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
114 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
114 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Vector Graphics Vector 1
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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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- '1976'
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cpus:
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- Intel 8080A
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params:
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name: Vector 1
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image: /media/museum/photos/vectorgraphics_vector1_system_1.jpg
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company: /companies/vector-graphics
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company_name: Vector Graphics
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: Vector 1
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Vector Graphics
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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: August 1976
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- label: END OF PRODUCTION
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value: Unknown
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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: Depends on the video terminal used
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- label: CPU
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value: Intel 8080A
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- label: SPEED
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value: 2 Mhz
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- label: RAM
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value: 1 Kb. expandable to 64 Kb.
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- label: ROM
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value: 512 bytes (Bootstrap)
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: Commonly 80 characters x 25 lines
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: None
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- label: COLORS
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value: Monochrome
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- label: SOUND
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value: No built-in speaker
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: Unknown
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: 18 S-100 bus connectors
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: None
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Built-in PSU 8 Volts 18 Amp. and 16 Volts 2.5 Amp.
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: S-100 bus cards
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- label: PRICE
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value: Unknown
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tabs:
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- photos
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- adverts
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- links
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forum_thread: 557
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photos:
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- title: 1+ VERSION
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subtitle: ''
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text: The 1+ is no more than the 1 version in which has been added an housing for a 5''1/4 F.D. drive.
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image: /media/museum/photos/vector_vector1plus_system_1.jpg
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adverts:
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- title: MEMORY BOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: Vector Graphics also sold various cards for any S-100 systems. This one is a 8 Kb. static RAM card solded for $265 in kit version and $350 assembled.
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image: /media/museum/pubs/vectorgraphics_vector1_pub_2.jpg
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- title: 1977 ADVERT
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/pubs/vectorgraphics_vector1_pub_1.jpg
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links:
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- title: Vector Graphics 1976 - 1984
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url: http://www.vectorgraphics.org.uk
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text: Web site dedicated to Vector Graphics systems
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- title: VECTOR-GRAPHIC List
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url: http://h-net.msu.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=VECTOR-GRAPHIC
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text: mailing list for Vector Graphic computers
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related:
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- /museum/vector-graphics-mz
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- /museum/vector-graphics-vector-3-vip
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- /museum/vector-graphics-vector-4
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oc_id: 566
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230220081305/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=566
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date: '2023-02-20'
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---
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The Vector 1 was a clone of the ALTAIR 8800 based on the common S-100 bus structure and the Intel 8080A microprocessor. It was sold under kit or assembled versions.
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Vector Graphics said it offered a stronger cabinet and a well-designed power supply. To reduce selling price, front panel didn't offer any switch or control led. In its basic version, the computer could be connected to a tape recorder and a serial terminal and offered a bootstrap ROM monitor.
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---
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Additional info about the company by **Dennis Ray Wingo**:\
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Vector started in November 1976 when Bob and Lore Harp, along with Carol Ely took Vector's first product, an 8 k static RAM card along with a 256 X 256 line (High Resolution Grraphic HRG) card, to computer swap meets to sell. Bob, who at that time was the director of Hughes Research Laboratories (yes THE Hughes Research Labs), designed the Vector 1 computers that they started selling in 1977. Vector grew fast as a company (although not by today's standards), and by the time that I went to work there in manufacturing in April of 1981 they had just crossed the 3 million dollar per month revenue milestone. Vector went public later that year at $13 dollar per share. Bob and Lore divorced soon after the IPO and Bob left to found Corona Data Systems, one of the very first clone IBM PC companies.
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**Mike Boyd** adds:\
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The unit was well built, like a prelude to the NorthStar Horizon; unfortunately the push buttons they used for the power and reset were terrible, and would fail - you had to sometimes hit them several times to turn them on.
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About the terrible buttons, **Lore Harp McGovern** specifies:\
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The buttons were custom dyed and a big pain in the beginning. Designing a switchless front panel was not a cost reduction issue, but a human interface issue. The 1702 PROM board made those activities transparent.\
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User friendliness became an important design element at Vector Graphic. Simple is better for the average person!
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