CCE MC-1000
 | |
| Manufacturer | CCE (Indústria e Comércio de Componentes Eletrônicos) |
|---|---|
| Type | Home computer |
| Release date | 1985 |
| Introductory price | Cr$ 1.1 million |
| Discontinued | 1986 |
| Media | Cassette tape |
| Operating system | BASIC |
| CPU | Zilog Z80A @ 3.57 MHz |
| Memory | 16 KB RAM (expandable to 64 KB) |
| Display | 32×16 text in 8 colors; 128×64, 128×96, 128×192, 256×192 graphics with 2 background and 3 foreground colors |
| Graphics | MC6847 |
| Sound | AY-3-8910 |
| Input | Keyboard |
The MC-1000 Color Computer[1] was a home computer produced in Brazil by CCE (Indústria e Comércio de Componentes Eletrônicos)[2][1] and released in February 1985.[3][4][5][6]
The machine shares some hardware heritage with the GEM 1000/Charlemagne 999 and the Rabbit RX83.[7][8][9][10] Like the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, BASIC commands were typed by pressing a single key.
It was not popular due to outdated technical specifications and lack of compatibility with established 8-bit systems of the time.[11]
History
The GEM 1000 Junior Computer, also known as Charlemagne 999 in Belgium and sold by Vidéo Direct International (VDI),[7][12] was a low cost toy home computer for children from 5 years upwards, produced by Taiwan based Gem International Corporation and introduced in 1983.[13] 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.[14][15]
The GEM 1000 had 16 KB of RAM. BASIC commands were typed by pressing a single key using a dialect similar to Applesoft BASIC.[13] The Charlemagne 999 used French instead of English keywords.[7]
The Rabbit RX83, produced by Rabbit Computers of Hong Kong 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. It was launched at the 1983 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show with a price of just US$99.[16][17][18]
The MC-1000 Color Computer was similar to these machines but released years later in 1985,[13][9][10][19] when the Brazilian market was already saturated with cheap machines offering similar features. As such, it did not attract much attention even though it was touted as a "Brazilian computer".
The fact that it was not a clone of popular 8-bit systems (like the Apple, TRS-80 or the Sinclair Spectrum) did not contribute to its popularity.[11] In addition to poor design and having a chiclet keyboard, the MC-1000 had only 16 KB of RAM which was small by the standards of the time.
The machine was commercialized up to 1986.[10]
Technical specifications
- CPU: Zilog Z80A, 3.57 MHz[2]
- Memory: 16 KB RAM expandable to 64 KB; 8 KB ROM; up-to 6 KB VRAM[2]
- Keyboard: 50-key rubber Chiclet keyboard
- Display: Motorola MC6847[20] (32×16 text in 8 colors; 128×64, 128×96, 128×192, 256×192 graphics with 2 background and 3 foreground colors)
- Sound: AY-3-8910[20] (3 voices and white noise)
- Ports: cassette recorder interface (1200 bit/s), TV output connector, joystick
Emulation
Like similar early home computers, the MC-1000 Color Computer can be emulated on modern machines.[21][22]
Video games
10 games are known to exist for CCE MC-1000, all released in Brazil.[23]
- Aventura
- Batalha Aeronaval
- Batalha de Matemática
- Guerra de Robos
- Invasores do Espaço
- Jipe de Guerra
- Jogo da Forca I
- Jogo da Forca II
- Jogo de Memória
- Othello
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 MC1000 Manual de Instruções e BASIC. CCE - Divisão de Informática LTDA. 1985.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "MC-1000". 1000 BiT. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ↑ "CCE lança mais um microcomputador doméstico". Folha de São Paulo (Caderno de Informática). October 31, 1984. p. 31.
- ↑ "Micro CCE nas lojas". Folha de S.Paulo (Caderno de Informática). March 6, 1985.
- ↑ da Costa, Emerson José Silveira. "CCE MC1000". Retrieved 2016-03-05.
- ↑ "CCE a Todo Vapor". Revista Micro Sistemas. March 25, 1985. p. 25.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Silicium : Avis de recherche 1". silicium.org. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ↑ Rabbit Computer (1983). Rabbit Computer RX83 Flyer from Summer 1983 CES.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "MC 1000 CCE". www.old-computers.com. Archived from the original on 2010-06-06. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "CCE". Revista Micro Sistemas. August 1986. p. 33.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "CCE MC 1000–1985". GamePlayerSpecial. Archived from the original on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
- ↑ "Charlemagne". Vidéo7. August 1983.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "GEM 1000 Junior Computer / Charlemagne 999". Old computers. Archived from the original on 2010-06-05. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
- ↑ "Computer Models Database". EPOCALC.
- ↑ "Le docteur grant, un janus Belge..." Votre Ordinateur. No. 4. March 1984. p. 86.
- ↑ Ahl, David H. (September 1983). "1983 Summer Consumer Electronics Show". Creative Computing. Vol. 9, no. 9. p. 202.
- ↑ Rabbit Computer (1983). Rabbit Computer RX83 Flyer from Summer 1983 CES.
- ↑ Garroch, Ken (March 1983). "Wrap-Bit RUN". Personal Computer News. pp. 20, 21, 23.
- ↑ Diário Oficial da União de 9 de fevereiro de 1984. February 9, 1984. pp. Seção I 2005.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Hardware". CCE MC1000. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
- ↑ "BrMC-1000: an MC-1000 emulator in Java by Ricardo Bittencourt". www.ricbit.com. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
- ↑ "jsMC1000 - JavaScript CCE MC-1000 emulator". ensjo.net. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
- ↑ "CCE MC-1000 cassettes". Gaming History - The coin-op and global gaming database. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
