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Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
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---
title: SYSTEM FORMULET INC. BUBCOM 80
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1980'
cpus:
- Zilog Z80
params:
name: BUBCOM 80
image: /media/museum/photos/bubcom80_2.jpg
logo: /media/museum/logos/bubcom80_logo.gif
company: /companies/system-formulet-inc
company_name: SYSTEM FORMULET INC.
specs:
- label: NAME
value: BUBCOM 80
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: System Formulet Inc.
- label: TYPE
value: Professional Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: Japan
- label: YEAR
value: ? 1980
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: Bubcom 80 Basic
- label: KEYBOARD
value: Full-stroke keyboard with numeric and editing keypads, function keys
- label: CPU
value: Zilog Z80 + Motorola 6809A
- label: RAM
value: 64 KB
- label: ROM
value: Unknown
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 80 x 24 ?
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: Unknown
- label: COLORS
value: 'yes'
- label: SOUND
value: Unknown
- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
value: 2 x 8'' disk-drives
- label: OS
value: CP/M optional
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: Built-in PSU
- label: PERIPHERALS
value: Light pen, disk-drive, printer
- label: PRICE
value: BC-80RN (64 KB) = 168 000 yen (Japan, 1980?)
tabs:
- photos
- adverts
forum_thread: 344
photos:
- title: COMPLETE SYSTEM
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/bubcom80_1.jpg
adverts:
- title: JAPANESE ADVERT
subtitle: ''
text: Thanks to [Mayura Labo](http://mayura.jp/blog) for this picture
image: /media/museum/pubs/bubcom80_pub_1.jpg
oc_id: 340
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20221203230610/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=340
date: '2022-12-03'
---
Almost nothing is known about this rare japanese system... Apparently its was first marketed as the System Formulet Bubcom 80, then bought back by Fujitsu and sold as the **Fujitsu Bubcom 80**.
Originaly it was a CP/M machine which used Fujitsu magnetic bubble memory. It had filesystem support for the bubble memory cartridge right in the CP/M BIOS. It seems also to have been one of the first japanese system to offer 8 colors display and is considered at the origin of the popular [Fujitsu FM-8](/museum/fujitsu-fm-8/) computer (anyone can confirm that ?).
There were different versions, at least two : BC-80RN and BC-80RS with memory differences. The RN model had 64 KB RAM, and the RS ... more ?!
It was apparently possible to upgrade it with modules inserted in one of the two slots on top of the case.
**Jake Christie** sent us this information:\
The Bubcom 80 used "bubble memory", which was supposed to be the solution to the storage limitations of 1980s microcomputers.\
I believe the machine cost over 10,000 yen in Japan when it was introduced sometime between 1982 or 1984, and there was an attempt to export the Bubcom 80 to the US because it was a business computer.
<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>