website/content/museum/video-technology-laser-3000.md

---
title: Video Technology LASER 3000
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Hong Kong
years:
- '1983'
cpus:
- 6502A
params:
  name: LASER 3000
  image: /media/museum/photos/vtech_laser3000_1s.jpg
  company: /companies/video-technology
  company_name: Video Technology
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: LASER 3000
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Video Technology
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Hong Kong
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1983'
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: Unknown
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Unknown
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke keyboard, 81 keys, 8 function keys, numeric keypad, cursor keys, caps lock, esc, ctrl, shift (x2), tab, break, rubout
  - label: CPU
    value: 6502A
  - label: SPEED
    value: 2 MHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: optional Z80A
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB (up to 192 KB)
  - label: ROM
    value: 32 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 / 80 x 24
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 560 x 192 / 280 x 192
  - label: COLORS
    value: '8'
  - label: SOUND
    value: 4 voices, 6 octaves
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: RS232 (optional), Centronics, Tape, Composite & RGB video outputs
  - label: OS
    value: DOS 3.3 + optional CP/M 80 (with Z80A card)
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in power supply
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: Z80A card, Intel 8088 card, RS232c interface
  - label: PRICE
    value: 'with disk drive : 4980 FF (France, july 1985)'
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  photos:
  - title: LASER 3000
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/vtech_laser3000_1.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: FRENCH AD (JAN. 1985)
    subtitle: ''
    text: '"Laser 3000. For 5980F, play the double compatibility !"'
    image: /media/museum/pubs/vtech_laser3000_pub_jouez-la-compatibilite.jpg
  - title: FRENCH ADVERT (JULY 1985)
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      "The new Laser 3000"

      "At last, un complete PRO system with disk drive for 4980 F"
    image: /media/museum/pubs/vtech_laser3000_pub_nouveau-laser-3000.jpg
  - title: US ADVERT, SEPTEMBER 1985
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/pubs/vtech_laser3000_pub_s1.jpg
  comments:
  - author: TB99
    date: Wednesday 10th August 2022
    text: I had the vtech 3000 version sold in the USA. It didn''''t support Low-Res Apple II mode$this would show garble on the screen..Lots of freeware/Public domain software used this mode. Also, some of the ads in computer shopper implied it had 192k of RAM, when in reality, it only had 64k, so any 128K //c-//e software was out too. The Up arrow key didn''''t work in Apple II software, although it did seem to work in the enclosed "Magic //e" word processor. It also came with MagicMemory Database and MagicCalc spreadsheet. I couldn''''t get Ultima V to load on it, even though the box said 64k. I''''d say most high-res 64k games did work though.
  - author: bryndal36 (Australia)
    date: Friday 19th November 2021
    text: I got one for Christmas 1984 that came with a floppy disk drive as well. It actually had 48K ram but if you bought the 16k expansion/emulator, that brought it up to 64k and allowed you to load prodos.
  - author: Gajendra Ratnam (Malaysia)
    date: Wednesday 22nd December 2010
    text: |-
      This was my first real computer. I was a fan of the Apple II. I wanted to play them Chopper, Centipede, Frogger and Zaxxon games. I ordered my unit from Dick Smith Sydney.

      Was an exciting moment in my life. The freight arrived from Sydney to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. My dad bought me the whole kit with the emulator, joystick, drives. I used it with a 14” colour television. Had a great time programming, paying games, composing music with the SOUND command. The CAT side had some special graphics modes and Sound options which were great. Loved those times. Graduated to Amiga 1000 after this.
  - author: BlueBox
    date: Sunday 31st October 2010
    text: I wanted a 3000 sooo bad because of its modular design. This picture does not show it with its drive. The drive was detached, so was everything else. I wound up getting a 128. I used to be able to hit ctl-break and read the programming. One fateful day, it all got locked doen and all we saw was code. This infuriated me. It was then I became a hacker. At that very moment.
  - author: Milo Davies (New Zealand)
    date: Friday 22nd January 2010
    text: |-
      This was the first computer I owned. Purchased in New Zealand for NZ$1250 through Dick Smith Electronics. Dick Smith Electronics marketed it as the CAT. It was said to be 96$ compatible with the Apple IIe when the "Emulator Catridge" was installed. The documentation I had, claimed that the Emulator Catridge increased memory from 48KB to 64KB.\
      At the time, a genuine Apple IIe was at least double that price so it represented good value for money. I owned it for about 4 years and it proved to be reliable.
  - author: Damian
    date: Thursday 1st October 2009
    text: |-
      I used to use this computer with an apple II emulator and it worked great. I did have a problem where two wires came undone in the back through wear and tear and if I bumped them together (like hot wiring a car) it would reset the computer. It was great. :)

      The word was this company folded due to legal pressure from Apple. Not how true that is thats what I''ve heard though.
  oc_id: 156
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230605033117/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=156
    date: '2023-06-05'
---

A very interesting and obscure system.

The Laser 3000 is compatible (software-wise only) with the [Apple II+](/museum/apple-ii/) through emulation software.

A Z80 card with CP/M 80 was available, as well as an Intel 8088 card.

<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>