 Nascom 3 Computer, September 1981 | |
| Developer | Chris Shelton[1] |
|---|---|
| Type | single-board computer |
| Release date | Nascom 1: 1977 Nascom 2: 1979 Nascom 3: 1981 |
The Nascom 1 and 2 were single-board computer kits issued in the United Kingdom in 1977 and 1979, respectively, based on the Zilog Z80 and including a keyboard and video interface, a serial port that could be used to store data on a tape cassette using the Kansas City standard, and two 8-bit parallel ports. At that time, including a full keyboard and video display interface was uncommon, as most microcomputer kits were then delivered with only a hexadecimal keypad and seven-segment display. To minimize cost, the buyer had to assemble a Nascom by hand-soldering about 3,000 joints on the single circuit board. Later on, a pre-built, cased machine named Nascom 3 was available; this used the Nascom 2 board.
| Model | Nascom 1 | Nascom 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Introduced | December 1977 | December 1979 |
| MSRP (price) | £197.50 | £225 |
| CPU (μP) | Zilog Z80 | Zilog Z80A |
| CPU speed | 2 MHz | 2 or 4 MHz (switch on main board) |
| Monitor/OS* | NAS-BUG 1 (1 KB EPROM) | NAS-SYS 1, most were shipped with NAS-SYS 3 (2 KB ROM) |
| RAM | 2 KB (1 KB used for display), exp. to 64 KB | 8 KB, exp. to 1 MB |
| Dimensions | 8" x 10" (main board) | 8" x 12" (main board) |
| Discontinued | 1979 | 1983 |
| * A debug monitor and simple operating system (OS) was included with the devices. CP/M versions 1.4, 2.2 and 3.0 were also available later. | ||