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
253 lines
11 KiB
Markdown
253 lines
11 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Ice-Felix HC-91
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Home Computer
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origins:
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- Romania
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years:
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- '1991'
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cpus:
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- Z80-A
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params:
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name: HC-91
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image: /media/museum/photos/icefelix_hc91b_system_2.jpg
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company: /companies/ice-felix
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company_name: Ice-Felix
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: HC-91
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Ice-Felix
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- label: TYPE
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value: Home Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: Romania
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1991'
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- label: END OF PRODUCTION
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value: '1992'
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: Spectrum Basic interpreter
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: Mechanical 40 or 50 keys (EDIT, TAB, CAPS LOCK, CAPS SHIFT, EXT MODE, DELETE, RETURN, GRAPH, SYMBOL SHIFT, arrow keys)
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- label: CPU
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value: Z80-A
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- label: SPEED
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value: 3.5 Mhz.
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- label: RAM
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value: 64 KB
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- label: ROM
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value: 16 KB (Spectrum O.S. and BASIC)
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 32 columns x 24 lines
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 256 x 192 pixels
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- label: COLORS
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value: 16 (8 colours in normal or bright modes)
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- label: SOUND
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value: Beeper (10 octaves)
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 34 (W) x 25 (D) x 4 (H) cm.
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: Tape recorder (DIN5), expansion bus, joystick (DB9), power in, RGB (DB9), TV aerial video output (cinch)
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: External AC adaptor. Built-in power regulation
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- label: PRICE
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value: 7000 lei (Romanian money) - About $233
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tabs:
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- photos
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- hardware
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- links
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- docs
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forum_thread: 618
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photos:
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- title: 40-KEY VERSION
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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The HC-91 40 (colored) keys version.
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HC-91 uses 40 mechanical keys. That is the main weakness of the microcomputer (after long periods of inactivity, keys need to be "formed" because of oxidation).
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image: /media/museum/photos/icc_hc91a_system_1.jpg
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- title: 40-KEY CLOSE-UP
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/icc_hc91a_keybclose_1.jpg
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- title: 50-KEY CLOSE-UP
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/icefelix_hc91b_keybclose_1.jpg
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- title: HC-91 LOGO
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/icc_hc91_logo_1.jpg
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- title: THE MOTHERBOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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The system needs 46 chips instead of 80 in the HC-85 version.
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The HC-91 computer have 2 X 4464 DRAMS (64K X 4 bit each), and a strange video sequencer with discrete IC's. This sequencer runs synchronous with the CPU clock, at the exact time when CPU don't access the "video" area. There was no special video RAM IC's, and no wait states or CPU clock blocking.
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The main board have all hardware support for CP/M, including a system BIOS, with the exception of the disk controller. The CP/M use 56 KB of RAM plus 8 KB video logic bank
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Mainboard provides 64 holes **(6)** for specific EXTENSION BOARD, wich can be mounted at bottom. A 64 or 96 female connector can be used on the computer, the extension has the male connector.\
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Some variants have been produced with extension incorporated. In this variants, the bottom connector was doubled, in the middle (mainboard-extension, with rectangular hole for 64-pin connector). In this way, standard HC-EXTENSION's could be home-mounted by hobbysts
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**(1)** TV Aerial UHF modulator\
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**(2)** Video RGB out DB9 plug\
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**(3)** Power plug. An external AC adaptor supply the power\
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**(4)** Joystick DB9 connector\
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**(5)** Microprocessor Z80-A East-European version\
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**(6)** Extension board holes\
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**(7)** 16 KB ROM chip holding the Spectrum BASIC interpreter\
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**(8)** Two 4464 chips (64K x 4 bits) holding 64 KB of RAM\
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**(9)** Tape recorder DIN plug
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image: /media/museum/photos/icc_hc91_motherboard.jpg
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- title: CHIPS CLOSE-UP
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subtitle: ''
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text: Note the East-European Z80 microprocessor beside a Japanese 16 BK Eprom.
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image: /media/museum/photos/icc_hc91_proccloseup.jpg
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- title: 'CHIPS CLOSE-UP #2'
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subtitle: ''
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text: Many east-European chips (Kxx series) in this board area
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image: /media/museum/photos/icc_hc91a_boardclose_1.jpg
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- title: INSIDE THE CASE COVER
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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Keyboard back side\
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Voltage regulator and its cooler\
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Loudspeaker.
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image: /media/museum/photos/icc_hc91_insidekeyb_1.jpg
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- title: REAR CONNECTORS
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** Tape recorder DIN plug. Input from TAPE has an AO amplifier without negative reaction for TTL signal formatting. Output has only a resistive divider from output port pin.\
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**(2)** 54-pin connector for external extension. The pinouts are Spectrum compatible at CPU lines, but there are significant differences for other lines\
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**(3)** DB9-Male, input from joystick, mapped directly to the numerical keys\
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**(4)** Power plug. An external AC adaptor supplies the powerpower supply. HC has an internal power regulator LM 323 (5V/3A)wich produces 5VCC. Boards with ALS needs aprox 0.7 Amps at 5V, without extension.\
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**(5)** DB9-Female, output for RGB monitors with intensification, TTL compatible\
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**(6)** Output from TV modulator, PAL encoded using an PROM and SCLK:4 (system clock divided by 4)\
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**(7)** Reset switch (beside the keyboard on the 40-key version)
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image: /media/museum/photos/felix_hc91_back_1.jpg
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- title: HC-91+
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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See information about the HC-91+ in the "More information" section.
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Thanks to **Grecu Cristi**
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image: /media/museum/photos/icefelix_hc91plus_system_s2.jpg
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- title: HC-91+ EXPANSION CARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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IF-1 expansion card connectors, from left to right:
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• Two jacks for local network.\
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• DB9 serial RS232C connector\
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• FDD connector\
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• Expansion bus connector\
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• Power supply connector. If the card is not powered or connected, the computer still works like an ordinary HC-91.
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Thanks to Grecu Cristi
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image: /media/museum/photos/icefelix_hc91plus_expboard_s1.jpg
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- title: COMPLETE SYSTEM
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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HC-91 with extension board and additional case. This special system was 'home made' by Daniel Ioan from various parts available at ICE factory.
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**(1)** Handmade NMI button (No Maskable Interrupt)\
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**(2)** Tape recorder DIN plug\
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**(3)** Extension connector 2 from extension board\
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**(4)** Extension connector 1 from computer board\
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**(5)** Handmade Parallel port, not Centronics compatible\
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**(6)** Joystick connector\
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**(7)** Floppy disc connector (extension board)\
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**(8)** Power supply connector\
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**(9)** Serial interface\
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**(10)** RGB TTL video output\
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**(11)** Network jacks\
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**(12)** TV/RF modulator
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Thanks to Daniel IOAN for picture and explanations
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image: /media/museum/photos/icc_hc91_extendedsys.jpg
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hardware:
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- title: ICE JOYSTICK INTERFACE
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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ICE Felix made several peripherals for its HC series, among them:\
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• this joystick interface,\
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• A Sinclair comptatible joystick,\
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• A tape recorder\
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• And even an optical pen.
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The joystick interface is Sinclair Kempston compatible; it uses port 1 of the computer. The jack is used to plug in an optical pen.
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Thanks to **Grecu Cristi**
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image: /media/museum/hardware/felix_hc85_joyinterf_s1.jpg
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- title: ICE SINCLAIR COMPATIBLE JOYSTICK
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to **Grecu Cristi**
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image: /media/museum/hardware/felix_hc85_joystick_s1.jpg
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- title: ICE TAPE RECORDER
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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The mecanical part of this tape recorder looks strongly "inspired" with the one from Spectrum +2.
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Thanks to **Grecu Cristi**
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image: /media/museum/hardware/felix_hc85_cassetterec_s1.jpg
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- title: ICE LIGHT PEN
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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The light pen is a very simple device, containing a photodiode. It is connected to the jack of the joystick interface. When the electron beam is crossing the area of the screen where the light pen is positionend, it sends a signal to the interface, that resets bit 1 of port 191 of the HC.
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Thanks to **Grecu Cristi**
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image: /media/museum/hardware/icc_hc91_lightpen_s1.jpg
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links:
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- title: Romanian users group
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url: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RomanianHomeComputer/
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text: They have rare documentations, programs and useful PC utilities for Romanian computers
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docs:
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- title: HC91 - USER'S MANUAL
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url: http://george.chirtoaca.googlepages.com/
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/ice-felix_hc91_manual.jpg
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text: |-
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[**HC91 - USER'S MANUAL**](http://george.chirtoaca.googlepages.com/)written by Ice-Felix
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compiled/archived by George Chirtoaca\
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type of document : PDF\
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size : 3 MB\
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source : [george.chirtoaca.googlepages.com](http://george.chirtoaca.googlepages.com/)
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- title: INTERFATA 1 HC - USER'S MANUAL
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url: http://george.chirtoaca.googlepages.com/
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cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/ice-felix_hc91_if1_manual.jpg
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text: |-
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[**INTERFATA 1 HC - USER'S MANUAL**](http://george.chirtoaca.googlepages.com/)written by Ice-Felix
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compiled/archived by George Chirtoaca\
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type of document : PDF\
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size : 3 MB\
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source : [george.chirtoaca.googlepages.com](http://george.chirtoaca.googlepages.com/)
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related:
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- /museum/ice-felix-hc-2000
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- /museum/ice-felix-hc-85
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oc_id: 632
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230329012302/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=632
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date: '2023-03-29'
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---
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The HC-91 is a Romanian [ZX-Spectrum](/museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum/) clone. Two versions of the HC-91 computer were manufactured by Ice-Felix.
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The first one used the same case and the same keyboard as the [HC-85](/museum/ice-felix-hc-85/) with coloured keys for only external difference. This version was also sold with the HC-90 name.\
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The second one featured a new 50 keys keyboard design (picture). Thanks to two small rectractable feet, the keyboard can be tilted.
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Also, the motherboard was completely redrawn to take account of the new memory chips (only two 4464 memory chips was needed instead of 24 chips in the HC-85 version). No additional feature was added and the systems were always pure Sinclair Spectrum clones, but also CP/M compatible machines if a disk extension was used.
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Despite the use of many components from Eastern Europe, one finds however several Japanese, American and even Brasilian chips.
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An HC-91+ was also produced, it featured a daughter board with three interfaces: 5,25" floppy disk drives, serial RS232 and local network. (See the Read More section for more details)
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production of HC-91 was stoped in 1992, when Ice-Felix lunched the HC-2000, which had same basic features as the hc-91 plus built-in floppy disc drive, and hardware upgrades.
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The last HC model was a 386SX PC compatible with 1 MB ram, vga, buit-in 3.5 floppy, apox. same case as HC2000 and TV and monitor conectors. An optional 40-100 MB hard disk could be added. The computer was available a year or two and it didn't sold very well.
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