====== Mattel Aquarius (1983) ======
===== Features =====
* CPU: Zilog Z80A 3.5 MHz
* RAM: 4 KB (up to 32 KB), 1,7 KB free for user
* ROM: 8 KB
* Text Modes: 40 chars x 25 lines
* Graphic Modes: 80 x 72 / 320 x 192 dots
* Colors: 16
* Sound: 1 voice (3 voices with the Mini-Expander)
* I/O Ports: Tape, Printer, Bus
* Keyboard: Rubber type. 49 keys
* Built In Language: Specific Microsoft Basic interpreter
* Peripherls: Thermic printer and plotter (1200 bauds), Tape-recorder (600 bauds), Mini-expander addon, RAM expansions (4 KB, 16 KB and 32 KB), Master expansion module & disk-drives (vaporware), Home Computer System
===== Usage =====
==BASIC==
From within the emulation, there are several BASIC command keyboard shortcuts available by pressing control and another key.
CHR$ Ctrl[SPACE]
CLOAD Ctrl[Z]
COPY Ctrl[9]
CSAVE Ctrl[A]
DATA Ctrl[F]
DIM Ctrl[E]
FOR Ctrl[-]
GOSUB Ctrl[7]
GOTO Ctrl[5]
IF Ctrl[3]
INPUT Ctrl[T]
LEFT$ Ctrl[V]
LIST Ctrl[2]
MID$ Ctrl[B]
NEXT Ctrl[=]
ON Ctrl[6]
PEEK Ctrl[;]
POINT Ctrl[L]
POKE Ctrl[']
PRESET Ctrl[K]
PSET Ctrl[J]
READ Ctrl[D]
REM Ctrl[W]
RIGHT$ Ctrl[N]
RETURN Ctrl[8]
RUN Ctrl[1]
STR$ Ctrl[,]
THEN Ctrl[4]
VAL Ctrl[.]
To break/stop a program, press Ctrl[C]
To interrupt the LISTing of a program, press Ctrl[S]
To repeat the entire last line you typed, press Ctrl[R]
To get the machine to beep, press Ctrl[G]
== Keyboard ==
RST 1! 2" 3# 4$ 5% 6& 7' 8( 9) 0? -_ =+
CTL Q W E R T Y U I O P /^ <-`
SHIFT A S D F G H J K L ;@ :*
SPACE Z X C V B N M ,< .> RTN
Note that the BASIC shortcuts listed above were also written above each key, to easier remeber the
correspondent commands.
===== Known Issues =====
Image loading is not currently supported.
===== History and Trivia =====
The Aquarius was Mattel Electronics' (a division of a huge US toy manufacturer) attempt at entering the home computer market. It was a commercial failure, and was frequently found in bargain bins in toy stores for many years following.
When the Intellivision Keyboard Component project was canceled, Mattel searched in a hurry to produce a small and cheap computer. They contacted Radofin Electronics Far East, based in Honk-Kong, who was manufacturing most of the Intellivision products. Radofin had just
developped a line of three Z80 based computers. Mattel decided to sell the two first under their brand. The Aquarius 1 and 2 were born.
The Mattel Aquarius used a special version of the Microsoft Basic. When used with Basic, only 1.7 KB remained available.
There were no redefinable characters, but 256 predefined chars were available: 128 ASCII (numerals, upper and lower case alphabet, punctuation, symbols) and 128 graphic patterns. That was the only "graphical" features of the Aquarius !
Unfortunately the specifications were so poor for a 1983 computer, that the Aquarius 1 litteraly bombed. Three months after its release, Mattel decided to cancel the project and to sell back the rights and stocks to Radofin.
Radofin continued to sell Aquarius 1 & 2 under its own name, but without success...
Cool addons were developped for the Aquarius, but never made it to the shelves (apparently). There were a Master Expansion Module equipped with disk-drives and expansion slots for future add-ons. It even offered the CP/M compatibility!
Another sympathetic extension was the Home Computer System Command Console which allowed the Aquarius to directly control up to 255 electric devices. But when the computer was connected to this extension, it couldn't be used for anything else!
There were also a Modem planned and Mattel even announced network services for games and programs downloads...
//(info from old-computers.com)//
===== Links =====
* Blue Sky Rangers' site -- http://www.intellivisionlives.com/
* Mattel Aquarius homecomputer -- http://www.vdsteenoven.com/aquarius/
* Mattel Aquarius at old-computers.com -- http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=73
===== Other Emulators =====
* AqEmu -- http://www.classicgaming.com/aqemu/aqemu.htm
* Virtual Aquarius -- http://www.geocities.com/emucompboy/
Generated on Sun Jul 19 10:17:28 2009