# facts | The history of the creation of computers Ohio Scientific

Long before the advent of the legendary Windows 95, Microsoft had already become famous for its version of the BASIC programming language for outlandish personal computers in those days. He played the role of the operating system in some microcomputers of those days. We will talk about one of these computers today.

Among those released in 1978 was Ohio Scientific . Very inexpensive and extremely compact, which marked the beginning of a whole family of computers. Today, there is little to use such a device. But then he was considered an important milestone on the way to creating a mass PC. This year was quite productive in terms of the release of new microcomputers. Recently reviewed Exidy Sorcerer appeared in the same 1978 year.

The most powerful computer on the planet

There were several modifications of Ohio Scientific. First, we give the technical characteristics of the base model Superboard II (Model 600). It cost only $ 279 already assembled. Today the fact that the computer is already ready to use out of the box is nothing special, but then they were often sold as assembly kits.

Ohio Scientific was based on a 6502 processor and possessed four kilobytes of static random access memory (RAM) that can be expanded up to eight kilobytes. Display support: composite (analog) video. Resolution: 30 x 30 (text). Ports: for cassette recorder and video. Tape acted tape recorder. Software platforms were Microsoft BASIC in read-only memory (ROM, ROM) and Monitor.

Thanks to the large integrated circuits of its own design, Ohio Scientific managed to create an inexpensive and sufficiently powerful computer, all of whose interfaces (including the keyboard and power supply) were located on a single printed circuit board. The Ohio Scientific configuration, priced at $ 2,000, was comparable in performance to computers of the early 1970s, which cost over $ 20,000.

Of course, the low price of this computer greatly increased depending on the configuration of the computer with additional modules. By the end of 1978, Ohio Scientific (OSI) offered a huge variety of computer models, which we briefly consider.

Challenger I Series . Computers of this line were designed for students, home use and just lovers to tinker with a device that was new at the time:

• Superboard II. The first computer in the world in which everything is assembled on a single board, including a keyboard, interfaces for connecting a display, a cassette recorder and a ROM (in which the BASIC was located). The RAM was 4 kilobytes and expanded to 8 kilobytes. Price: $ 279
• C-1P. Superboard II in case and with power supply. RAM: 4 kilobytes. Price: $ 349
• C-1P MF. C-1P with 16 kilobytes of RAM and a drive for mini-diskettes. Price: 1 thousand 190 US dollars

Challenger II Series . High-performance computers for personal use, education, research and small business:

• C2-4P. It was similar to the C-1P, but with a standard 48-pin bus and support for a screen resolution of 64 x 32. RAM: 4 kilobytes. Price: $ 598
• C2-4P MF. C2-4P with 16 kilobytes of RAM and a drive for mini-diskettes. Price: 1 thousand 464 US dollars
• C2-8P. Similar to C2-4P. Notable for eight expansion slots and a separate keyboard. RAM: 4 kilobytes. Price: $ 799
• C2-8P DF. C2-8P with two drives for eight inch floppy disks. RAM: 32 kilobytes. Price: 2 thousand 597 US dollars
• C2-0. Serial version without keyboard and video card. RAM: 4 kilobytes. Price: $ 298

Challenger III Series . A line of three-processor computers amazing for their days, intended for the needs of business, education, science and industry:

• C3-S1. Three processors (6502, 6800, Z-80); two drives for eight-inch floppy disks and two cases. RAM: 32 kilobytes. Price: 3 thousand 590 US dollars
• C3-OEM. Similar to the C3-S1, but all in one package. RAM: 32 kilobytes. Price: 3 thousand 590 US dollars
• C3-A. Two drives for floppy disks; 16 slots on the motherboard; hardware rack. RAM: 48 kilobytes. Price: 5 thousand 90 US dollars
• C3-B. It was similar to the C3-A, but was packaged with a 74 megabyte hard drive. He was called "the most powerful microcomputer in the world." RAM: 48 kilobytes. Price: 11 thousand 90 US dollars
• C3-C. Similar to the C3-A, but was equipped with a 24-megabyte hard drive. RAM: 48 kilobytes. The price of this computer did not save history

Ohio Scientific Challenger 4P Professional Computers

The line of professional computers had advanced features. The portable computer from this line was characterized by twice the increased (compared to Superboard II) monitor resolution: 64 x 32 characters; 16-color palette; graphics; audio output; a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for creating sound and music; the ability to connect an additional small keyboard (keypad) and joystick. Supported remote control.

These computers had: 4-slot bus (in the base model there were 2 slots); 8-kilobyte ROM containing basic; 8 kilobytes of static RAM and an interface for connecting a cassette recorder. Static RAM could be increased to 32 kilobytes. It was possible to install two drives for mini-diskettes.

This miracle of high technology in 1979 cost the buyer $ 698.

The simpler model of the professional Challenger 4P line was based on two cards: OSI 502 (central processor) and OSI 540 (video card).

Challenger 4PMF contained: OSI 505 (central processing unit); OSI 527 (memory); OSI 540 (video) and A13 (disk connector).

Both models contained: OSI 542 (keyboard) and A15 (input and output panel).

The increased amount of computer memory in those years led to a significant increase in the cost of a computer. Our readers already know about the most important role played by computer memory. They are also aware of how the limitations imposed by memory are overcome.

Adapted from oldcomputers.net

The article is based on materials https://hi-news.ru/computers/fakty-istoriya-sozdaniya-kompyuterov-ohio-scientific.html.