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website/content/museum/robotron-kc-85-1-z-9001.md
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---
title: Robotron KC 85/1 - Z 9001
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Germany
years:
- '1984'
cpus:
- U880 D
params:
name: KC 85/1 - Z 9001
image: /media/museum/photos/robotron_kc85-1_1.jpg
company: /companies/robotron
company_name: Robotron
specs:
- label: NAME
value: KC 85/1 - Z 9001
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Robotron
- label: TYPE
value: Home Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: Germany
- label: YEAR
value: '1984'
- label: END OF PRODUCTION
value: '1987'
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: KC 85/1 OS, HC OS
- label: KEYBOARD
value: QWERTZ-Layout, 65 keys. VERY hard to type with
- label: CPU
value: U880 D (Z80 clone)
- label: SPEED
value: 1,75 Mhz
- label: RAM
value: 17 KB (16 KB free), expandable to 64 KB max.
- label: VRAM
value: 2 KB
- label: ROM
value: 6 KB (4 KB OS + 2 KB character map)
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 40x24 characters (switchable to 40x20)
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: Graphics only possible with 128 pre-defined graphic and 96 text symbols in text mode (8x8 pixels size)
- label: COLORS
value: B/W, optional color module (then 8 foreground & 8 background colors)
- label: SOUND
value: Integrated beeper; Mono sound module with 8 volumes & 6 octaves
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: 400x300x85 mm / 4,1 Kg
- label: I/O PORTS
value: |-
B/W TV output through HF-modulator, Tape interface (DIN), I/0 connector (DIN), 2 Joysticks connectors, 4 module slots\
After RGB-Upgrade: 1 connector for 2 Joysticks, 1 connector for RGB color output
- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
value: none; external cassette player required (connected via DIN connector)
- label: OS
value: KC 85/1 OS, HC OS
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: ca. 25 W
- label: PERIPHERALS
value: Color upgrade, Sound module, Basic on ROM, 16 KB RAM modules, 10 KB module with room for self-programmed ROM’s, ADC module, DAC module
- label: PRICE
value: 1500 Marks
tabs:
- photos
- links
- docs
forum_thread: 588
photos:
- title: Z-9001 MODEL
subtitle: ''
text: Thanks to [WWW.HEIMCOMPUTER.DE](http://www.heimcomputer.de) for this picture
image: /media/museum/photos/robotron_z9001_1.jpg
- title: EXPANSION MODULES / CARTRIDGES
subtitle: ''
text: |-
This picture shows a Basic module and RAM module plugged into the two expansion slots.
Thanks to [WWW.HEIMCOMPUTER.DE](http://www.heimcomputer.de) for this picture
image: /media/museum/photos/robotron_z9001_modules_1.jpg
links:
- title: KC Club
url: http://www.kc-club.de/
text: Nice german site full of info!
- title: UPKA
url: http://www.upka.de/
text: lots of documentations in PDF (German)
docs:
- title: KC87 & Z9001 MANUALS AND DIAGRAMS, IN GERMAN
url: null
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/vide.gif
text: |-
**KC87 & Z9001 MANUALS AND DIAGRAMS, IN GERMAN**\
written by Robotron
 compiled/archived by Compiled/archived by Thomas Stein\
 type of document : PDF\
 source : Thomas Stein
related:
- /museum/r-f-t-kc-85-3
- /museum/r-f-t-kc-85-4
- /museum/robotron-kc-87
oc_id: 599
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230528042255/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=599
date: '2023-05-28'
---
The KC85/1 was originally introduced as the HC-9001, "HC" meaning "Home Computer". But as the industry demand for computers was so high, they even used these home computers, so the name was changed to **KC85/1**, "KC" standing for "KleinComputer", which could be translated to "Small Computer".
The machine had very limited graphical capabilities with 128 pre-defined graphic and 96 text symbols in text mode (8x8 pixels size). The BASIC language needs to be loaded from cassette every time you needed it (or you could also get it as an optional ROM Module). It has got an awful keyboard (3 x 10 mm plastic keys), which was quite a pain to type with for a long time.
There was probably no real reason to prefer it from the other available models, except its low price, compared to its bigger and more featured brothers.
---
Info kindly provided by **Stefan Goehler**.