Microdigital Eletrônica Ltda. was an influential
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
ian
computer company in the 1980s, based in
São Paulo
São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for 'Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the Ga ...
.
History
Established in 1981 by the brothers George and Tomas Kovari (whose initials were the TK of the
domestic computers line made by the company), its first product was the ''TK80'', a clone of the
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies.
** Britishness, the British identity and common culture
* British English ...
microcomputer
Sinclair ZX80
The Sinclair ZX80 is a home computer launched on 29 January 1980 by Science of Cambridge Ltd. (later to be better known as Sinclair Research). It is notable for being one of the first computers available in the United Kingdom for less than a ...
.
The company reached its height around 1985, with the launching of the
TK90X (clone of the
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit home computer that was developed by Sinclair Research. It was released in the United Kingdom on 23 April 1982, and became Britain's best-selling microcomputer.
Referred to during development as the ''ZX81 Colou ...
)
and the ''TK-2000 II'', a
personal computer
A personal computer (PC) is a multi-purpose microcomputer whose size, capabilities, and price make it feasible for individual use. Personal computers are intended to be operated directly by an end user, rather than by a computer expert or tech ...
partially compatible (at
Applesoft BASIC
Applesoft BASIC is a dialect of Microsoft BASIC, developed by Marc McDonald and Ric Weiland, supplied with the Apple II series of computers. It supersedes Integer BASIC and is the BASIC in ROM in all Apple II series computers after the origina ...
level) with the
Apple II+
The Apple II (stylized as ) is an 8-bit home computer and one of the world's first highly successful mass-produced microcomputer products. It was designed primarily by Steve Wozniak; Jerry Manock developed the design of Apple II's foam-mold ...
. At this time, it had approximately 400 employees in three plants (two in
São Paulo
São Paulo (, ; Portuguese for 'Saint Paul') is the most populous city in Brazil, and is the capital of the state of São Paulo, the most populous and wealthiest Brazilian state, located in the country's Southeast Region. Listed by the Ga ...
and one in the
Zona Franca
Free economic zones (FEZ), free economic territories (FETs) or free zones (FZ) are a class of special economic zone (SEZ) designated by the trade and commerce administrations of various countries. The term is used to designate areas in which co ...
de
Manaus) and more than 700 peddlers spread for all
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
.
Although the logo of the company is identical to the earlier Microdigital Ltd of the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
the company is not related.
Line of products
A not extensive list of Microdigital's products:
Home computers
* TK80 (1981)
* TK82 (1981)
*
TK82C (1981)
* TK83 (1982)
*
TK85 (1983)
*
TKS800 (1984 - ''
vapourware
In the computer industry, vaporware (or vapourware) is a product, typically computer hardware or software, that is announced to the general public but is late or never actually manufactured nor officially cancelled. Use of the word has broad ...
'')
*
TK90X (1985)
*
TK95 (1986)
Personal computers
* TK 2000 (1984)
* TK-3000 IIe (1986)
* TK-3000 IIe Compact (1987)
* TK EXTended (1987)
* LT 1600 D (?)
* TK Portable (?)
Peripherals
* TK Printer (''
vapourware
In the computer industry, vaporware (or vapourware) is a product, typically computer hardware or software, that is announced to the general public but is late or never actually manufactured nor officially cancelled. Use of the word has broad ...
'')
Video-games
* Onyx (1984)- Colecovision clone, never launched
* Onyx Jr (1985)
Software
Microdigital sold software (almost always pirate copies of foreign programs) through its subsidiary, ''Microsoft''.
Others
* Microdigital Rhythmic 2 Portable Keyboard
References
External links
*
Microdigitalby Chema Matas i
MicroHobby.com*
Electronics companies of Brazil
Defunct computer companies of Brazil
Defunct manufacturing companies of Brazil
Manufacturing companies based in São Paulo
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