The Robotron KC 87, fully known as the Kleincomputer robotron KC 87 (''KC'' standing for ''Kleincomputer'', lit. "small computer"), was an
8-bit
In computer architecture, 8-bit integers or other data units are those that are 8 bits wide (1 octet). Also, 8-bit central processing unit (CPU) and arithmetic logic unit (ALU) architectures are those that are based on registers or data buses of ...
home computer released in 1986 and produced in
East Germany
East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (GDR; german: Deutsche Demokratische Republik, , DDR, ), was a country that existed from its creation on 7 October 1949 until its dissolution on 3 October 1990. In these years the state ...
by the
VEB VEB may stand for:
* Venturing and Emerging Brands, a division of Coca-Cola
* Virtual business
* Venezuelan , currency of Venezuela between 1879 and 2007, ISO 4217 code VEB
* ' (German for "People-owned enterprise"), a state-owned workplace or est ...
Robotron-Meßelektronik "Otto Schön"
Dresden
Dresden (, ; Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; wen, label=Upper Sorbian, Drježdźany) is the capital city of the German state of Saxony and its second most populous city, after Leipzig. It is the 12th most populous city of Germany, the fourth ...
, part of the
Kombinat
Combine (russian: Комбинат) is a term for industrial business groups, conglomerates or trusts in the former socialist countries. Examples include VEB Kombinat Robotron, an electronics manufacturer, and IFA, a manufacturer of vehicl ...
Robotron.
The first model in the series, the Robotron Z 9001, was introduced in 1984 and renamed Robotron KC 85/1 in 1985. Despite similar names, the Robotron home computers were not directly related to the
KC 85
The KC 85 ('KC' meaning "Kleincomputer", or "small computer") were models of microcomputers built in East Germany, first in 1984 by VEB Robotron (the KC 85/1) and later by VEB Mikroelektronik " Wilhelm Pieck" Mühlhausen (KC 85/2, KC 85/3 and ...
series produced by the
VEB Mikroelektronik "
Wilhelm Pieck
Friedrich Wilhelm Reinhold Pieck (; 3 January 1876 – 7 September 1960) was a German communist politician who served as the chairman of the Socialist Unity Party from 1946 to 1950 and as president of the German Democratic Republic from 1949 t ...
"
Mühlhausen
Mühlhausen () is a city in the north-west of Thuringia, Germany, north of Niederdorla, the country's geographical centre, north-west of Erfurt, east of Kassel and south-east of Göttingen.
Mühlhausen was first mentioned in 967 and ...
.
The availability of the Robotron KC series for private customers was very limited. The computers were mostly used at educational institutions, organizations, and enterprises. Therefore, the
extracurricular
An extracurricular activity (ECA) or extra academic activity (EAA) or cultural activities is an activity, performed by students, that falls outside the realm of the normal curriculum of school, college or university education. Such activities a ...
use of home computers was often allowed for students at institutions and organizations.
Design
The Robotron KC series used an
U880
The U880 is an 8-bit microprocessor that was manufactured by VEB Mikroelektronik "Karl Marx" Erfurt (abbreviated as MME; part of Kombinat Mikroelektronik Erfurt) in the German Democratic Republic. Production of the U880 started in 1980 at VEB F ...
microprocessor
A microprocessor is a computer processor where the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit, or a small number of integrated circuits. The microprocessor contains the arithmetic, logic, and control circu ...
, a clone of the
Zilog Z80
The Z80 is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit microprocessor introduced by Zilog as the startup company's first product. The Z80 was conceived by Federico Faggin in late 1974 and developed by him and his 11 employees starting in early 1975. The first wor ...
, which was clocked at 2.5 MHz. The keyboard was integrated into every machine. Software could be loaded from
cassette tapes; a separate
cassette deck
A cassette deck is a type of tape machine for playing and recording audio cassettes that does not have a built-in power amplifier or speakers, and serves primarily as a transport. It can be a part of an automotive entertainment system, a part of a ...
was needed for doing so. All models featured module slots for up to four expansion modules, which allowed expansion of the hardware, such as by upgrading the
RAM
Ram, ram, or RAM may refer to:
Animals
* A male sheep
* Ram cichlid, a freshwater tropical fish
People
* Ram (given name)
* Ram (surname)
* Ram (director) (Ramsubramaniam), an Indian Tamil film director
* RAM (musician) (born 1974), Dutch
...
or allowing it to connect to a
printer, but also included
applications
Application may refer to:
Mathematics and computing
* Application software, computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks
** Application layer, an abstraction layer that specifies protocols and interface methods used in a c ...
and
programming language
A programming language is a system of notation for writing computer programs. Most programming languages are text-based formal languages, but they may also be graphical. They are a kind of computer language.
The description of a programming l ...
s. The KC 87 had the
BASIC
BASIC (Beginners' All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages designed for ease of use. The original version was created by John G. Kemeny and Thomas E. Kurtz at Dartmouth College ...
interpreter in
ROM
Rom, or ROM may refer to:
Biomechanics and medicine
* Risk of mortality, a medical classification to estimate the likelihood of death for a patient
* Rupture of membranes, a term used during pregnancy to describe a rupture of the amniotic sac
* ...
, (in earlier models, the user had to load it from tape or use a BASIC expansion module). In addition to the home computers, Robotron also offered cassette tapes with applications and
games
A game is a structured form of play, usually undertaken for entertainment or fun, and sometimes used as an educational tool. Many games are also considered to be work (such as professional players of spectator sports or games) or art (su ...
, modules, and other equipment.
File:Z9001 Prototyp.jpg, Robotron Z 9001 prototype
File:Robotron Z9001.jpg, Robotron Z 9001
File:Robotron-KC85-1-5.jpg, Robotron KC 85/1
File:Robotron-KC87-3.jpg, Robotron KC 87 from side view
File:KC85-1 Arbeitsplatz 1.jpg, Running workplace for the Robotron KC 85/1, with cassette deck ''Geracord 6020 Portable'', dot matrix printer ''Robotron K 6313'' and Russian ''Junost-402B'' television set.
See also
*
Robotron Z1013
The MRB Z1013 (german: Mikrorechnerbausatz, links=no, lit=microcomputer kit) was an East German single-board computer produced by VEB Robotron Riesa which was primarily intended for private use and educational institutions. It was powered by a U ...
– A mostly compatible hobbyist kit, available even to private consumers via written order, waiting of one year and then self-pickup from factory outlet.
*
KC 85
The KC 85 ('KC' meaning "Kleincomputer", or "small computer") were models of microcomputers built in East Germany, first in 1984 by VEB Robotron (the KC 85/1) and later by VEB Mikroelektronik " Wilhelm Pieck" Mühlhausen (KC 85/2, KC 85/3 and ...
– A series of mostly compatible computers from a different manufacturer.
*
KC compact
The Amstrad CPC (short for ''Colour Personal Computer'') is a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad between 1984 and 1990. It was designed to compete in the mid-1980s home computer market dominated by the Commodore 64 and the Si ...
– The only pre-assembled home computer made in the GDR aimed at private consumers; not compatible to any of the other KC systems.
References
External links
Robotron KC series at robotrontechnik.de{{in lang, de
Home computers
Products introduced in 1987
1987 in East Germany
Goods manufactured in East Germany
Science and technology in East Germany
Computers designed in Germany