website/content/museum/independant-business-systems-betasystem.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Independant Business Systems BetaSystem	Computers	Professional Computer	U.S.A.	1982	Z80	name image company company_name specs tabs adverts oc_id source BetaSystem /media/museum/photos/ibs_betasystem_system_1.jpg /companies/independant-business-systems Independant Business Systems label value NAME BetaSystem label value MANUFACTURER Independant Business Systems label value TYPE Professional Computer label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR 1982 label value KEYBOARD Video/keyboard serial terminal label value CPU Z80 label value SPEED 4 Mhz. label value RAM 128 KB per Z80 card label value ROM 2 KB label value TEXT MODES Unknown label value GRAPHIC MODES Unknown label value COLORS Unknown label value SOUND Unknown label value SIZE / WEIGHT Unknown label value I/O PORTS Unknown label value OS USCD PASCAL, CP/M, TURBODOS label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in P.S.U. label value PERIPHERALS S-100 boards label value PRICE Unknown adverts title subtitle text image 36 MHZ. IN 1982? The title of this advert was very optimistic. In fact, the 36 Mhz speed is obtained by adding the speed of the 9 x Z80 cards installed into the system. The maximum system speed was in fact 4 Mhz. /media/museum/pubs/ibs_betasystem_pub_1.jpg title subtitle text image 64 BITS IN 1983? After the optimistic 36 Mhz. speed, here is the 64 bits processing power... with 8 bits/Z80 cards. Here also, the 64 bits 'power' is obtained by putting eight 8 bits cards together in the case.\ Not a very honest way to sell a computer that is no more than a classic S-100 / Z80 based system with some multi-user capabilities. /media/museum/pubs/ibs_betasystem_pub_2.jpg 592 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230416215944/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=592 2023-04-16

The BetaSystem was a S-100 BUS based system using a complete computer Z80 card that could handle two time-shared users. Up to nine cards could be installed in the case allowing up to 18 users / video terminals to be connected and used simultaneously.

As usual with S-100 based systems, a large range of storage devices could be added to the system: 5.25", 8" or 14" Winchester disk drives from 5 MB to 600 MB, 5.25" or 8" floppies, and tape cartridges up to 100 MB.

Mainly based on the UCSD PASCAL operating system, the BetaSystem could also be used with CP/M and TurboDos O.S.

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.