TK80

TK80

Manufacturer	Microdigital Eletrônica
Type	Home computer
Release date	Brazil: 1981; 44 years ago (1981)
Introductory price	Cr$ 68,850 (1KB RAM), Cr$ 73,650 (2KB RAM)
Media	Cassette tape
Operating system	4K BASIC
CPU	Z80A @ 3.25 MHz
Memory	1 or 2 KB
Display	Monochrome TV out; 24 lines × 32 characters or 64 × 48 block graphics mode
Backward compatibility	ZX80
Successor	TK82

The TK80 was a home computer produced by Microdigital Eletrônica.[1][2][3][4] A clone of the Sinclair ZX80,[5][6][7] it was introduced along with the TK82 in 1981 during the "I Feira Internacional de Informática". There were two versions, one with 1 KB RAM costing Cr$ 68,850 and another with 2 KB costing Cr$73,650.

In the January 1982 issue of Micro Sistemas magazine, Tomas Roberto Kovari, Microdigital's engineer, stated that the machines were being sold with a photocopied manual, while a printed version was being developed.[8] Kovari estimated a potential market for 10000 machines in Brazil, with expected buyers being novelty seekers, students and self employed professionals.[8]

According to some sources, the TK80 was never commercially produced, with only prototypes existing.[2][9][10]

Specifications

Specifications were similar to the original machine:

• CPU: Z80A @ 3.25 MHz
• Memory: ROM: 4 KiB; RAM: 1 or 2 KiB
• Keyboard: 40 keys membrane keyboard
• Display: 32 × 22 text; 64 × 44 semigraphics
• Expansion: 1 slot
• Outputs: 1 TV out (RF modulator, channel 3); cassette tape recorder audio in/out
• Storage: Cassette tape (300 bauds)

References

1. Martins, Marcelo (2012). "Microdigital". Clube do TK90X (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-01-20.
2. "Directory: /Vintage/Sinclair/80/Clones/Microdigital, Brazil/TK80/". kio's home. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
3. "Historia". Z81 Never Die (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-01-20.
4. Veja, Edições 1090-1094 (in Brazilian Portuguese). Editora Abril. 1989. p. 18.
5. Durán, Miguel. "Microdigital TK 80". El Museo de los 8 Bits (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-01-20.
6. "TK-80". 1000 BiT. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
7. Fücher, Rodolfo (2022-07-16). "Análise: Reserva de mercado tornou indústria nacional de informática um nascedouro de clones". Folha de São Paulo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-01-20.
8. Noronha, Paulo (January 1982). "Simples e baratos, os novos micros pessoais estão chegando". Micro Sistemas (in Portuguese). No. 4. p. 12.
9. Silva, Daniel (2002). "Templo Digital - 8 BITS" (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2004-03-07. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
10. Cardoso, Carlos (2021-09-21). "Adeus Sir Clive Sinclair, obrigado por tudo" [Goodbye Sir Clive Sinclair, thanks for everything]. Meio Bit (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-01-20.