Telmac 1800

Telmac 1800
TypeHome computer, Computer kit
Release date1977; 47 years ago (1977)
Units sold2000
MediaCompact Cassette
CPURCA 1802 (COSMAC) microprocessor CPU
Memory2 kB RAM, expandable to 4 kB
Display64×128 pixels display resolution
GraphicsRCA CDP1861
Soundfixed frequency tone
SuccessorTelmac TMC-600 / Telmac TMC-2000
Telmac 1800 Microcomputer
Telmac 1800 Microcomputer

The Telmac 1800[1] is an early microcomputer that was delivered in kit form.[2] It was introduced in 1977 by Telercas Oy,[3][4][5] the Finnish importer of RCA microchips. Most of the 2,000 kits manufactured over four years[5] were bought by electronics enthusiasts[1] in Finland, Sweden and Norway.

An expansion board, OSCOM, later became available, and included an alphanumeric video display, and up to 12 kB of memory. A 4 kB Tiny BASIC could be run on this configuration.[6]

The first-ever commercial video game to be developed in Finland, Chesmac, was developed by Raimo Suonio on a Telmac 1800 computer in 1979.[7]

The Telmac 1800 was followed by the Oscom Nano and the Telmac 2000.

  1. ^ a b "Telmac". www.hobbylabs.org.
  2. ^ "The 1970s". www.nic.funet.fi. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  3. ^ "Emma 02".
  4. ^ "RigPix Database - Vintage home computers (Except IBM PC's and their clones) - Telmac 1800". www.rigpix.com. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
  5. ^ a b Bubenko, Janis; Impagliazzo, John; Soelvberg, Arne (2005-01-14). History of Nordic Computing: IFIP WG9.7 First Working Conference on the History of Nordic Computing (HiNC1), June 16-18, 2003, Trondheim, Norway. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-0-387-24167-8.
  6. ^ "1977:Telmac 1800". HobbyLabs. October 2007. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  7. ^ Reunanen, Markku (2014-12-10). "Chesmac: ensimmäinen suomalainen kaupallinen tietokonepeli – jälleen (Chesmac – Yet Another First Commercial Finnish Computer Game)". Pelitutkimuksen Vuosikirja 2014.