17 Jan
1999
17 Jan
'99
5:14 a.m.
From: ard(a)p850ug1.demon.co.uk (Tony Duell)
Subject: Re: victor 9000 (also called Sirius) (fwd)
Keep in mind this was one of Chuck Peddle's creations (along with the 6502 and
Commodore PET).
Here's someone in Belgium wanting to get rid of a Victor 9000. It was an
early 80's 8086-based machine that came out before the PC but eventually
was PC-compatible. It was actually a much better machine than the PC and
had many interesting innovations, but we all know the story.
Strange machine. It's what you get if you take the CPU from a PC (8088),
add Mac-style variable-speed drives (but 5.25") with a Commodore-like
controller, and then stick on an Apricot-like video system.
Interesting features include the sound system (a synchronous serial chip
driving a CODEC chip) which also has a sound input connector, the 2 3-bit
DACs to control monitor brightness and contrast in software, the user
port (a complete 6522 less one pin wired to a 50 pin header inside), the
centronics printer port that can be turned into a GPIB port in software,
the drives/controller, etc.
Sounds cool, maybe one day I'll get one. :)