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---
title: Seequa CHAMELEON
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Transportable
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1983'
cpus:
- Zilog Z80
params:
name: CHAMELEON
image: /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_system_1.jpg
company: /companies/seequa
company_name: Seequa
specs:
- label: NAME
value: CHAMELEON
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Seequa
- label: TYPE
value: Transportable
- label: ORIGIN
value: U.S.A.
- label: YEAR
value: '1983'
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: None
- label: KEYBOARD
value: QWERTY full-stroke 83 keys with numeric keypad and 10 seperate function keys
- label: CPU
value: Zilog Z80 + Intel 8088
- label: SPEED
value: 2.5 MHz (Z80) - 5 MHz (8088)
- label: CO-PROCESSOR
value: 8087 (optional)
- label: RAM
value: 128 KB to 256 KB on board. Up to 640 KB with expansion board
- label: VRAM
value: 16 KB
- label: ROM
value: 16 KB (up to 48 KB)
- label: TEXT MODES
value: |-
9 inch Green Phosphor Monitor\
80 x 25, 40 x 25
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: 320 x 200 with 4 colours - 640 x 200 in black & white
- label: COLORS
value: 16 (text mode)
- label: SOUND
value: Beeper
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: 12.7 Kg
- label: I/O PORTS
value: Centronics, RS232c, Composite video
- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
value: 2 x 5.25'' 320 KB disk-drives
- label: OS
value: MS DOS and CP/M
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: 2 x built-in switching power supply units
- label: PERIPHERALS
value: Expansion box, IEEE-488 port
- label: PRICE
value: $1995
tabs:
- photos
- adverts
- docs
forum_thread: 121
photos:
- title: TOP VIEW
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_system_2.jpg
- title: CLOSED
subtitle: ''
text: A small, robust but heavy suitcase
image: /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_closed_1.jpg
- title: BACK
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_back_1.jpg
- title: 'CLOSE-UP #1'
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_keybcloseup_1.jpg
- title: 'CLOSE-UP #2'
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_system_3.jpg
- title: REAR CONNECTORS
subtitle: ''
text: |-
**(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
image: /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_back_2.jpg
- title: UNCOVERED
subtitle: ''
text: Only one logic board covers the frame and participates in its rigidity!
image: /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_inside_2.jpg
- title: PERIPHERAL COMPONENTS
subtitle: ''
text: |-
**(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.
image: /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_inside_1.jpg
- title: MOTHERBOARD EXPLAINED
subtitle: ''
text: |-
**(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)
image: /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_motherboard_1.jpg
- title: INSIDE
subtitle: ''
text: No technical interest, but I like this picture...
image: /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_motherboard_2.jpg
- title: USER'S MANUAL
subtitle: ''
text: A really complete manual with clear and detailed information about hardware and software Chameleon features.
image: /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_manual_1.jpg
- title: DESKTOP VERSIONS
subtitle: ''
text: PC and XT versions used same dual processor motherboard as the portable model.
image: /media/museum/photos/seequa_chameleon_pcxt_1.jpg
adverts:
- title: SEEQUA CHAMELEON BROCHURE
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/pubs/seequa_chameleon_leaflet_1.jpg
- title: DESKTOP & PORTABLE BROCHURE
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/pubs/seequa_chameleon_leaflet_2.jpg
- title: SEEQUA AD (JUN. 83)
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/pubs/seequa_chameleon_pub_1.jpg
- title: ADVERT
subtitle: ''
text: Thanks to [www.guiguy.com/Schiff/](http://www.guiguy.com/Schiff/) for this picture
image: /media/museum/pubs/seequa_chameleon_brochure_1.jpg
docs:
- title: SEEQUA CHAMELEON USER'S MANUAL
url: http://issuu.com/ryaninspiron/docs/seequa_chameleon_document
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/seequa_chameleon_doc.jpg
text: |-
[**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 :**
oc_id: 107
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230604043621/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=107
date: '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