View source for Videoton TV-Computer

{{Short description|1980s Hungarian home computer}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name          = TV-Computer
| title         =
| aka           = TVC
| logo          =
| image         = Videoton TVC 01.JPG
| caption       = A Videoton TVC home computer main unit and power supply
| developer     = [[Videoton (company)|Videoton]]
| manufacturer  = [[Videoton (company)|Videoton]]<ref>[http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/computer.asp?st=1&c=39 Videoton TV-Computer], Old-Computers.com Museum {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314001001/http://www.old-computers.com/MUSEUM/computer.asp?st=1&c=39|date=2017-03-14}}</ref><ref>[http://www.m-e-g-a.org/lost-gems-videoton-tvc/ Videoton TVC (TV-Computer) from 1983], MEGA – Museum of Electronic Games & Art<!--The rare and beautiful "TV-Computer" was built by Hungarian company [[Videoton (company)|Videoton]] in 1983. It is a licensed and modified version of the also not-so-popular Enterprise 64. The first version, pictured below, has 32 [[kilobyte]s of [[random access meory|RAM ]]and was built just 3000 times. This one came with an even more rare 32 KB RAM extension, the most beautiful looking expansion we have seen on an [[8-bit]] machine. In addition to this one, which is working great, we are proud to add the second model (64 KB, 9000 units built) to the MEGA archive.--></ref>
| family        =
| type          = [[home computer]]
| generation    =
| releasedate   = around {{Start date|1986}}
| lifespan      =
| price         =
| discontinued  =
| unitssold     = around 12000
| unitsshipped  =
| media         =
| os            = TVC OS, UPM, [[BASIC programming language|BASIC]]
| power         =
| soc           =
| cpu           = [[Zilog Z80]] compatible
| memory        = 32/64 kilobytes
| storage       =
| memory card   =
| display       = 
| graphics      = 128×240/16 colors,<br />256×240/4 colors,<br />512×240/2 colors (b&w)
| sound         =
| input         =
| controllers   =
| camera        =
| touchpad      =
| connectivity  =
| platform      =
| service       =
| dimensions    =
| weight        =
| topgame       =
| compatibility =
| predecessor   =
| successor     =
| related       =
| website       = <!--{{URL|example.org}}-->
}}
The '''TV-Computer''' (or '''TVC''' in short) is an 8-bit [[home computer]] which was manufactured by the [[Hungary|Hungarian]] company [[Videoton (company)|Videoton]] around 1986. The computer was based on the [[Enterprise (computer)|Enterprise]] and had a built-in [[BASIC programming language|BASIC]] interpreter. Programs could be loaded via [[cassette tape|tape]]<ref>[https://code.google.com/archive/p/tvc-tape/ Videoton TV Computer Tape File Converter], Google code</ref> or floppy. It had a built-in joystick and a keyboard with Hungarian letters and nine [[function keys]].

There are three different models of the TVC:
* '''32k''' which has 32 [[kilobyte|KB]] of [[random access memory|RAM]]
* '''64k''' which has 64 KB of RAM
* '''64k+''' which has 64 KB of RAM and a newer [[BASIC interpreter]] (v2.2) and more [[video RAM]] (64 Kb instead of 16 KB)

The TVC has three graphical modes: 128×240/16 colors, 256×240/4 colors, and 512×240/2 colors (black and white). There was no text mode, only graphical. This made the computer a bit slow and smooth scrolling is pretty challenging (though there are examples for vertical and horizontal scrolling games nowadays).

Few programs existed for the computer. Many of these were written by dedicated amateurs and were distributed by mail.

It has two tape ports, one A/V, one [[RGB monitor]], one [[RF connector]], one [[IEEE 1284|Centronics]] printer port, one side (for program-modules - game cartridges) and four upper (computer internals are almost exposed) expansion ports and two joystick ports (compatible with [[Atari CX40 joystick|Atari-style joysticks]], but may have two buttons).

The four upper expansion ports made this computer very versatile. The official floppy solution was connected to one of these ports, the [[RS232]] card also was plugged here. The classroom [[network card]] also used this port, the planned game card (with [[sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]] capabilities) also would have used this port - unfortunately there are only some pictures about the prototype module and some documents mention it. Even a SID card was created, using a [[SID chip]] to enhance the TVC sound capabilities.

Current enhancements using these ports are: [[Secure Digital|SD]] card reader, sound card (with 3 different sound chips), game card (+2 joystick ports +[[SN76489]] sound chip + 4 built-in games), [[HDMI]] output with several [[FPGA]] cores (ofc including TVC), [[USB]]/[[PS/2 port|PS2]] mouse handling (and an unreleased gamecard with SID and sprite support) and many more. 

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Home computers]]
[[Category:Science and technology in Hungary]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1986]]