNECTORS
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** Auxiliary power supply - +5V & +12V\
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**(2)** External disk drive unit. FD controller chip is provided on the mainboard\
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**(3)** Parallel printer\
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**(4)** User port\
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**(5)** 1 MHz bus\
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**(6)** Tube interface
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image: /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_bottom_1.jpg
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- title: INSIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** Switching power supply unit\
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**(2)** Optional modem card\
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**(3)** Optional ROM card. Allows 13 ROM chips to be added\
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**(4)** ROM cartridge connectors\
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**(5)** Setup and clock battery backup
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image: /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_inside_1.jpg
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- title: MAINBOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** Bottom connectors\
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**(2)** Cartridge connectors\
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**(3)** Rom socket area
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image: /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_mainboard_1.jpg
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- title: SET OF MANUALS
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subtitle: ''
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text: The "Welcome Guide" is very detailed, giving all the information about internal hardware and built-in software.
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image: /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_manuals_1.jpg
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hardware:
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- title: OPUS FD UNIT
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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This dual 5.25" floppy drive unit could be used with Acorn DFS or Opus DDOS operating systems.\
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Users could select single or double-sided, 40 or 80 track format.\
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Depending on the format used, a diskette could store from 100 KB to 360 KB of information.\
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Power is supplied by the BBC auxiliary connector.
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image: /media/museum/hardware/acorn_bbcmaster_opusfdunit_1.jpg
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- title: 'DUAL ROM SUPPORT #1'
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subtitle: ''
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text: Two ROM modules can be inserted in this support. Here one of them is equipped with a null insertion socket.
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image: /media/museum/hardware/acorn_bbcmaster_rommodule_1.jpg
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- title: 'DUAL ROM SUPPORT #2'
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/hardware/acorn_bbcmaster_rommodule_2.jpg
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- title: 64 KB RAM CARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/hardware/acorn_bbcmaster_rammodule_1.jpg
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- title: FUNCTION KEY INSERTS
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subtitle: ''
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text: Users could insert function key reminders for some of the major software above the row of function keys.
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image: /media/museum/hardware/acorn_bbcmaster_inserts_1.jpg
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- title: VOLTMACE DELTA CONTROLLERS
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subtitle: ''
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text: 'Voltmace modified its Database videogame system controllers to be sold for micro-computers, mainly Acorn systems : BBC and Electron (with Plus-1 interface). As the keypad was of no use anymore, it was reduced to only 3 fire buttons.'
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image: /media/museum/hardware/voltmace_joysticks.jpg
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emulators:
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- title: The BBC Lives !
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url: http://www.nvg.org/bbc/emulators.php3
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platform: MS DOS
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text: This excellent site has a complete list of Acorn systems emulators
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links:
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- title: Acornusers.org
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url: http://www.acornusers.org/
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text: The acornusers.org server hosts several Acorn web sites
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- title: comp.sys.acorn.games FAQ
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url: http://www.landfield.com/faqs/acorn/games/
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text: newsgroup FAQ
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- title: RetroBBC
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url: http://www.strafom.force9.co.uk/bbc/Retrobbc/Index.htm
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text: Mainly a software archive. Cool !
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- title: The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library
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url: http://8bs.com/
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text: Lots of stuff to see and download
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- title: The BBC Lives!
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url: http://bbc.nvg.org/
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text: The net's largest site catering for enthusiasts of Acorn's range of 8-bit micros
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- title: The Stairway to Hell
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url: http://www.stairwaytohell.com/
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text: Electron and BBC support. Excellent site with a lot of stuff !
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- title: The Unofficial Acorn Computer User WWW Server
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url: http://www.poppyfields.net/acorn/
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text: ''
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- title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
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url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
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text: Programming of Acorn computers
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docs:
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- title: ADVANCED REFERENCE MANUAL FOR THE BBC MASTER
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url: http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/acorn_bbc-master_advanced_reference_manual.jpg
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text: |-
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[**ADVANCED REFERENCE MANUAL FOR THE BBC MASTER**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by Ian Bishop Laggett
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compiled/archived by Chris Richardson\
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type of document : RTF\
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source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com)
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- title: BBC MASTER SERIES MICROCOMPUTER SERVICE MANUAL
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url: http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/vide.gif
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text: |-
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[**BBC MASTER SERIES MICROCOMPUTER SERVICE MANUAL**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by Acorn Computers Limited
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compiled/archived by Chris Richardson\
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type of document : RTF\
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source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com)
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- title: BBC MASTER REFENCE MANUAL - PART 1
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url: http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/acorn_bbc-master_reference-manual_part1.jpg
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text: |-
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[**BBC MASTER REFENCE MANUAL - PART 1**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by Acorn Computers Limited
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compiled/archived by Chris Richardson\
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type of document : PDF\
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source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com)
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- title: BBC MASTER REFENCE MANUAL - PART 2
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url: http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/acorn_bbc-master_reference-manual_part2.jpg
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text: |-
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[**BBC MASTER REFENCE MANUAL - PART 2**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by Acorn Computers Limited
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compiled/archived by Chris Richardson / Keith Howell\
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type of document : PDF\
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source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com)
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- title: BBC MASTER 512 USER GUIDE
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url: http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/acorn_bbc-master-512_user-guide.jpg
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text: |-
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[**BBC MASTER 512 USER GUIDE**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by Acorn Computers Limited
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compiled/archived by Chris Richardson / Daniel G. van der Pol\
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type of document : ZIP\
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source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com)
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- title: MASTER OPERATING SYSTEM
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url: http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/acorn_bbc-master-operating-system.jpg
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text: |-
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[**MASTER OPERATING SYSTEM**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by David Atherton
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compiled/archived by Chris Richardson\
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type of document : PDF\
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source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com)
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- title: MASTER COMPACT APPLICATION NOTE
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url: http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/vide.gif
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text: |-
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[**MASTER COMPACT APPLICATION NOTE**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by Acorn Computers Limited
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compiled/archived by Chris Richardson\
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type of document : ZIP\
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source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com)
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related:
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- /museum/acorn-computer-atom
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- /museum/acorn-computer-bbc-master-aiv
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- /museum/acorn-computer-bbc-master-compact
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- /museum/acorn-computer-bbc-model-a-b-b
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- /museum/acorn-computer-electron
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oc_id: 850
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608145639/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=850
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date: '2023-06-08'
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---
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The BBC Master was an enhanced version of the [BBC Model B](/museum/acorn-computer-bbc-model-a-b-b/) providing improved features, but sadly also introducing compatibility problems with earlier BBC systems.
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These features were: loads more memory such as shadow, sideways and private RAM, 4 sound channels, twin cartridge sockets, as well as several built-in ROM software packages like **View** (word processor), **ViewSheet** (spreadsheet), **ADFS** (Advanced Filing System), a text editor and terminal utilities.
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Like the Model B, the system had so many I/O ports that most of them had to be placed under the case. Luckily, they only used flat-cable connectors.
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When it was released, the BBC Master met with great success. From 1986 to 1989, about 200,000 systems were sold, mainly to U.K. schools and universities.\
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Several enhanced versions of the Master were launched in the following months:\
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\- The **Master 512** was a Master 128 with 512 KB of RAM and an internal 80186 processor. It could be upgraded up to 1024 KB and ran MS-DOS.\
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\- The **Master Turbo** was a Master 128 with a 65C02 as a second processor.
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The BBC Master and [Master Compact](/museum/acorn-computer-bbc-master-compact/) could be considered the most accomplished 8-bit 'home' computers and among the last mass-produced 8-bit machines. Production ended in 1993.\
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While developing and marketing the BBC Master, Acorn realized the PC world was moving on from 8-bit to 16-bit processors and started developing their own 32-bit chip, the Acorn RISC Machine, or ARM.
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