website/content/museum/seequa-chameleon.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Seequa CHAMELEON	Computers	Transportable	U.S.A.	1983	Zilog Z80	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts docs oc_id source CHAMELEON /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_system_1.jpg /companies/seequa Seequa label value NAME CHAMELEON label value MANUFACTURER Seequa label value TYPE Transportable label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR 1983 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD QWERTY full-stroke 83 keys with numeric keypad and 10 seperate function keys label value CPU Zilog Z80 + Intel 8088 label value SPEED 2.5 MHz (Z80) - 5 MHz (8088) label value CO-PROCESSOR 8087 (optional) label value RAM 128 KB to 256 KB on board. Up to 640 KB with expansion board label value VRAM 16 KB label value ROM 16 KB (up to 48 KB) label value TEXT MODES 9 inch Green Phosphor Monitor\ 80 x 25, 40 x 25 label value GRAPHIC MODES 320 x 200 with 4 colours - 640 x 200 in black & white label value COLORS 16 (text mode) label value SOUND Beeper label value SIZE / WEIGHT 12.7 Kg label value I/O PORTS Centronics, RS232c, Composite video label value BUILT IN MEDIA 2 x 5.25'' 320 KB disk-drives label value OS MS DOS and CP/M label value POWER SUPPLY 2 x built-in switching power supply units label value PERIPHERALS Expansion box, IEEE-488 port label value PRICE $1995 photos adverts docs 121 title subtitle text image TOP VIEW /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_system_2.jpg title subtitle text image CLOSED A small, robust but heavy suitcase /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_closed_1.jpg title subtitle text image BACK /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_back_1.jpg title subtitle text image CLOSE-UP #1 /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_keybcloseup_1.jpg title subtitle text image CLOSE-UP #2 /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_system_3.jpg title subtitle text image REAR CONNECTORS **(1)** Serial connector\ **(2)** Parallel connector\ **(3)** Serial number #4742!\ **(4)** Composite video output. A color monitor could be used but displayed colours only in text mode.\ **(5)** Keyboard DIN plug\ **(6)** Brightness adjustment /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_back_2.jpg title subtitle text image UNCOVERED Only one logic board covers the frame and participates in its rigidity! /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_inside_2.jpg title subtitle text image PERIPHERAL COMPONENTS **(1)** Fan\ **(2)** Floppy disc drives magnetic shield\ **(3)** Serial and parallel connectors\ **(4)** The Chameleon uses two switching power supplies almost identical\ **(5)** Video electronic board is mounted around the tube. /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_inside_1.jpg title subtitle text image MOTHERBOARD EXPLAINED **(1)** 2 x 8 KB 2764 BIOS ROM's. Four sockets are free for 32 KB optional ROM\ **(2)** 8087 coprocessor socket\ **(3)** 8088 processor. Here a NEC version\ **(4)** Zilog Z80-A processor\ **(5)** Intel 8353 chip used for sound generation and memory refresh\ **(6)** Intel 8237 chip. 4-channel Direct Memory Access controller\ **(7)** 4 KB Video text RAM (2 x 6116 chips)\ **(8)** 6845 video management chip (graphic and text modes)\ **(9)** Serial and parallel flat cables\ **(10)** Optional GPIB (IEEE-488) chip sockets\ **(11)** Floppy disc flat cable\ **(12)** Floppy disc controller chip (NEC D765AC)\ **(13)** Intel 8274 serial controller chip. Sockets are available for a second serial port\ **(14)** First 128 KB RAM bank (18 x soldered 4164 chips)\ **(15)** Second 128 KB RAM bank (socketted chips)\ **(16)** 16 KB graphic video RAM (2 x 4416 chips) /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_motherboard_1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE No technical interest, but I like this picture... /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_motherboard_2.jpg title subtitle text image USER'S MANUAL A really complete manual with clear and detailed information about hardware and software Chameleon features. /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_manual_1.jpg title subtitle text image DESKTOP VERSIONS PC and XT versions used same dual processor motherboard as the portable model. /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_pcxt_1.jpg title subtitle text image SEEQUA CHAMELEON BROCHURE /media/museum/pubs/seequa_chameleon_leaflet_1.jpg title subtitle text image DESKTOP & PORTABLE BROCHURE /media/museum/pubs/seequa_chameleon_leaflet_2.jpg title subtitle text image SEEQUA AD (JUN. 83) /media/museum/pubs/seequa_chameleon_pub_1.jpg title subtitle text image ADVERT Thanks to [www.guiguy.com/Schiff/](http://www.guiguy.com/Schiff/) for this picture /media/museum/pubs/seequa_chameleon_brochure_1.jpg title url cover text SEEQUA CHAMELEON USER'S MANUAL http://issuu.com/ryaninspiron/docs/seequa_chameleon_document /media/museum/docs/couvs/seequa_chameleon_doc.jpg [**SEEQUA CHAMELEON USER'S MANUAL**](http://issuu.com/ryaninspiron/docs/seequa_chameleon_document)written by Seequa  compiled/archived by Ryan Morrison\  type of document : Online reader **... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :** 107 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230604043621/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=107 2023-06-04

The Seequa Chameleon was one of the first luggable computer that contained both a Z80 and an 8088 processor. So it was capable of running either CP/M or early MS-DOS operating system, hence its name.

Basic version featured 128 KB of RAM while the "Chameleon Plus" version had 256 KB on board. Built-in 9" cathodic monochrom screen could be replaced by an external color monitor to use the 16-color text mode.The machine was also available with an internal hard disk.

Seequa also manufactured two desktop versions, PC and XT, of the Chameleon, as well as an obscure version called Chameleon 325 that used the very rare and short-lived Dysan 3.25" floppy disc drive.

The following software were bundled with the system:
- MS-DOS for the 8088 and CP/M-80 (8 bit OS), CP/M-86 (16 bit OS)
- M Basic-86 for 8088
- G W Basic - Microsoft's Advanced BASIC including graphics
- Perfect Writer - Word Processing for 8088
- Perfect Calc - Spreadsheet Software for 8088
- Perfect Speller - 50,000 word spelling checker for 8088
- Condor I - database management system for 8088