yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
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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
119 lines
4.8 KiB
Markdown
119 lines
4.8 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Alpha Micro 1000 Series
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Professional Computer
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origins:
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- U.S.A.
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years:
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- '1982'
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cpus:
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- '68000'
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params:
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name: 1000 Series
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image: /media/museum/photos/alphamicro_1000_system_1.jpg
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company: /companies/alpha-micro
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company_name: Alpha Micro
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: 1000 Series
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Alpha Micro
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- label: TYPE
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value: Professional Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: U.S.A.
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1982'
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: None
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: Serial video terminal
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- label: CPU
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value: '68000'
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- label: SPEED
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value: Unknown
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- label: RAM
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value: From 128 KB to 8 MB
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- label: ROM
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value: Unknown
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 80 chars. x 25 lines
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: None
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: From 3 (built-in) to 68 serial I/O
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: 1 or 2 x 800 KB 5'' F.D. drives
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- label: OS
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value: AMOS, PICK
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Built-in Power supply unit
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- label: PRICE
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value: From $10,000
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tabs:
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- photos
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- emulators
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forum_thread: 593
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photos:
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- title: REAR SIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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Notice:\
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• The three built in serial ports (upper left corner)\
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• The eight additional serial ports for video terminals\
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• The Video In, Video Out and Video I/O plugs. The AM-1000 was designed to use a VCR tape recorder/player as a backup device and could install the OS from a VCR tape.
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image: /media/museum/photos/alphamicro_1000_back_1.jpg
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- title: OPENED
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subtitle: ''
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text: The main circuit card is a large custom card that is almost as big as the case. The card hinges up to reveal the power supply and hard drive (here a 190 MB Maxtor) and floppy drive (if equipped).
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image: /media/museum/photos/alphamicro_1000_opened_2.jpg
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- title: MAIN BOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: The main board has no bus system in it but does have a connector for an optional I/O card on the left-hand side. It also has a connector for a daughterboard on the right-hand side. Joe's system has an AM-706 memory card there **(2)**. It also has an optional I/O card installed in the left-hand side, a PIICEON SR 1000-8P **(1)**. This adds 8 additional serial ports to the system.
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image: /media/museum/photos/alphamicro_1000_mainboard_1.jpg
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- title: I/O CARD CLOSE-UP
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/alphamicro_1000_iocard_1.jpg
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- title: RAM CARD CLOSE-UP
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subtitle: ''
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text: The RAM card is fitted with 36 TMS 4256-12 memory ICs (4 Mb with parity).
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image: /media/museum/photos/alphamicro_1000_ramarea_1.jpg
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- title: SERIAL CONNECTORS
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subtitle: ''
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text: Serial connectors of the optional I/O card and built-in system I/O connector.
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image: /media/museum/photos/alphamicro_1000_serialcon_1.jpg
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- title: SYSTEM CHANGE HISTORY
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subtitle: ''
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text: This label lists all the installed components - part numbers and serial numbers - when the computer left the factory. Later additions/replacements could be noted down.
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image: /media/museum/photos/alphamicro_1000_systemchanges_1.jpg
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emulators:
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- title: VAM - Virtual Alpha Micro
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url: http://www.otterway.com/am100/
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platform: Multiplatform
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text: Open source emulator for the AM-100 micro computer that runs on Linux, Windows, or Macintosh desktops and can run AMOS and all associated programs.
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oc_id: 606
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230528024543/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=606
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date: '2023-05-28'
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---
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The Alpha Micro 1000 was a line of systems based on the 68000 microprocessor. According to customer requests, each system could be configured from a single user microcomputer with 128 KB of RAM, up to a 60-users system with 3 MB of RAM and 2.4 GB of disk storage.
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The operating system of the 1000 series was AMOS, a multi-user, multi-tasking and timesharing system allowing the user to easily add terminals and printers to the current configuration. Several programming languages were available to build AMOS compatible applications: BASIC, PASCAL, LISP, ASSEMBLER, FORTRAN and COBOL.
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Alpha Micro offered innovative hardware solutions and high technology firsts provided by a third company called Macrotech:\
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\- a 1 MB RAM Board\
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\- an intelligent I/O board using DMA\
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\- the only 6MB piggyback board available\
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\- etc...
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The system used a standard VHS Video Tape Recorder for back-ups, and most software updates from Alpha Micro and other software houses were supplied in this form.\
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In the UK this caused a few problems as you had to obtain NTSC-compatible players.
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The Alpha Micro company still exists. You can find the latest info on the Amos and Alpha micro systems [here](http://www.amos-online.com/amphtm/home.htm#).
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Thanks to **Joe** for additional pictures and information
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