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
111 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
111 lines
3.3 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: RAIR microcomputer Black Box
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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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- '1979'
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cpus:
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- '8085'
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params:
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name: Black Box
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image: /media/museum/photos/rair_black-box_2s.jpg
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company: /companies/rair-microcomputer
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company_name: RAIR microcomputer
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: Black Box
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: RAIR microcomputer
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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: '1979'
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: None
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: Depends on the video terminal used
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- label: CPU
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value: 8085 (Later 8088)
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- label: SPEED
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value: '3 MHz then 5 MHz (8088: 5 MHz)'
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- label: CO-PROCESSOR
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value: Unknown
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- label: RAM
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value: from 64 kb to 512 kb
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- label: VRAM
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value: Unknown
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- label: ROM
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value: Unknown
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: Commonly 80 chars. x 25 lines terminals
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: Unknown
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- label: COLORS
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value: Unknown
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- label: SOUND
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value: Unknown
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 50.5 (W) x 40.5 (D) x 14 (H) cm.
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: from 2 to 8 serial ports (RS-232c / V24)
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: |-
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5''1/4 disk-drive (256 kb)\
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5 Mb ST-506 hard-disk, then 15 and 30 MB
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- label: OS
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value: |-
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Mono-user : CP/M\
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Multi-user : MP/M\
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Multi-machine : MP/M Network
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Built-in power supply unit
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- label: PRICE
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value: '64kb RAM and 2 x serial ports : 6097 (France, july 82)'
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tabs:
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- adverts
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forum_thread: 449
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adverts:
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- title: FRENCH ADVERT (JAN. 1982)
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/pubs/rair_black-box_pub_union_1.jpg
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- title: FRENCH ADVERT (FEB. 1982)
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/pubs/rair_blackbox_pub_1.jpg
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oc_id: 454
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230331024435/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=454
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date: '2023-03-31'
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---
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RAIR was a very early UK manufacturer of 8085-based systems and eventually licensed its designs to ICL.
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This obscure system was sold with a hard-disk and a 5"1/4 disk-drive built-in. It was conceived to be used as a multi-user system.
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The following languages were available : Basic, Cobol, Fortran, Pascal, PL/1.
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More information about Black Box internal hardware in the [ICL Personal computer](/museum/icl-personal-computer/) page.
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Pictured here is a model 3/30.
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---
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**Douro** says:\
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This machine uses a Seagate st506 hard drive; I am quite certain that it could use many different drives through the interface.
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**John Pettitt** adds:\
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Later black boxes were 8088 based and used hard disks up to 15MB.\
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RAIR was the first company in Europe to ship a 5.25 HD and the second world wide.
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**Mark Sharples** reports:\
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The boards on this model would sometimes come free from the mother board during transit. The engineer would arrive from Rair, wait for the client to leave the room, and then simply drop the computer from about two inches off the desk to re-install the system.
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<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>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.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>
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