Spectravideo Η/Υ History/Links

Wally

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Μιας και βρηκα ωραια links που αφoρουν την σειρα υπολογιστων της Spectravideo (και επειδη το subforum ειναι αδειο :D ) σας παραθετω και μια compact ιστορια τους.

Στη χωρα μας δεν ετυχαν ιδιαιτερης αναγνωρισης αντιθετα με τα QuickShot joysticks που ηταν best sellers...

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Most enthusiasts will remember the Spectravideo SV-318 (chiclet keyboard, detachable joystick in the corner) from the many advertisements in magazines of the day, rather than from seeing actual units of the poorly distributed system in stores. The more robust SV-328 (full keyboard, more memory), pictured, would have been a competitive system had it been released just a bit earlier and with better distribution and support. As with many systems during this time in the same 8-bit computing class, it was unable to overcome the competition from the juggernaut Commodore 64 (C-64), let alone other popular systems like the Apple IIe, Atari 800 and TI-99/4a, all of which had better backing and support.
Spectravideo was founded in 1981 by two Swiss immigrants to the United States, Harry Fox and Oscar Jutzeler, and was originally christened Spectravision. The company entered the game market in 1982 with several game releases for Atari's Video Computer System (VCS) console and Commodore's VIC 20 (Vic-20) computer, as well as a popular and inexpensive black joystick called the Quickshot. The Quickshot's success enabled the company to begin making their move into the burgeoning home computer market.

In 1983, it released the rare CompuMate, a keyboard add-on for the Atari VCS that will be covered at a future date that gave the console basic computing abilities, and the SV-318, a low end stand-alone computer system. Spectravideo followed that up later in the year with the SV-328, a system that was more powerful and flexible than the lower-cost SV-318. Unfortunately, the SV-328 would also be the last system Spectravideo would release in the United States.

The SV-328, an enhanced machine targeted to more serious users than the SV-318, retailed for twice the price of the earlier system. It offered 80K of expandable RAM, of which 16K was reserved for graphics, and a full-stroke 86-key keyboard, dropping the unusual joystick/directional pad found on the 318 in favor of a numeric keypad. The potential to rapidly and widely expand the system led the company to market it as “a computer system you’ll grow into, not out of” in its advertisements.

Unfortunately, despite glowing reviews in magazines like Creative Computing and lots of advertising, Spectravideo just couldn’t achieve a foothold in the U.S. market, which was most likely a result of relying too much on independent distributors and first-party software development. Even after the company discontinued the SV-318 in early 1984 to focus on the SV-328 in conjunction with aggressive price drops and value-added bundles, the systems were never able to catch on.

The Spectravideo SV computers were capable of displaying up to 16 on-screen colors in 256 × 192 resolution, with sprites. Sound was controlled by a General Instruments AY-3-8910 chip, which allowed for three channels of sound at eight octaves. Software was mostly available on data cassettes and cartridge, though 5.25" floppy disks were an option. The default operating system was a particularly robust version of Microsoft Extended BASIC, though owners with the right expansion options could also run CP/M.

Ultimately, Spectravideo and the SV-328 are probably most famous for being the inspiration for the MSX computer standard, which, despite promises to the contrary, never saw a compatible product released in the United States. Like Japan (and to a far lesser degree, Southeast Asia and Europe), Spectravideo embraced the MSX standard in 1984, releasing its well-received SVI-728 overseas, which took many of the best features of the SVI-328 and enhanced them for maximum compatibility. Unfortunately, by 1985, due to limited domestic sales for the SVI-318/328 and overwhelming competition, US operations were closed down and moved to Hong Kong. The company’s last computer, the impressive hybrid MS-DOS- and MSX-capable SVI-838 (also known as the X’Press 16), was released overseas in 1986. Spectravideo then decided to turn its focus exclusively (and successfully) on peripherals for other computer and videogame systems worldwide.

For those interested in the Spectravideo SV-318/328's capabilities, it is similar to MSX (MSX 1) systems, which are similar to the ColecoVision and TI-99/4a. In fact, besides releasing a few games for Coleco's popular console, Spectravideo also released a little seen add-on for their SV systems that allowed for the use of ColecoVision cartridges.
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Πανεμορφο μηχανηματακι, με πολυ δυναμη μεσα του. Προσβαση και στην συλλογη του Colecovision, σε κανει να αναρωτιεσαι γιατι δεν τα καταφερε να εδραιωθει στην αγορα των home υπολογιστων. Κριμα που δεν επιασε αγοραστηκα παρολες τις καλες προδιαγραφες του. Τα μεγαθηρια ειχαν πλεον επεκταθει και μεσουρανουσαν στην Αμερικανικη αγορα, οπως ο C64, XL, TRS, ακομα και ο TI εκανε πολυ καλες πωλησεις, καταδικαζοντας καθε προσπαθεια απο "νεοφερμενες" εταιρειες.
 
Και μιας και μιλαμε για Spectravideo Mr Phil_2600

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Χε,χε... φυλαγμενη μου την ειχες ε? :)

Το συγκεκριμενο το ειχα δει στο New Jersey σε ενα απο τα NAVA gatherings. Το ειχε ενας τυπος σε ενα heavy sixer και ειχε και κατι κασσετες που φορτωνε απο ενα κασσετοφωνο, προγραμματακια Basic!

Εκεινη την ωρα ημουν να το αρπαξω και να αρχισω να τρεχω!!

Αν και πιο μπελαλιδικο (με το καλωδιο και το cartridge) απο το "The Graduate" (που εμπαινε καρφωτο επανω στο deck του 2600) ηταν πολυ καλα φτιαγμενο και χαριζε αρκετες δυνατοτητες στο 2600.
 
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