Nascom

Nascom
Nascom 3 Computer, September 1981
DeveloperChris Shelton[1]
Typesingle-board computer
Release dateNascom 1: 1977 (1977)
Nascom 2: 1979 (1979)
Nascom 3: 1981 (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.