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
108 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
108 lines
4.5 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Gemini Challenger
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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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- United Kingdom
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years:
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- '1985'
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cpus:
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- Motorola 68000
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params:
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name: Challenger
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image: /media/museum/photos/gemini_challenger_system_1.jpg
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company: /companies/gemini
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company_name: Gemini
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: Challenger
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Gemini
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- label: TYPE
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value: Professional Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: United Kingdom
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1985'
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- label: END OF PRODUCTION
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value: '1987'
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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: Full stroke 101-key with numeric keypad and 16 function keys
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- label: CPU
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value: Motorola 68000
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- label: SPEED
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value: 12 MHz
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- label: RAM
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value: 512 KB
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- label: ROM
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value: 16 KB
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 80 or 132 chars. x 25 lines
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 768 x 576 - 16 to 16 million col. / 1024 x 1024 - 64 col. with optional video card
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- label: COLORS
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value: 16 up to 16 million
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- label: SOUND
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value: Unknown
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 19.25 (W) x 16 (D) x 5.75 (H) ins
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: SCSI, Parallel, 2 x Serial RS232, 4 x 68K expansion slots
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: 1 x 5.25'' 1.2 MB floppy disc drive, Hard disks from 20 to 70 MB
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- label: OS
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value: MBOS, Mirage, TDI P-system, CP/M 68k
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Built-in 100Watt switching power supply unit
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: SCSI peripherals, 68K bus cards
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- label: PRICE
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value: From £4750 to £9500
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tabs:
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- photos
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forum_thread: 855
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photos:
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- title: BACK SIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** SCSI 50-pin connector\
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**(2)** 2 x Serial RS232 DIN plugs\
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**(3)** Power switch, mains plugs and fan\
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**(4)** Configuration switches\
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**(5)** Parallel printer connector\
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**(6)** Reset switch\
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**(7)** Housing for 4 x 64K bus cards
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image: /media/museum/photos/gemini_challenger_back_1.jpg
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- title: PRICE LIST, NOV. 1985
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to **Henk Bekkers**
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image: /media/museum/photos/gemini_challenger_price%20list_s1.jpg
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oc_id: 874
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230603012929/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=874
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date: '2023-06-03'
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---
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Before the Challenger came out, Gemini products were based around the Z80 processor and the company's 80-bus architecture. They did well in applications where costumers wanted a highly-specialized product.
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At first sight, the Challenger looked like an ordinary PC-compatible computer. The monitor was a **Wyse WY-50** remote terminal finished as the same colours as the main box. However, the Challenger's main processor was a 12 MHz Motorola 68000 linked with 512 KB of RAM. This configuration made the Challenger a very high speed 16-bit system for the time.
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While designing the Challenger, Gemini designers also created a new 68000 proprietary bus called **68K**, which was originally a 16-bit bus but was later extended to 32-bit when the 68020 became available. Four 68K slots were available on the Challenger mainboard. They also designed an impressive graphic card based on the Hitachi HD63484 graphic processor and consisting in two piggy-back full length cards plugged into a 68K slot. Maximum resolution was 1024 x 1024 pixels with 16 million available colours.
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The Challenger was delivered with a wide range of operating systems:\
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\- **MBOS** a business-based multi-user O.S.,\
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\- **Mirage** Another multi-user O.S. but more esoteric,\
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\- **TDI p-System**, the British version of UCSD p-System well known for its UCSD Pascal language,\
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\- **CP/M 68k**, the 68000 version of the 8-bit O.S. which was never very popular.\
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Each of these O.S. could cohabit into several partitions of a same hard disk.
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Despite it's advanced features, the Challenger never met success, neither as a businness machine as very few software were developped for it, nor as a development system as the 68K bus never was carried by other manufacturers.
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The last machine made by Gemini was a beautifully built IBM clone using a motherboard designed by British Aerospace. But it was too expensive and couldn't compete against far east production. Gemini finally disappeared about one year after the Challenger was launched.
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<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>
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