====== MGT Sam Coupé (1989) ======
===== Features =====
* CPU: Zilog Z80B (fully compatible with i8080 and Z80) 6MHz with screen off, 4.5 MHz with screen on can be slowed down to emulate ZX Spectrum
* Co-Processor: Motorola MC 1377P Video Chip, Philips SAA1099 soundchip, ASIC handling graphics
* RAM: 256 kb or 512 kb onboard (depending models), and up to 4Mb with external addons (4.5 Mb total)
* ROM: 32 kb (BASIC, BIOS & disk bootstrap)
* Text Modes: 32 x 24, 85 x 24
* Graphic Modes: 256 x 192, 512 x 192
* Colors: 128 colors
* Sound: Philips SAA1099 soundchip, 6 channels stereo FM synthesis, 8 octaves, 2 noise generators, 2 envelope generators, DAC digital output , sample rate 15.6 kHz. Built-in MIDI interface (in, out, through)
* I/O Ports: RF video output (UHF, channel 36), RGB scart video output, serial / network socket, joystick connector (Atari standard), parallel interface, audio input, audio output
* Keyboard: Full-stroke keyboard, 72 keys, Reset button
* Built In Media: one or two 3.5" ultraslim Citizen Double Density Drives (800 kb), first models had no disk-drives
* OS: SamDOS, CP/M available
* Built In Language: SamBasic
===== History and Trivia =====
In the last quarter of 1989 M.G.T. (Miles Gordon Technology) launched the Sam Coupé. M.G.T. was already known in the ZX Spectrum world for a range of hardware that they sold. The Sam was their pride and joy, and unfortunately to be their downfall.
This was a time when the 16-bit machines, the Atari ST and the Amiga, were really being to take off. Sales in computers such as the Spectrum was in rapid decline. The Sam was aimed to fill this gap, a powerful 8-bit machine with specs that in cases out performed those of the 16-bit machines, at an 8-bit price. It was hoped that current 8-bit owners, particularly Spectrum owners, would jump on the nicely priced Sam rather than a more expensive 16-bit machine.
//(info from old-computers.com)//
===== Links =====
* Land of Pod - SamCoupé pages -- http://www.podboy.demon.co.uk/coupe/index.htm
* Sam Coupé Pro-Dos Resource Site -- http://www.samcoupe-pro-dos.co.uk/
* Sam Coupé Scrapbook -- http://www.samcoupescrapbook.co.uk/
* Blinky's SAM Page -- http://home.wanadoo.nl/edwin.blink/samcoupe/
* Sam Coupé at old-computers.com -- http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=545
===== Other Emulators =====
* SimCoupé -- http://www.simcoupe.org/
* ASCD (DOS) -- http://aley.borec.cz/progs/#sam
* SamCoupé (DOS) -- http://www.inf.upol.cz/~keprta/sam/samemu/welcome.html
Generated on Sun Jul 19 10:17:28 2009