Engineering:GEM 1000
| Also known as | Charlemagne 999 |
|---|---|
| Developer | GEM International Corporation |
| Type | Computer |
| Release date | Script error: No such module "Date time". |
| Operating system | BASIC |
| CPU | Zilog Z80A @ 3.57 MHz |
| Memory | 16 KB |
| Removable storage | Cassette tape |
| Display | 32×16 text in 8 colors; 128×64, 128×96, 128×192, 256×192 graphics with 2 background and 3 foreground colors |
| Graphics | MC6847P |
| Sound | AY-3-8910 |
| Input | 50 key QWERTY keyboard |
| Marketing target | Children |
| Related | CCE MC-1000, Rabbit RX83 |
The GEM 1000 Junior Computer, also known as Charlemagne 999, was a 1983 microcomputer sold in Belgium by Vidéo Direct International (VDI).[1][2][3][4] It was a low cost toy home computer for children from 5 years upwards,[2] produced by Taiwan based GEM International Corporation.[3] It was part of a family consisting of the GEM-2000 Family Mini-Computer, GEM-3000 Family Super Computer and the GEM-4000 Professional Computer.[5][4]
The GEM 1000 used a Z80A CPU running at 3.57 MHz, had 16 KB of RAM, and a chiclet 50 key QWERTY keyboard.[3] BASIC commands were typed by pressing a single key using a dialect similar to Applesoft BASIC.[3] The Charlemagne 999 model used French instead of English keywords.[1]
The computer had a reported price of 7000 BEF in early 1984.[4]
Related machines
A similar machine, the Rabbit RX83 produced by Rabbit Computers of Hong Kong, was launched at the 1983 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show with a price of just US$99.[6][7][8] Nevertheless the Rabbit only had 2 KB of RAM, limiting the display to 32×16 characters in 8 colors or 128×64 graphics with 2 background and 3 foreground colors.
Another computer based on the GEM 1000 was the Brazilian CCE MC-1000.[3][9][10][11]
Technical specifications
- CPU: Zilog Z80A, 3.57 MHz[3]
- Memory: 16 KB RAM expandable to 64 KB; 8 KB ROM;[3]
- Keyboard: 50-key chiclet keyboard[3]
- Display: Motorola MC6847P (32×16 text in 8 colors; 128×64, 128×96, 128×192, 256×192 graphics with 2 background and 3 foreground colors)[3]
- Sound: AY-3-8910 (3 voices and white noise)[3]
- Ports: cassette recorder interface, TV output connector, joystick[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Silicium : Avis de recherche 1". http://silicium.org/oldskool/wanted.htm.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Charlemagne". Vidéo7. August 1983. https://oldskool.silicium.org/images/wanted/charlemagnepub.jpg.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 "GEM 1000 Junior Computer / Charlemagne 999". Old computers. http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=420. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "Le docteur grant, un janus Belge...". Votre Ordinateur (4): pp. 86. March 1984. https://archive.org/details/VotreOrdinateur04/page/n85/mode/1up.
- ↑ "Computer Models Database". http://www.epocalc.net/php/liste_models.php?nom=O&nocomp=pc.
- ↑ Ahl, David H. (September 1983). "1983 Summer Consumer Electronics Show". Creative Computing 9 (9): pp. 202. https://archive.org/details/creativecomputing-1983-09/page/n205/mode/1up.
- ↑ Rabbit Computer (1983) (in English). Rabbit Computer RX83 Flyer from Summer 1983 CES. https://archive.org/details/RabbitComputerRX83FlyerfromSummer1983CES.
- ↑ Garroch, Ken (March 1983). "Wrap-Bit RUN". Personal Computer News: pp. 20, 21, 23. https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerNews/PersonalComputerNews058-21Apr1984/page/n21/mode/1up.
- ↑ "MC 1000 CCE". https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=331.
- ↑ "CCE". Revista Micro Sistemas: pp. 33. August 1986. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/sXDuc8mdMmS_pyCDw4cPGjx6lk4V6GLST6V1e1DTAufc3W4p1G6Ekgy6PmgiwIUuMELkppgDsPztW_uTaHAU1x6bHv7MM7_6GCsYF7eXSZd1kuIOzWRfUojypCO9WKZn3A=w1280.
- ↑ Diário Oficial da União de 9 de fevereiro de 1984. February 9, 1984. pp. Seção I 2005. https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Isnv7gNxyRhQTQEIycsSVBoFhChtc2oY-xdl6vysNiptc1X-ALKwOvBCtX8LqurebVK989tuScRldRUdzgAUzZGAav9PCzSiWel9Sw7lVqnXWzoXKdR6-T8gg8vWeWuUQQ=w1280.
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