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Info for dai


====== DAI Personal Computer (1978) ======




===== Features =====

* CPU: Intel 8080A 2 MHz
* Co-Processor: AMD 9511 (optional numeric processor)
* RAM: 48 kb
* ROM: 24 kb
* Text Modes: 60 x 24
* Graphic Modes: 72 x 65 / 160 x 130 / 336 x 256 / 512 x 244 (later models) with 4 or 16 colors
* Colors: 16
* Sound: 3 stereo voices + 1 noise generator
* I/O Ports: Parallel port, RGB, RS232c, Bus DCE, Stereo, 6 analogic inputs, Tape (600 bauds), Audio Stereo output
* Keyboard: QWERTY full-stroke keyboard with arrow keys (57 keys)
* OS: CP/M with disk-drive extension
* Built In Language: Basic
* Peripherals: 5" 1/4 disk-drives, Memocom (digital tapes), joysticks, printers, robot arm, arithmetic coprocessor, plotter



===== Usage =====

Currently, MESS supports cassette tapes in .wav format for the DAI, using the "cassette" (cass) device.

== Keyboard ==

This system requires full keyboard emulation to work correctly. At startup, full keyboard emulation mode is enabled by default. Whilst in full keyboard emulation mode, some key associated functionality may be disabled (like the ESC key for EXIT). The keyboard emulation mode is toggled using the "Scroll Lock" key (by default).



===== History and Trivia =====

Rumour says that Texas-Instrument approached Data Applications International (DAI), a Belgium company, to design a personal computer with sound, graphics and colors for the European market, using Texas-Instruments components. But later Texas-Instruments decided to market their own personal computer, the TI-99/4, in Europe, so the "DAI" project was canceled.

Then, the Belgium company decided to market the project under their own brand. The DAI computer was born. At that time, 1980, the DAI specifications were impressive ! The main competitors were the Apple II, the Tandy TRS-80 and the Commodore PETs and CBM series, not computers known for their fantastic sound, colors and graphics...

Sometimes in 1982, the DAI wasn't produced by Data Applications International anymore, but INDATA, another Belgium company, succeeded to them, and sold the DAI under their own brand. The keyboard was then changed, it got colored, and one year later the DAI was equiped with a new enhanced graphic resolution (512x244)!

A lot of peripherals were developed for this computer : a hard disk (8 MB), several floppy disk drives and even a robot !! The DAI can run under CP/M.

//(info from old-computers.com)//



===== Links =====

* F.J. Kraan's DAI pages -- http://www.xs4all.nl/~fjkraan/comp/dai/index.html
* Le ParaDAI (French) -- http://perso.orange.fr/bruno.vivien/DAI/index.htm
* DAI at old-computers.com -- http://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=470




Generated on Sun Jul 19 10:17:28 2009