website/content/museum/video-technology-laser-200-210.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Video Technology LASER 200 / 210	Computers	Home Computer	Hong Kong	1983	Zilog Z80 A	name image logo company company_name specs tabs photos adverts hardware screenshots emulators links docs comments related oc_id source LASER 200 / 210 /media/museum/photos/vtech_laser200_2.jpg /media/museum/logos/vtech_laser200_logo.gif /companies/video-technology Video Technology label value NAME LASER 200 / 210 label value MANUFACTURER Video Technology label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN Hong Kong label value YEAR November 1983 label value END OF PRODUCTION 1985 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE Microsoft Basic label value KEYBOARD QWERTY, 45 rubber keys\ Basic instructions and graphic symbols label value CPU Zilog Z80 A label value SPEED 3.58 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR Motorola 6847 (video processor) label value RAM 2 KB (Laser 200) / 6 KB (Laser 210/ VZ 200 / Salora Fellow)\ Up to 64 KB with memory addons label value VRAM 2 KB label value ROM 16 KB label value TEXT MODES 32 x 16, 8 colors (Mode 0) label value GRAPHIC MODES 128 x 64, 4 colors (Mode 1) label value COLORS 8 label value SOUND 1 voice, 3 octaves label value SIZE / WEIGHT 29 x 17 x 4 cm / 800 gr label value I/O PORTS Tape-recorder (600 bauds)\ RF video out\ Composite video out (DIN)\ Memory upgrade port\ Expansion port label value POWER SUPPLY 10-12v, 800ma label value PRICE $99 USD\ 196 (France, december 84) photos adverts hardware software emulators links docs title subtitle text image DICK SMITH VZ-200 Same case as the Laser 200, but with more memory (8k). [Thanks to S. Walgenbach for the picture](http://www.homecomputer.de) /media/museum/photos/vtech_vz200_1.jpg title subtitle text image THE LASER 210 Same case as the Salora Fellow, different from the Laser 200. [Thanks to S. Walgenbach for the picture](http://www.homecomputer.de) /media/museum/photos/vtech_laser210.jpg title subtitle text image THE SALORA FELLOW Different case from the Laser 200, but the same one as the Laser 210. [Thanks to S. Walgenbach for the picture](http://www.homecomputer.de) /media/museum/photos/vtech_salora_fellow.jpg title subtitle text image THE LASER 200 /media/museum/photos/vtech_laser200.jpg title subtitle text image REAR OF THE LASER 200 From left to right: Power supply | Tape-recorder | Monitor | Memory expansion port | Peripheral port | Video output /media/museum/photos/vtech_laser200_back.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE A poor quality manufacturing Thanks to **www.zonadepruebas.com** /media/museum/photos/videotech_laser200_inside_1.jpg title subtitle text image FRENCH ADVERT (SEPT. 83) "The incredible Secam color micro-computer !" /media/museum/pubs/vtech_laser200_fr-pub_2.jpg title subtitle text image FRENCH ADVERT (JULY 84) ''The Laser 200, a Secam color micro-computer really very suprising'' /media/museum/pubs/vtech_laser200_pub_couleur-secam.jpg title subtitle text image SOME EXTENSIONS /media/museum/hardware/vtech_200_complete.jpg title subtitle text image LASER 16K RAM EXPANSION This thing fits in the memory expansion port and adds 16k RAM. It cost 590fr in 1984. /media/museum/hardware/vtehc_laser200_16k_cart.jpg title subtitle text image LASER LIGHT PEN Cool little light pen... But the only software using it was the on demo tape sold with it ! /media/museum/hardware/vtech_laser200_lpen.jpg title subtitle text image LASER JOYSTICK Nice shape. Two joysticks and their interface cost 320fr in 1984. /media/museum/hardware/vtech_laser200_jstck.jpg title subtitle text image DR-10 / DR-20 Tape-recorder A originally designed tape-recorder available for the whole Laser family.\ It cost 590fr in 1984.. The DR-10 and DR-20 tape-recorders seem identicals in all points. Apparently, the DR-20 was sold for Dick Smith models, and the DR-10 for Laser machines... /media/museum/hardware/vtech_200_dr10.jpg title subtitle text image DR-30 Tape-Recorder Another cool tape-recorder for the Laser serie.\ This one was also found for many other computers of that time. /media/museum/hardware/vtech_200_dr30.jpg title subtitle text image DD-20 5''1/4 Disk-drive A small 5"1/4 floppy disk drive for the Laser computers. But its capacity is a bit short with only 78k per formated disk. One disk drive and its controller cost 2380fr in 1984. /media/museum/hardware/vtech_dd20.jpg title subtitle text image DD-20 The inside /media/museum/hardware/vtech_dd20_2.jpg title subtitle text image PARALLEL PRINTER INTERFACE This enables the Laser computers to use ''parallel'' printers. /media/museum/hardware/vtech_vz300_printer-interface.jpg title subtitle text image CIRCUS /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_circus.png title subtitle text image CRASH /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_crash.png title subtitle text image DAWN PATROL /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_dawn.png title subtitle text image DEFENCE PENETRATOR /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_defpen.png title subtitle text image DIGOUT /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_digout.png title subtitle text image DRACULA'S CASTLE /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_dracula.gif title subtitle text image DUEL /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_duel2.png title subtitle text image GALAXON /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_galaxon.png title subtitle text image GHOST HUNTER /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_ghosth.gif title subtitle text image HAMBURGER SAM /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_hamsam.png title subtitle text image HOPPY /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_hoppy.gif title subtitle text image INVADERS /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_invaders.png title subtitle text image KAMIKAZE /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_kamikaze.png title subtitle text image LADDER CHALLENGE /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_ladder.png title subtitle text image LUNAR LANDER /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_llander.png title subtitle text image MISSILE ATTACK /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_missile.png title subtitle text image PENGUIN /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_penguin.png title subtitle text image SPACE RAM /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_spaceram.png title subtitle text image STAR BLASTER /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_starblst.png title subtitle text image VZ PANIK /media/museum/software/vtech_ss_vzpanik.png title url platform text VZEM http://www.powerup.com.au/~intertek/VZ200/vz.htm MS DOS The emulator is written in Borland C++. It emulates a VZ200/300 with 34k RAM title url platform text Emulator2001 http://www.gstsoftware.co.nz/ Windows The VZ-200 has been added to this multi-emulator title url platform text James's VZ 200 emulator http://www.geocities.com/EMUCOMPBOY/ Windows Emulator for the NTSC version of this computer title url platform text WinVZ http://vzalive.bangrocks.com/emulators/ Windows Play your VZ games in Windows title url platform text MESS Project http://www.mess.org/ Multiplatform Emulates a lot of systems for all platforms. title url text Planet VZ http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/laser/184/ Useful infos here... title url text Steve75 Laser 310 page http://utenti.lycos.it/STEVE75/laser.html Pictures, info, games, emulators and online manual. title url text The VZ200 http://vz200.tripod.com/ Growing website aimed at the new modern user. title url text Tricky's VZ200 page http://www.trickynz.com/VZ200.html Photos and downloadable docs title url text Video Technology official site http://www.vtech.com Nothing remains about the old computers... title url text VZ Alive http://vzalive.bangrocks.com/ Excellent site dedicated to the VZ computers title url text VZ Online http://www.vz200-online.de.vu/ a German VZ 200 homepage title url text VZ-200/VZ-300 http://www.geocities.com/Baja/Dunes/6771/vz/ Lots of information and links about the Dick Smith VZ series. title url text Yahoo Discussion Group - The VZ Color computer mailing list http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/vzemu/ Quite active discussion group title url cover text DICK-SMITH VZ200 USER MANUAL https://archive.org/details/manualzilla-id-5639672 /media/museum/docs/couvs/vz200_user-manual.jpg [**DICK-SMITH VZ200 USER MANUAL**](https://archive.org/details/manualzilla-id-5639672)written by Video Technology  compiled/archived by Archive.org\  type of document : PDF\  source : [Achive.org](https://archive.org) title url cover text VZ-200 TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL https://archive.org/details/VZ200-technical-reference-manual /media/museum/docs/couvs/vz200_technical-ref-manual_cover.jpg [**VZ-200 TECHNICAL REFERENCE MANUAL**](https://archive.org/details/VZ200-technical-reference-manual)written by Jamieson Rowe / Dick Smith  compiled/archived by Archive.org\  type of document : Online reader\  source : [Archive.org](https://archive.org/) title url cover text VZ-200 FIRST BOOK OF PROGRAMS https://archive.org/details/vz-200-first-book-of-programs /media/museum/docs/couvs/vz200_first-book-of-programs.jpg [**VZ-200 FIRST BOOK OF PROGRAMS**](https://archive.org/details/vz-200-first-book-of-programs)written by Dick Smith  compiled/archived by Archive.org\  type of document : PDF\  source : [Archive.org](https://archive.org/) title url cover text VZ-200 SECOND BOOK OF GAMES https://archive.org/details/VZ200-second-book-of-games /media/museum/docs/couvs/vz200_second-book-of-games.jpg [**VZ-200 SECOND BOOK OF GAMES**](https://archive.org/details/VZ200-second-book-of-games)written by Dick Smith  compiled/archived by Archive.org\  type of document : PDF\  source : [Archive.org](https://archive.org/) title url cover text VZ-200 FURTHER PROGRAMMING https://archive.org/details/vz200fp /media/museum/docs/couvs/vz200_further-programming.jpg [**VZ-200 FURTHER PROGRAMMING**](https://archive.org/details/vz200fp)written by Dick Smith / Tim Hartnell  compiled/archived by Archive.org\  type of document : PDF\  source : [Archive.org](https://archive.org/) title url cover text VZ200/300 ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING FOR BEGINNERS http://vz200.tripod.com/index.html /media/museum/docs/couvs/vz200-300_assembly-language-manual%5B1%5D.jpg [**VZ200/300 ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING FOR BEGINNERS**](http://vz200.tripod.com/index.html)written by Steve Olney  compiled/archived by The VZ200\  type of document : PDF\  size : 6 MB\  source : Old-Computers.com title url cover text USEFUL ROM SUBROUTINES FOR ASSEMBLY PROGRAMMING null /media/museum/docs/couvs/vz200_useful-lm-subroutines.jpg **USEFUL ROM SUBROUTINES FOR ASSEMBLY PROGRAMMING**\ written by Unknown  compiled/archived by The VZ200\  type of document : PDF\  size : 110 Ko\  source : [The VZ200](http://vz200.tripod.com) author date text Cynde (Australia) Wednesday 23rd March 2022 Dianne, if you are interested in selling, I am looking to purchase a Vtech Laser 200. author date text Dianne (Geelong, Australia) Saturday 19th March 2022 We are currently cleaning up an Estate and have found a Laser 200 in it''s box with (premium condition), including the User Manual and demonstration tape still with it, although there is no power chord / transformer. We still have to decide what we should do with it. author date text Gavin (New Zealand ) Sunday 28th August 2016 My first computer, I wrote an emulator for the VZ200 here: http://www.gstsoftware.co.nz/ author date text Frank Thursday 16th June 2016 The price for the computer 1984 in France was not 196 €. The Euro was implemented end of the millennium. The currency in France was franc in 1984. author date text Krisztian (Hungary) Sunday 17th April 2016 TO: "Saturday 19th October 2013 Frank (Germany)"\ One is available here for some more days: http://szamitastechnika.vatera.hu/pc_asztali_szamitogep/retro_szamitogep_kiegeszito/egyeb/laser_color_computer_210_2236200248.html author date text Martin (Hunsrueck / Germany) Monday 28th July 2014 Yessss!\ I just found one on eBay! And I won the auction!! Fantastic! author date text Frank (Germany) Saturday 19th October 2013 Iam looking for my old Laser210, it was my first computer 1984. If somebody knows where i can found them, please let me know. Also Lightpen or printer interface are interesting for me.\ Frank author date text Miroslav Werner (Czech Republic) Wednesday 13rd March 2013 Mine is brander VZ 200 colour computer, I think its the same stuff. author date text Miroslav Werner (Czech Republic) Wednesday 13rd March 2013 I have one for sale. Or better, trade for brands I am more interested to (Sinclair, Amstrad, Amiga). author date text Erik (France) Monday 7th January 2013 I buy one because my shop was ZX81 out of stock and I have my all first programmer''s emotions with this machine. Because of this machine I spent 20 years of my life in the Video Games industry as programmer. The best years of my professionnal life ever.. author date text Jeremy (Australia) Monday 16th January 2012 I still remember the different memory addresses, such as using "POKE 30744,1" to invert the colours in text mode. author date text Wildrose (Greece) Wednesday 31st August 2005 This machine was my very first 'computer' in age of 13!! I plug it to my B/W TV and i just look at the screen for 2 Hours...\ That was my very first step in to computers world!!\ Now i'm a Network Engineer/Cisco Expert in a big ISP. author date text Erich Kitzmüller (Earth) Monday 26th May 2003 The keyboard of the Laser 210 was surprisingly good, better than on the Sinclair Spectrum. The largest problem was the lack of Software, there was next to nothing available on the market. In Text mode, only special block characters could be colored (8 colors), text was eighter white-on-green or white-on-amber. In graphic mode, every pixel could have (independently) on of four colors; there were two colorsets, Red-Green-Blue-White and Magenty-Cyan-Yellow-White. /museum/dick-smith-vz200 /museum/dick-smith-vz300 /museum/salora-fellow /museum/texet-tx-8000 /museum/video-technology-laser-310 155 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230608152429/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=155 2023-06-08

The Laser 200 / 210 was sold worldwide under different brands (Dick Smith, Texet, Salora, etc...). Maybe the most popular of these "foreign models" was the VZ-200 sold by Dick Smith Electronics.

The Laser 200 is the successor of the poor Laser 110 and was followed by the Laser 310.

It was a good choice if you wanted to buy a cheap computer for initiation.

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.