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|
 A Dragon 32 home computer | |
| Also known as | Dragon 200, Dragon 200-E |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Dragon Data |
| Type | Home computer |
| Release date | August 1982 |
| Discontinued | 1987[1] |
| Operating system | Microsoft Extended BASIC |
| CPU | Motorola 6809E @ 0.89 MHz |
| Memory | 32 KB/64 KB |
| Display | Composite monitor or TV over RF output, 64×48 with 8 colours semigraphics, 128×192 with 4 colours, 256×192 with 2 colours |
| Graphics | MC6847 Video Display Generator |
| Sound | 1-bit sound |
The Dragon 32 and Dragon 64 are home computers that were built in the 1980s. The Dragons are very similar to the TRS-80 Color Computer, and were produced for the European market by Dragon Data, Ltd., initially in Swansea, Wales before moving to Port Talbot, Wales (until 1984) and by Eurohard S.A. in Casar de Cáceres, Spain (from 1984 to 1987), and for the US market by Tano Corporation of New Orleans, Louisiana. The model numbers reflect the primary difference between the two machines, which have 32 and 64 kilobytes of RAM, respectively.
Dragon Data introduced the Dragon 32 microcomputer in August 1982, followed by the Dragon 64 a year later. Despite initial success, the Dragon faced technical limitations in graphics capabilities and hardware-supported text modes, which restricted its appeal in the gaming and educational markets. Dragon Data collapsed in 1984 and was acquired by Spanish company Eurohard S.A. However, Eurohard filed for bankruptcy in 1987.
The Dragon computers were built around the Motorola MC6809E processor and featured a composite monitor port, allowing connection to (at the time) modern TVs. They used analog joysticks and had a range of peripherals and add-ons available. The Dragon had several high-resolution display modes, but limited graphics capabilities compared to other home computers of the time.
The Dragon came with a Microsoft BASIC interpreter in ROM, which allowed instant system start-up. The Dragon 32/64 was capable of running multiple disk operating systems, and a range of popular games were ported to the system.
Overall, the Dragon computers were initially well-received but faced limitations that hindered their long-term success.