website/content/museum/logabax-lx-500-series.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Logabax LX-500 series	Computers	Professional Computer	France	1978	Z80	name image company company_name specs tabs photos adverts oc_id source LX-500 series /media/museum/photos/logabax_lx500_system_1.jpg /companies/logabax Logabax label value NAME LX-500 series label value MANUFACTURER Logabax label value TYPE Professional Computer label value ORIGIN France label value YEAR 1978 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Logabax terminal - Full stroke 78-key with numeric keypad label value CPU Z80 label value SPEED 4 MHz label value RAM From 16 KB to 64 KB according to models label value VRAM 2 KB (Terminal) label value ROM 2 KB (Initial Program Loader) label value TEXT MODES 80 chars. x 24 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES Text only label value COLORS Monochrome label value SOUND Beeper label value SIZE / WEIGHT 26 (W) x 17 (H) x 34.5 (D) cm. / About 8 kg. label value I/O PORTS Terminal serial, Parallel, (2 x serial in later versions) label value BUILT IN MEDIA 2 x 90 KB 5.25'' floppy disk drives (710 KB in later versions) label value OS Logabax DOS, CP/M label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in 60 Watt power supply unit label value PERIPHERALS External dual 5.25'' FDD unit, 5 MB hard disk label value PRICE 4000 photos adverts title subtitle text image METAL CASE UNIT This metal cased version was the first model of the LX-500 series. /media/museum/photos/logabax_lx500_system_2.jpg title subtitle text image METAL CASE WITH TERMINAL First LX-529 version along with the LX-450 video terminal /media/museum/photos/logabax_lx500_syst1-term_2.jpg title subtitle text image PLASTIC CASE WITH TERMINAL LX-539 version along with terminal. Notice the original Logabax diskette. /media/museum/photos/logabax_lx500_syst1-term_1.jpg title subtitle text image LX-529 BACK Apart from the serial terminal connector **(2)**, only one Parallel printer connector **(1)** was available. There was no possibilty to add further expansion connectors.\ **(3)** Power switch. Notice the metal label mentioning that this system was the property of French Ministry of education. /media/museum/photos/logabax_lx500_system2back_1.jpg title subtitle text image LX-539 BACK In addition to Terminal **(2)** and Parallel **(1)** ports, later models featured two extra serial port **(3)** and an internal connector for dual FDD or 5 MB hard disk unit. /media/museum/photos/logabax_lx500_back_1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE A very simple internal design:\ - One main board\ - Two floppy drives\ - One power supply unit Notice that all the components are not fixed to the case and can be easily removed. /media/museum/photos/logabax_lx500_inside_1.jpg title subtitle text image MAIN BOARD #1 First main board didn't feature floppy disc controller chipset. Standard 74XX chips was used for FD management. **(1)** Z80 processor, here a MOSTEK version\ **(2)** 2 x 8250 I/O chips\ **(3)** 16 KB of RAM was mounted on board. An optional 16 KB piggyback card could be added\ **(4)** Terminal and Parallel connectors\ **(5)** IPL (Initial Program Loader) 2 KB ROM chip /media/museum/photos/logabax_lx500_mainboard_3.jpg title subtitle text image MAIN BOARD #2 Second main board version. **(1)** Terminal and Parallel connectors\ **(2)** Z80 CTC, clock and timer chipset\ **(3)** First additional serial port\ **(4)** Z80 processor\ **(5)** 2 x 8250 I/O chips\ **(6)** Second additional serial port\ **(7)** IPL 2 KB ROM chip\ **(8)** 8 x 4864 RAM chips hold 64 KB of RAM. A piggyback 64 KB RAM card could be added\ **(9)** Floppy drives controller connector\ **(10)** Western Digital FDD and hard disk controller chipset\ **(11)** Power LED and reset switch /media/museum/photos/logabax_lx500_mainboard_1.jpg title subtitle text image CLOSE-UP 64 KB RAM chips, Z80 processor and IPL ROM.\ Original ROM had to be changed to run CP/M operating system. /media/museum/photos/logabax_lx500_mainboard_2.jpg title subtitle text image LX-539 LABEL Notice the serial number!... /media/museum/photos/logabax_lx500_label_1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE THE TERMINAL LX-450 terminal featured:\ - A 15" CRT (rare at the time)\ - A Z80 processor\ - 2 x Intel I/O chips\ - 2 KB of video RAM\ - 2 KB of program ROM\ - 4 KB of ROM for characters generator. /media/museum/photos/logabax_lx500_terminal_1.jpg title subtitle text image PROMOTIONAL PICTURE /media/museum/photos/logabax_lx500_prmtional-picture.jpg title subtitle text image FRENCH ADVERT (FEBRUARY 1983) "Efficient companies choose professional partners" /media/museum/pubs/logabax_lx500_pub_1.jpg title subtitle text image LOGABAX STICKER "What a quantum leap, Logabax!"\ "I would say even more, what a quantum leap!" Courtesy of **http://tintinomanie.chez.tiscali.fr/** © Moulinsart /media/museum/pubs/logabax_lx500_sticker_1.jpg 881 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230607013353/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=881 2023-06-07

LX-500 series were first microcomputers from Logabax, a French computers manufacturer specialized in small and medium size computers aimed at private and state-owned companies.

It was a stange looking small metal box containing a single multifunction Z80 based card and two 90 KB 5.25" floppy drives. A serial port allowed the Logabax video terminal to be connected. A few months later, several versions appeared (LX-525, LX-528) featuring a cheap plastic case, but 710 KB floppy drives and two extra Serial ports. The system ran Logabax DOS and a flavour of CP/M Operating System.

In fact, due to its very expensive price for the time (about 4000 Euros) the LX-500 never met success near private companies despite Logabax efforts in setting up an European dealers network.

However, at this time French ministry of education sought french computers to equip thousands of high schools. Only two French manufacturers were able to provide such small systems: R2E (with its 80-20 series) and Logabax. Thus Logabax got more than half the ministry contract and several thousands systems were installed in classrooms, even though the system was far to meet reliability and ease of use requested in educational environment.

The LX-500 was one of the first machines with which French students could learn LSE language (Symbolic Language for Education), a structured evolution of the BASIC language, with French keywords, intended to be the universal language for students and academics. However, student liked PASCAL and Microsoft BASIC better than LSE, and the language quickly sank into oblivion.

Despite Logabax had priviligied access to procurement contracts with French state, the company met serious cash shortage problems. After several vain attempts from French government to refloat the company, Logabax was eventually sold to Olivetti, the first Italian computers company. After some common ventures (Olivetti-Logabax Persona PC systems), Logabax finally disappeared for good.

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How the LX-500 was born by Bernard Challet:
LX500 series were designed by two young engeneers, Michel(?) Caroff and Jean-François(?) Huet. Caroff spent one year in US where he discovered what was in progress aroud Z80 based machines and CP/M Operating System. He came back enthousiastic and unofficially,("black"-work) started to develop what will become the LX 500 series.
The project was presented to his management Jean-Pierre Talvard, General Manager and Chief Engineer when a prototype was at a running step. Jean-Pierre Talvard who was also a novator man, immediately understood the interest of such a development and forgot that was an underground black work.
Caroff and Huet were respectively software and hardware designer... Great times, these times when only two people could develop a workable computer.
I was myself at that time engeneer at LogAbax moving to business and executive activities in Germany.