website/content/museum/tatung-einstein-tc-01.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Tatung EINSTEIN TC-01	Computers	Home Computer	Taïwan	1984	Zilog Z80 A	name image company company_name specs tabs photos adverts screenshots emulators links comments oc_id source EINSTEIN TC-01 /media/museum/photos/tatung_einstein_system_2.jpg /companies/tatung Tatung label value NAME EINSTEIN TC-01 label value MANUFACTURER Tatung label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN Taïwan label value YEAR 1984 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Full-stroke QWERTY keyboard. 51 keys + 8 function keys label value CPU Zilog Z80 A label value SPEED 4 MHz label value RAM 64 KB (44 KB free for user) label value VRAM 16 KB label value ROM 8 KB (up to 32 KB) label value TEXT MODES 40 / 32 columns x 24 rows label value GRAPHIC MODES 256 x 192 dots label value COLORS 16 label value SOUND 3 voices, 7 octaves label value SIZE / WEIGHT 43.5 (W) x 51.5 (D) x 11.5 (H) cm label value I/O PORTS RS232c, Centronics, User port, Joystick (2), Bus Z80, Floppy Disk label value BUILT IN MEDIA one or two Hitachi 3'' floppy disk unit (380 KB) label value OS Xtal/DOS label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in switching power supply unit label value PRICE £499 photos adverts software emulators links title subtitle text image SLEEPING CAT This Einstein computer converted into a flower pot, seems to be an ideal nap spot for this cat ! Thank to [Zyra website](http://www.zyra.org.uk/index.htm) for this most original picture ! /media/museum/photos/tatung_einstein_cat.jpg title subtitle text image SYSTEM #1 One 3" Floppy disc drive version /media/museum/photos/tatung_einstein_console_1.jpg title subtitle text image SYSTEM #2 With Tatung color monitor. /media/museum/photos/tatung_einstein_system_1.jpg title subtitle text image KEYBOARD AND FDD CLOSE-UP #1 /media/museum/photos/tatung_einstein_fdcloseup_1.jpg title subtitle text image KEYBOARD AND FDD CLOSE-UP #2 /media/museum/photos/tatung_einstein_keybcloseup_1.jpg title subtitle text image BACK **(1)** Colour monitor offered 3 video input modes:\ - Monochrome green mode\ - Linear RGB mode (Einstein native)\ - TTL RGB mode /media/museum/photos/tatung_einstein_system_back_1.jpg title subtitle text image EINSTEIN CONNECTORS **(1)** RF/TV modulator output\ **(2)** Sound volume adjustment\ **(3)** 2 x analog joystick DIN plug\ **(4)** Serial RS-232 DIN plug\ **(5)** Selectable RGB video output (Linear or TTL)\ **(6)** Parallel printer connector\ **(7)** User programmable I/O connector\ **(8)** Tatung Pipe connector (processor bus)\ **(9)** External floppy disc unit connector\ **(10)** Reset switch /media/museum/photos/tatung_einstein_connectors_1.jpg title subtitle text image EINSTEIN'S NEURONS **(1)** Selectable RGB video output (Linear or TTL)\ **(2)** Serial RS-232 DIN plug\ **(3)** 2 x analog joystick DIN plug\ **(4)** Sound volume adjustment\ **(5)** 8251 USART (Universal Synchronus\ Asynchronus Receiver Transmitter) used for serial port\ **(6)** Z80 PIO (Parallel Input/Output Controller)\ **(7)** Counter/timer Z80 CTC\ **(8)** RF modulator for TV set connexion\ **(9)** Keyboard connector\ **(10)** Texas Instruments TMS 9129 video processor (same as MSX systems)\ **(11)** General Instrument AY-8910 sound generator (7 octaves, 3 voices)\ **(12)** Floppy disc magnetic fields protection\ **(13)** 8 x Mostek 4564 chips hold 64 KB of RAM\ **(14)** 8 KB 4764 EPROM holding the Einstein monitor\ **(15)** Z80-A processor. Here a Mostek version\ **(16)** Switching power supply\ **(17)** Reset switch /media/museum/photos/tatung_einstein_inside_1.jpg title subtitle text image CHIPS CLOSE-UP Video and sound chips area.\ Note the empty power connector, used for the second optional floppy disc drive /media/museum/photos/tatung_einstein_mboardcloseup_1.jpg title subtitle text image MANUALS SET /media/museum/photos/tatung_einstein_manuals_1.jpg title subtitle text image KUMA SOFTWARE Kuma, an english software publisher, tried to propose some professional software for the Einstein computer /media/museum/photos/tatung_einstein_kumasoft_1.jpg title subtitle text image THE BOX /media/museum/photos/tatung_einstein_box_1.jpg title subtitle text image FRENCH ADVERT. "A genius at your reach..." /media/museum/pubs/tatung_einstein_pub_espacemicro.jpg title subtitle text image UK ADVERT Thanks to [Howard Jones for this picture.](http://wotsit.thingy.com/haj/) /media/museum/pubs/tatung_einstein_pub_2.jpg title subtitle text image BOOT SCREEN /media/museum/software/tatung_einstein_boot_ss.gif title subtitle text image FAKE BOOT SCREEN ! Rescue Spectrum game... If you press "BREAK" on the menu of the Spectrum game called RESCUE from Mastertronic, you get a fake Einstein boot screen !!! /media/museum/software/tatung_einstein_rescue_ss.gif title subtitle text image CHUCKY EGG /media/museum/software/tatung_einstein_chuckyegg_ss.gif title url platform text MESS http://www.mess.org/ Multiplatform MESS emulator now emulates the Einstein ! title url text EINTRANS http://MEMBERS.LYCOS.CO.UK/ALBERTSTC01/ Einstein-PC Transfer Software. Useful! title url text Tatung Einstein Computer Web Site http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/retrocomputer/xindex.html Nice Einstein dedicated website title url text Tatung Einstein Electronica Message Board http://www.catharton.net/electronica/index.php?board=46 Message board dedicated to the Einstein title url text Turn your Einstein into a Spectrum ! http://www.mjwilson.demon.co.uk/crash/36/speclt.htm CRASH article on a Spectrum emulator for Einstein and Memotech MTX ! title url text UK Einstein User Group http://members.lycos.co.uk/tatung_einstein/ Miscellaneous useful stuff and form to suscribe to the user group author date text DENNIS PARR (UK (Wales)) Thursday 25th March 2021 WOW ! This forum takes me back a few years!! After a ZX*),etc finally purchased my favourite ever - the Einstein. Can''t remember the year but it must have been an early one aasI always looked for improved models from my existing one at the time. I had a business in those days in a small North Wales town and I always hoped to have a unit which would enable me to keep track fo my sales, VAT etc. The Einstein was a godsend ! In fact I had two models - one I kept at home to do my accounts on a Saturday afternoon, and the other in the shop. I found Xtal Basic a very easy programming language and wrote several programmes ( kept me up until two in the morning ! ). The main one was to enable me to keep track of sales in the different categories for stock control purposes. I purchased a program the calculated my VAT liability and printed out a program for the Revenue at the end of the month, This was a fantastic benefit for me ! Another valuable program which I enjoyed writing was to do with a further activity of mine - I was a swimming coach. The club in which I was a member ran competitive Galas with other clubs. Keeping track of yhe results was very primitive ( by hand calculator) and by the time the final result was known most of the spectators had gone home ! So I set to and penned a prog. the kept a running total of each swimmers results in four different lanes in real time, The final results were known and printed out in less than 20 seconds ! Another program forecast lottery winning numbers - never won more than £10 !! and so the list goes on. Happy computing - VERY HAPPY ! and sincere thank for a wonderful computer, author date text mike westwood (weston super mare) Wednesday 6th January 2021 i have a fully boxed (original) einstien with discs and manuals is it worth anything or will anyone want it author date text vanpeebles (United Kingdom) Sunday 10th November 2019 A new forum has been setup for the Tatung 256 and Einstein, please pop by and say hello! :) https://www.robheaton.co.uk/tatung/ VP author date text Chris Coxall (UK) Sunday 3rd November 2019 Web Site Has Moved to\ http://www.connectingcomputers.xyz/tatungeinstein/\ Discussion Group For The Tatung Einstein\ Now at https://groups.io/g/tatung-einstein\ Under new management author date text Mike''s Retro Tech (Rochdale/UK) Friday 6th September 2019 Hi all, Who wants to share their Einstein Serial Numbers? I am compiling a list of all known Einsteins still kicking around, just to see how many were actually sold back in the day. I will be doing a sort of ''History of'' on my YouTube channel, when I get enough info together. My machine is a lowish S/N with Gotek drive and a real floppy drive, connected to a 15khz VGA monitor, so the display is mega stable! :) It also has an external sound socket so I can connect up to desktop speakers etc. I use it every week for gaming or business apps. Always on the look out for more Einstein hardware and software/mags etc. So, if anyone wants to offload their Einstein collection, give me a shout! Thanks Mike. author date text Roger (Ulster) Saturday 6th April 2013 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v$zsjTpFR0oYQ please help\ was there a zx spectrum emulator for the tatung einstein please - not just the basic... author date text Rikard (Sweden) Tuesday 14th August 2012 Graham, please contact me :) author date text Graham (Stafford, UK) Saturday 30th June 2012 I have one of the original development Einsteins from Bradford. It''s a black prototype case with some soldering iron marks and one of the first motherboards, a composite video output for TV and one floppy drive. There are two floppies, one with the OS and two manuals, one introduction book and one OS book. This is not getting used so I need to sell it. Please let me know if you''re interested. author date text adam (united kingdom) Saturday 21st April 2012 Hi Is there any person out there who has a collection of tatung einsteins games / software availible. I do have a tatung 256 computer for sale if any person is interested. I also have a tm11 monitor if required. Please contact me on ag004r1244@blueyonder.co.uk author date text StaggerLee (Canada) Friday 6th April 2012 WTB - Elite for Tatung. In exchange I can offer any other version of the game. author date text Abbie (United Kingdom) Sunday 23rd October 2011 Hi I have a Einstein TC01 for sale, in original box with original user manuals, please emails abpanks@gmail.com for more information/offers author date text Abbie (United Kingdom) Sunday 23rd October 2011 Hi I have a Einstein TC01 for sale, in original box with original user manuals, please emails abpanks@gmail.com for more information/offers author date text Barbara (West Yorkshire) Friday 19th August 2011 Hello, I have an Einstein TC01 for sale. We used to connect it to our TV. It has all the manuals with it also. Pease contact me on barbara.dickinson2@btinternet.com if interested author date text JonB (Sussex) (UK) Tuesday 19th July 2011 I am looking for one of these machines right now, does anyone know where I can get one? There''s a bloke selling the Einstein 256 on eBay right now (July 2011) which is brand new, unopened, but it needs a special monitor to supply power. Without that it cannot be used.. So it''s a TC01 or nothing for me... author date text Lyndon Fletcher (UK) Tuesday 30th January 2007 As I recall these were stocked by either Curry's or Dixon's stores. As part of their end of year sales in 1985 the last few were sold of for (IIRC) 75 pounds without the monitor. author date text Matt Povey (www.kyomu.org/wordpress) Tuesday 27th June 2006 If anyone would like to own one of these things please drop me a line. I'd be happy to give it to a good home (must be a good home). I rescued it from a friend's house clearance a few years ago and it's been sat in my storage unit ever since. I had a fit of throwing out old PCs last week but couldn't quite bring myself to dump this (I did thow out my Sparc 5 which I felt very guilty about but I reckon that there are more than a few of those knocking about). I've no idea if it's working or not though there is no reason it shouldn't and I don't want any money for it. The only condition is that you be London based and flexible about when I get it to you as I'm not around a great deal. author date text Stu M (UK) Monday 21st February 2005 Someone gave me one of these beauties just before Christmas. It's boxed with colour monitor and two carrier bags full of software!!! Works a treat too. It's set up among my retro collection among my network of PCs, SGIs, VAXs, DECs and other various bits and bobs. author date text John (Warwickshire) Sunday 6th June 2004 Wow, I loved the Einstein.\ Wondering if anyone has any game .DSK images, i'm getting tired of playing Hangman! author date text Paul T (UK) Sunday 9th May 2004 Get the M.E.S.S. (see prvious post) read this http://mysite.freeserve.com/Einstein_TC01/ courtesy of that other site, follow the instructions (don't extract the zipped bios as I did) and it should work - now to choose a PC to connect this old drive of mine to and fire up Starquake... author date text Paul T (UK) Sunday 9th May 2004 blew up my Einstein many years ago - still got the PSU and the disc drive and wiring diag! - and always thought about writing an emulator (too lazy to do it though) but I just found this link almost at the same time as I found this forum (http://www.emulator-zone.com/doc.php/misc/mess.html) - seems it'll emulate a TC-01\ footnote - just tried running it and it need the Rom/bios - bum! author date text Carl Forsyth (England) Tuesday 27th January 2004 Does anyone have any pc emulators for any great old tc-01 games like 'Kings Valley', 'Bootman','Chuckie Egg'?\ If anyone does then i'm shure many people who remember the tc-01 would very much like a copy including me!\ If you do have any game emulator for the tc-01 please e-mail me a copy. It would be VERY much appreciated. Thanks. author date text Shaun Smith (UK) Tuesday 30th September 2003 I have an Einstein with all the games mentioned on this site. Mine still works perfect, and so do the games. Lazy Jones was a favourite too, and Oh Mummy. There was bootman, fu kung in las vegas (with an impossible level 9) and gronks!! I've had this since i can remember. Email me for anything you wanna know or talk about. author date text robbie ([uk]) Thursday 3rd April 2003 the coolest thing in the world _ these babies rocked. does anyone remember kings valley[amazing - finding pick axes and jumping mummys], time bandit, comic bakery [racoons ??] and kung fu [I think]. i don't really remember any others.... silver mountain was a programable text adventure??? maybe? i can't remember. Chuckie egg of course, you are right mr wilson, pure class. and to see that blue boot up screen again [see screen pics] "press ctrl-BREAK to load", drowning me in memorys.... thankyou cool website, i think i'll go and cry about how simple life used to be when you were 7- what happened???????????????????????? author date text Knightcider (Ireland) Tuesday 4th March 2003 I have one of these old girls, the Monitor works fine but unfortunatly the machine only half works spmething to do with the processer or what ever that removable chip was does anybody have info on this chip and what it is? I wish toget mine runing againg because it was my first pc even though it was 7yrs old when I got it. Any help would be appreciated. author date text Chris Coxall (UK) Saturday 12th October 2002 EinTrans.exe: Einstein-PC file and disk image transfer utility available for download " hppt://members.lycos.co.uk/albertstc01/ " author date text Chris Coxall (kent) Wednesday 20th March 2002 This Tatung Einstein has some some software downloads. "http://members.lycos.co.uk/albertstc01". Also tech. info. author date text Peter Finnigan (Lancashire, England) Wednesday 20th March 2002 Oh no. My mother just threw out 30 games! Our Einstein no longer works, and has long since been superceded, so it was thrown away. The Konami games collection was pure class, and games like jet set willy kept you entertained for hours. author date text Trefor Jones (U.K.) Tuesday 12th March 2002 Help!! I have one of these in working order. Does anyone out there have any software?\ Especially a system disk! author date text Keith Wilson (UK) Tuesday 26th February 2002 These were wicked! My mate had one with Chuckie Egg on it and if you had the keys set up as P,L,Z,X and space for up, down, left and right, jump. It would teleport u to the next level if u held them all down at the same time! Pure class! 86 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230328192201/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=86 2023-03-28

The Tatung Einstein has characteristics very near those of the MSX machines (same video modes, same sound chip, sprites, etc.) but is not compatible with this standard. It was built in the UK at Tatung's plant in Telford in Shropshire.

The Einstein runs under Xtal/DOS which is an operating system compatible with CP/M. It was possible to connect an other floppy disk drive and a 80 column card was available.

The Einstein was a very attractive computer but it was too expensive to have great market success.

Ste Cork recalls:
Pretty much every 8-bit development house in the NW of the UK was using these machines in the late '80s, we'd develop for Atari, C64, ZX, Amstrad, MSX, C16, you name it. Superb keyboard, and the power-supply was so stable that you could quickly flick the switch off and on without the machine even noticing. No mains spikes could ever interrupt these things. I even wrote / sold a couple of games on it natively, they did ok. We mainly used them with 5.25 inch disks though, since the 3-inch disks it used weren't so reliable if you were writing to them continuously. The 256MB silicon-drive was a must-have.Doomed to be for hobbyists / developers only though, since it had no mass market appeal at the price / performance.

Alan Wilson reports us:
This computer at the time was a programmers dream, the operating system was easy to reprogram, and an excellent MOS (Machine operating system) mode meant that disk sectors or tracks could be easily loaded into memory, edited, then written back. Because of this, they were used to develop disk copy protection for the up and coming next generation Amiga and Atari ST.

Trefor Hazlewood-Jones adds:
Unlike most home computers this one boots up in MOS, it is then necessary to load Xtal/dos and a high level operating system. Xtal/basic was supplied with the machine but I also have disks to boot it into BBC/basic FORTRAN and Pascal. The right hand drive bay will accept a 3.5 inch floppy drive and the machine will happily format and use 3.5 inch floppy disks. Note: A 3.5" drive requires modifications to the case and it will only format 720K floppies. You need an updated DOS system first to enable you to access more than the standard DOS

Einstein and Spectrum games, by Matthew Wilkes:
There was a nifty assembler specially written that we used to use at Elite Systems for programming the ZX Spectrum games - enabling you to write and assemble Z80 code, then download to the Spectrum via interface I (F5 I think it was :-)) - if your buggy code crashed, you could simply re-boot the Spectrum and debug on the Einstein.