website/content/museum/cw-p-cortex.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
CW/P Cortex	Computers	Professional Computer	United Kingdom	1983	Z80A	name image company company_name specs tabs adverts oc_id source Cortex /media/museum/photos/cwp_cortex_system_1.jpg /companies/cw-p CW/P label value NAME Cortex label value MANUFACTURER CW/P label value TYPE Professional Computer label value ORIGIN United Kingdom label value YEAR 1983 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Full stroke 83 keys, PC style, 10 function keys and numeric keypad label value CPU Z80A, label value SPEED 4 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR 6502 (Screen) label value RAM 64 KB label value VRAM 40 KB label value ROM Unknown label value TEXT MODES 80 chars x 25 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES 640 x 300 pixels label value COLORS Monochrome label value SOUND Beeper label value SIZE / WEIGHT 34 (W) x 31 (D) x 30 (H) cm label value I/O PORTS Parallel Centronics, Serial RS-232 label value BUILT IN MEDIA 2 x 200 KB 5.25'' floppy disc drives in separate unit label value OS Special version of CP/M-80 label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in power supply unit label value PERIPHERALS 5.25'' or 8'' Hard disk controller connector, 800 KB 5.25'' floppy drives label value PRICE £1795 (U.K., 1984) adverts title subtitle text image U.K. AD. 1984 Advert said: CORTEX has been designed not to dominate your desk, to leave room for your calendar, your telephone, your in-tray and the rest. If you want it inconspicuous, buy iy in conventional cream. But for extroverts, and the fashion conscious, CORTEX comes in bright, bright colours - warm red, C/WP green, sunshine yellow, ice white and all black... /media/museum/pubs/cwp_cortex_pub_1.jpg 899 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20221205120509/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=899 2022-12-05

With a few modifications en route, the Cortex system was bought by the British company C/WP ("Computers and Word Processors") from Ontel in USA where it was called Amigo.

Major modifications were both to hardware, including easy service access, and software, all designed to make this micro more friendly. CW/P aimed it firmly at the mainstream office Word Processor market.

The Cortex was in three main units, the keyboard, disc drive and display which housed the main logic board. The plastic housing was available in six vivid colours (some of them were not really restful on the eyes). Only four screws allowed to quickly change any part of the system.

The IBM-like keyboard was set up to generate various Wordstar control codes, and the version of WordStar shipped with it was modified to use them.

It was basically a CP/M machine with some improvements: second processor for display management and graphics capabilities. It was also one of the first machines that GSX (Digital Research's graphics standard) was supported on.

The weird styling and high price relative to other CP/M boxes didn't help it in the market. Furthermore, its 8-bit processor couldn't compete with the new wave of 16-bit professional computers, and the Cortex never met a large success although it was a nice, small-footprint machine.

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.