New subject: PERQs

6 Nov 2006

Witchy wrote:

...

 Hi folks,

 I know this was published in the UK media in 1983 which
 doesn't really vouch for its authenticity, but it gives a
 good idea of prices for the micros that were available at the time.

 It's the A-Z of Personal Computers published by Video Press
 in 1983 and some of its prices are thus: (all UK pounds,
 multiply by roughly 2 to get the $)

 Tandy TRS80 M1: 199
 Apple ][ and ][e: 1209/1270
 Osborne 1: 1430
 Commodore 4016: 632
 Apple ///: 2418
 Apple Lisa: 7500
 DEC Rainbow 100: 2300
 HH Tiger: 2700
 IBM PC: 2390
 N* Advantage/Horizon: 2300/2295
 ACT Sirius 1 (Victor 9000): 2754
 Intertec Superbrain II: 2100 
Well, I have in front of me here the Winter 1983 edition of Micro Choice
(published by Argus), which gives the following prices (all UKP):

Apple ][e                           845.00
Atari 800                           245.00
BBC Model A                         299.00
BBC Model B                         399.00
Commodore 64                        299.00
Dragon 32                           199.00
Epson HX-20                         499.00
Jupiter Ace                          89.95
Lynx                                225.00
NASCOM3                             376.00
NewBrain                            233.00
Osborne 1                           (not priced)
Research Machines RML 380Z          From 500.00
Sharp MZ-80A                        549.00
Sord M5                             189.95
TI 99/4A                            199.00
VIC-20                              169.99
Genie I                             279.00
Genie II                            299.00
ZX81                                 49.95
ZX Spectrum (16K)                   125.00
ZX Spectrum (48K)                   165.00

The following machines are all reviewed (some in great depth), with several
optional extras priced. Note that many appear in the table above with
different prices.... Why? Who knows...:

Sharp MZ-80A:                       477.00
    MZ-80AEU Expansion Unit:        115.00
    MX-80FB Dual Disk Unit + Cable: 706.00 (!!!)
    MZ-8AFI Disk Interface:         115.00
    MZ-80P6 Printer + cable:        496.45
    MZ-8BP51 Printer Interface:      34.50
    MZ-80IO2 Universal Interface:    51.75
    MZ-8AP5R Character Generator:    14.95
    Disc BASIC:                      34.65

Epson HX-20:                        411.00 + VAT
    Microcassette (drive I assume)   75.00 extra
    16KB RAM Module                  80.00 + VAT
    16KB RAM/16KB ROM Module         80.00 + VAT
    Acoustic Coupler                220.00 + VAT
    TV Display Adapter              100.00 to 150.00

Laser 200:                           69.95
    16K RAMpack                      29.95
    64K RAMpack                      59.95
    Printer Interface                19.95
    Joysticks (price per pair)       19.95
    Lightpen                         19.95

Colour Genie:                       168.00
    Pair of Joysticks                49.49
    EG 2012 Centronics Printer I/F   30.50 (includes cable)
    Discs                              TBA

ACT Sirius 1:
   Single Floppy with 128K RAM    2,195.00 + VAT
   Dual Floppy with 128K RAM      2,695.00 + VAT
   Dual Floppy with 256K RAM      2,895.00 + VAT
   128K RAM board                   395.00 + VAT

Sinclair ZX Spectrum:
   ZX Spectrum 16K                   99.95
   ZX Spectrum 48K                  129.95
   ZX Printer                        39.95
   ZX Microdrive                     49.95
   RS232 Interface                   49.95
     (or, if purchased with a m/drv) 29.95

Acorn Electron:                     199.00

Sharp MZ-700:                       250.00
   Modular Printer/Plotter          130.00
   Modular Cassette recorder         40.00

Jupiter Ace:                         89.95

Oric 1:
   Oric 1 16K RAM                    99.95
   Oric 1 48K RAM                   139.95
   Oric MCP-40 Printer/Plotter      169.95 (40.00 voucher with every Oric 1)
   Hitachi 3" drive                 under 200.00

Sharp PC-1251:                       79.95
   Including CE125 printer/cass      99.95

BBC Micro:
   Model A                          299.00
   Model B                          399.00

Sord M5: (without joypads)          149.95

Sharp MZ-3541:                      000.00 (a typo, presumably)

Dragon 32:                          175.00
    Joystick Unit                    10.00
    ROM Cartridges                   20.00
    Cassette software                 8.00
    5.25" disc drive SSSD           275.00

48k Lynx:                           225.00

Commodore 64:                       299.00 + VAT
    Graphics Cartridge               50.00 approx

Cheers,
Ade.

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1983 Micro prices