website/content/museum/mindset-corp-graphics-computer.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Mindset Corp. Graphics computer	Computers	Professional Computer	U.S.A.	1984	16-bit Intel 80186	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos hardware screenshots oc_id source Graphics computer /media/museum/photos/mindset_systemcut_s1.jpg /companies/mindset-corp Mindset Corp. label value NAME Graphics computer label value MANUFACTURER Mindset Corp. label value TYPE Professional Computer label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR 1984 label value END OF PRODUCTION Unknown label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Full-stroke 84-key keyboard with separate numeric keypad label value CPU 16-bit Intel 80186 label value SPEED 6 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR Two custom VLSI chips that handle graphics load label value RAM 128 KB expandable to 384 KB label value ROM Unknown label value TEXT MODES 40 or 80 columns x 25 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES 320x200, 640x400 (interlaced) label value COLORS 16 (for 320 mode), 2 (for 640 mode) all from 512 color palette label value SOUND 4 voice sound (optional stereo module planned, adding another 4 ) label value I/O PORTS RF modulator, NTSC composite out, analog RGB, synch, mouse, sound label value BUILT IN MEDIA Two modular ROM/NVRAM cartridge slots. Optional dual 5.25 label value OS MS-DOS 2.11 label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in Power switching supply unit label value PRICE $2400 (2 floppy drive, 256K RAM configuration) photos hardware software 960 title subtitle text image DOUBLE-DECKER MAIN UNIT Notice the two ROM/NVRAM modules mounted on the front of the bottom main unit. /media/museum/photos/mindset_system_s1.jpg title subtitle text image FRONT VIEW /media/museum/photos/mindset_systemfront_s1.jpg title subtitle text image KEYBOARD AND MOUSE CLOSE-UP The nice two-red-button mouse was made in Japan. It was one of the rare models to use a metal ball. /media/museum/photos/mindset_keyboard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image RUNNING When not in use, the Mindset displays a rotating Mindset logo. /media/museum/photos/mindset_running_s1.jpg title subtitle text image CONNEXION The two units are connected and fixed together by a large bus connector. /media/museum/photos/mindset_connector_s1.jpg title subtitle text image COMPLETE SYSTEM Complete system with a Taxan Vision 420 colour monitor and a Xerox Diablo C150, one of the first and expensive colour ink-jet printer. /media/museum/photos/mindset_completesystem_s1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR SIDE From left to right:\ • Audio output jack\ • Composite video output jack\ • TV/RF video output jack\ • TV channel selector\ • RGB video output DB9 connector\ • External sync DB9 connector\ • Aux. In and Out jacks (we have no information about them) The system also featured 6 expansion slots, 3 in the main unit (above the rear connectors) and 3 in the disk/memory module. They were designed for future expansion that never see the light. /media/museum/photos/mindset_rear_s1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE Two expansion cards are mounted vertically. The front one supports the ROM/RAM module slots, the rear one is used for the connexion with the FDD/RAM module and also supports three expansion slots. /media/museum/photos/mindset_opened_s1.jpg title subtitle text image MAINBOARD **(1)** The two VLSI chips specially designed for the Mindset. They manage the graphics processing off the CPU\ **(2)** Rear expansion card\ **(3)** TV/RF modulator\ **(4)** Connector for the front expansion card\ **(5)** Two Intel 8042 microcontroller chips provide memory and I/O management\ **(6)** 32 KB base RAM memory (4x4416 chips). The rest of the RAM memory is located in the expansion module\ **(7)** Beeper\ **(8)** 32 KB BIOS ROMs (2x27128) /media/museum/photos/mindset_mainboard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE THE EXPANSION MODULE The expansion module holds two half-size 5.25" 360 KB floppy-disk drives, 96 KB of basic RAM (soldered chips) and 128 KB of additional RAM (socketed chips). This module also provides three expansion slots. /media/museum/photos/mindset_insidefdunit_s1.jpg title subtitle text image CUSTOM CHIPSET CLOSE-UP /media/museum/photos/mindset_chipset_s1.jpg title subtitle text image MINDSET LABEL /media/museum/photos/mindset_label_s1.jpg title subtitle text image PARALLEL PRINTER MODULE /media/museum/hardware/mindset_printermodule_s1.jpg title subtitle text image LUMINA PAINT Picture made with the Lumina Paint program /media/museum/software/mindset_graphics_graphdemo_s1.jpg 986 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230417011654/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=986 2023-04-17

This little-known graphics workstation is an intriguing example of the many, varied machines introduced in the mid 1980's.

The Mindset microcomputer, designed by two ex-Atari engineers, offered graphics performance far beyond that of other personal computers on the market at the time of its introduction in early 1984.

Based on the rarely seen, 16-bit Intel 80186 (also used in the Tandy Model 2000), the Mindset was a powerful graphics workstation built on a (mostly) MS-DOS compatible core. Two custom VLSI chips shouldered the burden of graphics heavy lifting; offering graphics performance 50 times that of the IBM PC, leaving the CPU free to handle other chores.

The system unit was striking to behold. Crafted by industrial design group, GVO, of Menlo Park, CA, the Mindset was chosen for a place in the Museum of Modern Art.

The main system unit lacked floppy disk storage but instead sported two, front-mounted ROM/NVRAM module ports. The system's serial and parallel interface, as well as system memory expansion, were also modular. A dual floppy drive expansion module attached to the top of the unit, giving it a futuristic, double-decker look (most units were sold with the floppy drive module bundled in).

The Mindset was one of the very first computers to come standard with a mouse; in this case, a two-button unit with a somewhat unwieldy, heavy cord and a metal mouse ball.
11 advanced graphics modes which could be seen on any of the system's three graphics outputs; impressive flexibility for its day. A very powerful paint program, Lumena from Time Arts, Inc., was available for the Mindset, allowing the creation of stunning, static images from its palette of 512 colors. Beyond the static, however, the machine's custom graphics hardware was capable of performing frame buffer animation at a speed 50 times greater than that of the IBM PC.

There were rumors that Atari CEO, Jack Tramiel, was considering purchasing the Mindset to bring it under the Atari flag. This did not happen, but it is interesting to note that the original Atari ST series computers, released a year later, featured almost exactly the same graphics modes and palette depth as the Mindset micro.

More information about this notable entry in computing history can be found at this on-line version of a Feb. '85 Creative Computing review.

Thanks to Blake Patterson for information.