Construction: Single unit Microprocessors: Two Zilog Z80s (one for CPU, one for I/O) Word size: 8 bits Execution time: 1.0 microseconds register to register Machine instructions: 158 Interrupt mode: All interrupts are vectored and reserved Disk drives: Two 5.25" 180KB floppy drives Memory: 32KB + 1K static RAM + 2K ROM Screen: 12" diagonal 24x80 chars, 5x7 character matrix Serial interface: Two RS-232 max speed = 9600bps Character set: ASCII (128 characters) Software: CP/M 2.2, 8080 assembler, debugger, text editor, PIP Weight: 45 pounds Dimensions: 14.6" x 21.4" x 23.1"
Date: 1980. Columbia's first microcomputer, maybe, if you don't count some others that never went anywhere like the IBM 5100. Options (that we didn't have) included memory expansion to 64K, a parallel port, an S100 expansion bus adapter, Microsoft Basic-80, and Microsoft Fortran-80. This is the user end of the first Kermit connection (1981): Superbrains were deployed in public areas, connected to the Computer Center through the Gandalf PACX RS-232 serial switch, allowing users to archive their DEC-20 and IBM mainframe files to floppy disks and upload them again at a later time, using Columbia's Kermit protocol on each end of the connection; the Superbrain Kermit program also served as a terminal emulator. Reference: Intertec Data Systems Inc, SUPERBRAIN Users Manual, Columbia SC, September 1980.
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