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
108 lines
4.1 KiB
Markdown
108 lines
4.1 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Vector Graphics MZ
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Professional Computer
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origins:
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- U.S.A.
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years:
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- '1979'
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cpus:
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- Z80A
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params:
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name: MZ
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image: /media/museum/photos/vectorgraphic_mz_system_1.jpg
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logo: /media/museum/logos/vector-mz_logo.png
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company: /companies/vector-graphics
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company_name: Vector Graphics
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: MZ
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Vector Graphics
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- label: TYPE
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value: Professional Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: U.S.A.
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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: Full stroke 72 keys with numeric keypad
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- label: CPU
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value: Z80A
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- label: SPEED
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value: 4 MHz.
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- label: RAM
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value: 48 KB
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- label: ROM
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value: 4 KB (Monitor)
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 80 chars. x 25 lines
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: None
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- label: COLORS
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value: Monochrome
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- label: SOUND
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value: Beeper
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: 2 x Serial RS-232C, 1 x Parallel
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: Dual 5
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- label: OS
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value: CP/M
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Built-in power supply unit
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: S-100 cards
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- label: PRICE
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value: About $4800
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tabs:
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- links
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forum_thread: 780
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links:
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- title: Vector Graphics 1976 - 1984
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url: http://www.vectorgraphics.org.uk
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text: Web site dedicated to Vector Graphics systems
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- title: VECTOR-GRAPHIC List
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url: http://h-net.msu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=VECTOR-GRAPHIC
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text: mailing list for Vector Graphic computers
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related:
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- /museum/vector-graphics-vector-1
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- /museum/vector-graphics-vector-3-vip
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- /museum/vector-graphics-vector-4
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oc_id: 799
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230223072241/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=799
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date: '2023-02-23'
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---
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The Vector Graphic MZ featured the same hardware basis as the [VIP](/museum/vector-graphics-vector-3-vip/) model: S-100 based system with a Z80A processor running CP/M operating system.\
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However, its separate main unit had an 18 slot motherboard and integral dual floppy disc drives (2 x 315 KB).
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The system came with 48 KB of RAM, 4 KB monitor ROM, and used the Vector 3 "Mindless Terminal". Although it may look like a terminal, the Mindless Terminal only had a parallel keyboard, and a B/W monitor. All video and keyboard interface was via S-100 card called Flashwriter, with all power signals passed via a DB-25 connector.
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A little more information about Vector Graphics Company, in 1980:\
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**Systems shipped:**\
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Vector 1, Vector 1+, Vector 1++ - 1,500 systems\
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Vector MZ, System B, Memorite 2 - 4,500 systems\
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**Location of facility** Westlake Village, California.\
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Number of square feet - 40,000\
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Number of employees - 140\
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**Sales level:**\
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Year ending June 30, 1979 - $6 million\
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Year ending June 30, 1978 - $2 million\
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Year ending June 30, 1977 - $400 K
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The first shipped product was a 8 KB memory card, in September 1976.
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---
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**Jay Abel's** memories:\
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I wrote drivers for this machine many, many years ago. It did, in fact, have a rough graphic facility. Each character cell was divided into six parts, and by changing the character ROM offset you could draw monochrome graphics with 160 x 72 resolution. Hey, back then, drawing a circle on the screen was a big deal.
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Later models shipped with Double-Sided, double-density Micropolis Hard-sectored 5-1/4" floppy drives. I ported UCSD pascal to mine, and moved the drivers to the "scratchpad" (unused) 2k memory on the video card. I added an 8k RAM board to the original 48k that came with it. Though my machine didn't ship with CP/M, it was easy to port.\
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The only difficult part was that there was no standard boot code, owing to the wierd hard sectored drives with the most rudimentary controller possible, so once you go the O/S ported you had to write your own loaded. The only capability provided by the BIOS was to pull the first sector into memory. And this first sector was in a wierd format, so that the bootstrap couldn't be copied by the target O/S. So you \*also\* had to write a special program to copy the boot sector...
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