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
3.8 KiB
Markdown
114 lines
3.8 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Applied Technologies Computer In a Book
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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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- Australia
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years:
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- '1985'
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cpus:
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- Z80A
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params:
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name: Computer In a Book
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image: /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_system_s2.jpg
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company: /companies/applied-technologies
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company_name: Applied Technologies
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: Computer In a Book
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Applied Technologies
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- label: TYPE
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value: Professional Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: Australia
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1985'
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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: Typewriter type, 60 keys
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- label: CPU
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value: Z80A
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- label: SPEED
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value: 3.375 MHz
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- label: CO-PROCESSOR
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value: 6545 video controller
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- label: RAM
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value: 64 KB
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- label: VRAM
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value: Unknown
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- label: ROM
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value: 4 KB BIOS + 4 KB FDD controller
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 64 x 16 (Microbee BASIC) - 80 x 24 (CP/M)
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 128 x 48, 512 x 256 dots
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- label: COLORS
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value: Black & white
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- label: SOUND
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value: Built-in loudspeaker, one channel, 2 octaves
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 35.5 (W) x 23 (D) x 5.5 (H) cm / 1.5 kg (main unit)
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: Power/Video/tape, Expansion/drive Interface, Serial ,Parallel, RGB, user ports
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: 1 to 4 3.5'' book-floppy-disk drives
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- label: OS
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value: CP/M
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Switching PSU in the FDD book
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: Modem
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- label: PRICE
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value: About $1,600
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tabs:
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- photos
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- adverts
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forum_thread: 1032
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photos:
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- title: LARGE VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_system_s1.jpg
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- title: FOUR-BOOK SYSTEM
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_4fd_s2.jpg
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- title: OPENED DRIVE-BOOKS
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subtitle: ''
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text: The drive units simply slide in the book cases.
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image: /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_openedfdunit_s1.jpg
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- title: INSIDE A DRIVE-BOOK
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subtitle: ''
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text: This is a master drive-book, containing a power supply unit and a 3.5" floppy-disk drive.
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image: /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_insidefdunit_s1.jpg
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- title: INSIDE THE MANUAL BOOK
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_manual_s1.jpg
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- title: REAR SIDE
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subtitle: ''
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text: Rear side of a master and slave FDD unit.
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image: /media/museum/photos/microbee_compinabook_rearfdunit_s1.jpg
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adverts:
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- title: NEW-ZEALAND ADVERT (OCT. 1985)
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subtitle: ''
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text: from Bits & Bytes magazine
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image: null
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oc_id: 1059
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608212613/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1059
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date: '2023-06-08'
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---
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The Computer-In-A-Book (CIAB) was released just after the **Microbee 64**. This strange machine was composed of one main unit and at least two 'books'.
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The computer was actually not in a book, but in the main unit, a Microbee 64. The first book held the user manual in a ring binder, the second book (Vol. 1) held a - new at the time - 3.5" floppy-disk drive and a power supply unit which supplied the main unit and the drive. This unit could also supply a second slave disk-book (Vol. 2).
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The designer's idea was to offer a low-cost and expandable CP/M machine. Up to 4 disk-books could be connected in chain. Even though the idea was original, the day-to-day use of these light units wasn't very convenient. The bad idea was to mount them in a bookcase, between other books, causing PSU to overheat and system failure.
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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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