website/content/museum/applied-technologies-computer-in-a-book.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Applied Technologies Computer In a Book	Computers	Professional Computer	Australia	1985	Z80A	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts oc_id source Computer In a Book /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_system_s2.jpg /companies/applied-technologies Applied Technologies label value NAME Computer In a Book label value MANUFACTURER Applied Technologies label value TYPE Professional Computer label value ORIGIN Australia label value YEAR 1985 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Typewriter type, 60 keys label value CPU Z80A label value SPEED 3.375 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR 6545 video controller label value RAM 64 KB label value VRAM Unknown label value ROM 4 KB BIOS + 4 KB FDD controller label value TEXT MODES 64 x 16 (Microbee BASIC) - 80 x 24 (CP/M) label value GRAPHIC MODES 128 x 48, 512 x 256 dots label value COLORS Black & white label value SOUND Built-in loudspeaker, one channel, 2 octaves label value SIZE / WEIGHT 35.5 (W) x 23 (D) x 5.5 (H) cm / 1.5 kg (main unit) label value I/O PORTS Power/Video/tape, Expansion/drive Interface, Serial ,Parallel, RGB, user ports label value BUILT IN MEDIA 1 to 4 3.5'' book-floppy-disk drives label value OS CP/M label value POWER SUPPLY Switching PSU in the FDD book label value PERIPHERALS Modem label value PRICE About $1,600 photos adverts 1032 title subtitle text image LARGE VIEW /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_system_s1.jpg title subtitle text image FOUR-BOOK SYSTEM /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_4fd_s2.jpg title subtitle text image OPENED DRIVE-BOOKS The drive units simply slide in the book cases. /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_openedfdunit_s1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE A DRIVE-BOOK This is a master drive-book, containing a power supply unit and a 3.5" floppy-disk drive. /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_insidefdunit_s1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE THE MANUAL BOOK /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_manual_s1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR SIDE Rear side of a master and slave FDD unit. /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_rearfdunit_s1.jpg title subtitle text image NEW-ZEALAND ADVERT (OCT. 1985) from Bits & Bytes magazine null 1059 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230608212613/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1059 2023-06-08

The Computer-In-A-Book (CIAB) was released just after the Microbee 64. This strange machine was composed of one main unit and at least two 'books'.

The computer was actually not in a book, but in the main unit, a Microbee 64. The first book held the user manual in a ring binder, the second book (Vol. 1) held a - new at the time - 3.5" floppy-disk drive and a power supply unit which supplied the main unit and the drive. This unit could also supply a second slave disk-book (Vol. 2).

The designer's idea was to offer a low-cost and expandable CP/M machine. Up to 4 disk-books could be connected in chain. Even though the idea was original, the day-to-day use of these light units wasn't very convenient. The bad idea was to mount them in a bookcase, between other books, causing PSU to overheat and system failure.

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.