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Our today's historical page is devoted to the amazing MOS KIM-1 computer. One can argue about whether it is a computer at all. In the modern view is not exactly. In the classical sense of the computer, as an "electronic computer" - yes. And electronic and can calculate. Therefore, we will consider the computer for convenience. By its capabilities, it has little to do with the device on which you can drive "cool toys". What is there, the most simple and cheap modern smartphone will easily shut it up with a belt. However, the MOS KIM-1 has one feature that makes it the ancestor of your fashionable smartphone ...
Pretty lyrics! Go to the technical details. Introduced in 1976, the MOS KIM-1 computer cost $ 245. The modest price for those times was due to not less modest characteristics. Modest, even for those distant years. It was based on the MOS 6502 processor, the clock frequency of which was only 1 MHz. The operational memory "hit the imagination" and was 1024 bytes. Yes, yes, you have read it right and there is no mistake here: just one kilobyte! Audio tapes could be used as a storage medium. The tape recorder was not supplied. Among other things, experts assure that this is the first in the history of a computer on a single board.
Directly on the motherboard (it is also a kind of "system unit") its six-digit liquid crystal display was located. Of the ports, only a 30-bit connector was available. It can be considered a "port". A kind of "operating system" was directly machine code, which was introduced using (on the same board located) hexadecimal keyboard. Those of our readers who are over thirty will find a lot in common between MOS KIM-1 and the assortment of Young Technician stores. Not a computer, but a dream of a skilled electronic engineer!
And, nevertheless, this microcomputer played a role in the history of high technologies, being the ancestor of a whole family of 6502 microprocessor-based systems. Decipher the abbreviation KIM-1 to begin with and find out that it is “Keyboard Input Monitor”. A beautiful translation will not work. It meant something like: output from the keyboard to the monitor, or, perhaps even more precisely, “a monitor controlled from the keyboard”. Pay attention to what was proudly called the “monitor” in 1976 and try to imagine how one of your favorite games would look on it if it were even possible. But, if technology imposes limitations, then fantasy is limitless.
In fact, we do not even have a machine for office or home use, but a kind of model with which MOS Technology wanted to show the world (and, above all, computer industry specialists) the capabilities of its invention, the microprocessor 6502.
MOS employees were pleasantly surprised by the popularity that their “test” product gained among enthusiasts. Yes, only an enthusiast could pay attention to such a device. MOS KIM-1 had quite a few users and many programs were created for it (in its time) programs (the word “application” did not come into use at that time, the programs had nothing to add in the absence of graphical operating systems). This computer had only one kilobyte of RAM, there was no rewritable read-only memory. The monitor was of high quality, but very small.
MOS KIM-1 was the only motherboard without a case and a power supply. All this had to be taken care of by the user himself. In university laboratories, this simple system was used to monitor the progress of experiments and data processing. Another computer for owners of skilled hands and numerous technical talents.
A standard teletype could be connected to it, which was also called a teleprinter or a telegraph printing apparatus. Yes, dear readers, all this was still in those times when the telegram was considered the fastest way to convey your message to the addressee. A power of 20 milliamps (or 60 milliamps) was maintained. In the seventies of the last century, these were all standard means of communication. Thus, with all its (not delightful) characteristics, the MOS KIM-1 could act not only as a computing, but also as a communication device. And it makes him the most powerful and relevant tablets of today.
Through the serial port you could connect an ASCII text terminal or even a video monitor. The storage of information could be not only a tape cassette, but also a paper tape, for which a special reader was used. Another technology that has no place today, moreover, it was already forgotten so thoroughly that not every programmer remembers what it is, why and when it was used. So, the paper carrier sometimes was digital, at least at first.
In the end, MOS Technologies was bought by the legendary Commodore and soon the good old KIM-1 appeared under the updated name, with the addition of the name Commodore. Please note that the color of the board itself has changed somewhat.
Our next meeting with the digital past of the planet has come to an end. The pages of computer chronicles have not yet had time to be covered with the dust of centuries, but even today they can cause no less admiration than those magnificent creations of human hands, which were renowned for Antiquity and the Renaissance.
Source: Oldcomputers.net
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