The Atari range of XL machines was quite popular in the eighties. The 600 XL was the low end computer in the range with only 16 k of memory. It runs a 6502C microprocessor at 1.79 MHz NTSC or 1.773 for PAL-systems. It has operating system and BASIC in a 24 k prom. I can display 40 x 24 characters or 320 x 192 pixels of graphics with 256 colors. On top of the keyboard are a slot for game cartridges or memory expansion module. My Atari is modified for the Swedish characters.

Kindly donated by Anders Wahlbom

The Atari 520 ST was one of the first home computers with built in MIDI interface as standard which made it very popular among musicians. The 520ST came with 512 KB RAM, a + version had 1 MB. A Motorola MC68000 processor runs at 8 MHz. On the back are a lot of connectors: Modem, Printer, Hard disk, Floppy disk, RF TV signal, RGB-monitor, Built in power supply and two joysticks. On the left side the midi connectors and a cartridge slot. My Atari 520ST is made in Taiwan. Serial number A16BB4009068.

Kindly donated by Ove Svensson

Commodore 64 (1982 - 1989)

Commodore 64 is probably the worlds most sold home computer of all times. About 30 million units was produced! For the time it was introduced it had everything a young computer enthusiast could dream of. Whopping 64 kb of memory as standard, color graphics, sprites, sound, a decent keyboard, BASIC and a reasonable price. It become a fantastic success. Its predecessor, the also successful  VIC20, suddenly feels like a toy. A color TV should be used as a monitor and there was connectors for cassette recorder, 5¼" floppy disk drive (170 kb), printer, power supply, two joysticks and a cartridge slot for games and other expansions.
See also the Commodore section in the office wing!

Kindly donated by Anders Wahlbom

Commodore 128D (1985 - 1989)

Late in 1985, Commodore released to the European market a new version of the C128 with a redesigned chassis resembling the Amiga 1000. Called the Commodore 128D, this new European model featured a plastic chassis with a carrying handle on the side, incorporated a 1571 disk drive into the main chassis, replaced the built-in keyboard with a detachable one, and added a cooling fan. The keyboard also featured two folding legs for changing the typing angle.
See also the Commodore section in the office wing!

Kindly donated by Viggo Jensen

This might be the first laptop computer with a full size keyboard. The HX-20 has a four line 20-characters LCD display, a small cassette recorder for storage just right of the display (this is an option, as standard there was a dummy module in this space). Built-in rechargeable batteries for portable operation. Also an built in matrix printer with a very small typewriter ribbon. And of course a version of MS BASIC in ROM, 16 K RAM.

This computer kindly donated by Leif Gidlöf

Epson PX4+ (Japan 1985)

The Epson PX 4+ is a CP/M computer, successor to the HX-20, but is based on the PX-8. It has an virtual 80x25 LCD screen . The actual screen is 40x8. The display could be angled for best viewing. Incorporated to the right is also a small thermal printer. This slot could also be used for tape recorder or RAM expansion. The computer has a full size qwerty keyboard and a line of extra function keys above. An external power supply or 4 x AA-size standard cells keep the computer running. On the back are odd non standard connectors for RS232, serial printer and parallel printer. The 4+ model includes an 120 Kbyte RAM disk.

This computer kindly donated by Pär Bertilsson

The IMSAI 8080 is one of the first home computers for hobby use. It was sold as a kit to build or as a ready to use unit. A similar computer, the Altair 8800, was released only months before the IMSAI. The IMSAI was however the most commercially successful of the two. The micro processor was of course an Intel 8080 running at 2 MHz, maximum 64 k memory could be used.

The Jupiter ACE was a British home computer of the 1980s, marketed by a company named Jupiter Cantab and named after the early British computer, the ACE.

The major difference from other home computers at this time, was that the Jupiter ACE's came with Forth as its default programming language. This computer did not achieve significant success, probably due to its relatively obscure language - as far as the general public was concerned.

"Your COMPUTER. With sound and music. For Family, Business, Educational and Entertainment". Z80A CPU at 3.25 MHz. 2 K RAM expandable to 16 or 32 K. 24 rows by 32 characters video. 22 graphic symbols available. Reverse video characters available. Built in cassette interface. Automatic repeat on space bar, insert, delete and cursor control keys. Programmable slow mode(!) and fast mode. 8 K basic in ROM. 42 rubber keys (ZX-81 look-alike). Made in Hong Kong circa 1982. Click here for a nice pic of the original package!

Kindly donated by Niklas Wallin

With 48k RAM, 18k ROM and a 6502A processor the Oric-1 was a perfect hobby computer. A "near real" keyboard with 57 keys. It could display 8 foreground and 8 background colors at the same time, 32x24 Chars. Built in loudspeaker, storage on external cassette player.

Kindly donated by Harri Ahola

The 700 series from Sharp was equipped differently, the 721 had a cassette deck, MZ-731 had also a build in four color plotter. The 711 was the "naked" version without cassette deck and printer. It is a Z80A ( LH-0080) machine running at 4 MHz with 64 k RAM and 4 k ROM. No basic included. Text display is 40 x 24 characters 16 colors.

This computer kindly donated by Håkan Willhemsson

The Spectravideo had a Z80 CPU running at 3.6 MHz, 32 K RAM and 48 K BASIC ROM. This computer uses a external PAL-RF converter to be able to use a color television for displaying 40 x 25 characters in 16 colors. A real nice qwerty-keyboard with "real" keys and a cartridge slot on top. She Swedish version had a special cartridge for the national Swedish characters. A cassette deck is used for storage like most home computers at this time.

This computer kindly donated by Lennart Jonsson

Click here for a special page about the Spectravideo

Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer (USA 1980)

TRS-80 Computers came in many different shapes and models, this is the "Color Computer" ("Co-Co" for short) introduced in 1980 in USA. Retail price $399. It has a Motorola 6809E CPU and 4K RAM. A color television should be used as display 192 x 128 pix or 32 x 16 char for text, 4 colors. Built in BASIC in ROM. An Extended Basic version was soon released. Cassett deck for storage.

Kindly donated by Anders Gratorp

Not easy to decide if I should put the Compis in the home or office wing. This Swedish computer was developed for schools only and not homes or offices. Well, I put it in the home wing! Can you believe that Swedish authorities started a project to develop a special computer for schools? A computer with a special operating system (CP/M-86) and a odd microprocessor (Intel 80186) and special variants of the programming languages Pascal and Comal never found outside schools! What where they thinking?

This computer kindly donated by Pär Bertilsson