CompuMate
{{short description|Home computer peripheral}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = CompuMate SV010
| title =
| logo =
| image = Atari 2600 Compumate.jpg
| caption = Atari 2600 Junior with the 'UNIVERSUM Heimcomputer' German clone of the CompuMate
| developer =
| manufacturer = Spectravideo[https://books.google.com/books?id=PETCVTz_lwUC&dq=program+spectravideo+compumate&pg=PA166 Video games into computers:Spectravideo], By Myron Berger, Page 166, Popular Science, Oct 1983
| family =
| type =
| generation =
| releasedate = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1983|01|06}}{{Cite web |url=http://home1.swipnet.se/~w-16418/hardware_sv010.htm |title=Spectravideo CompuMate |access-date=11 December 2015 |archive-date=8 February 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020208024111/http://home1.swipnet.se/~w-16418/hardware_sv010.htm |url-status=bot: unknown }}
| lifespan =
| price = {{nowrap|79.99 US$}} {{nowrap|(today ${{Inflation|US|79.99|1983|r=2}})}}{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20151222120457/http://www.2600connection.com/articles/longevity/longevity.html CompuMate (SpectraVideo)]}}, Part of the Secret to the VCS's Longevity, By Scott Stilphen, 2600 Connection
| discontinued =
| unitssold =
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| media =
| os = Microsoft BASIC{{dead link|date=November 2023}}
| power =
| soc =
| cpu = Uses the base machine's MOS 6507 @ 1.19 MHz (Inside Atari VCS/2600/2600jr)
| memory = 2K built-in RAM, 16K built-in ROM[http://blog.kevtris.org/blogfiles/Atari%202600%20Mappers.txt Atari 2600 peripherals: Spectravideo Compumate], Mostly Inclusive Atari 2600 Mapper / Selected Hardware Document, 2012-04-03, Kevin Horton aka kevtris, Version 1.00
| storage = via audio jack on tape
| memory card =
| display = 10 lines × 12 characters
| graphics = 40x40 pixels with 10 selectable colors
| sound =
| input = 42-key Sensor Touch Keyboard, (2x) 9-pin sub-D connector, game cartridge connector, earphone mini-jack, microphone mini-jack
| controllers =
| camera =
| touchpad =
| connectivity =
| platform =
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| dimensions = 13-1/2"W x 6"D x 1-1/2"H (W 343mm x D 152mm x H 38mm)
| weight =
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The CompuMate SV010 was a home computer peripheral manufactured by Spectravideo International for the Atari 2600 home video game console. It was released on 6 January 1983 at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.[http://www.geekvintage.com/atari-2600-compumate-keyboard.php Atari 2600 Spectravideo Compumate Keyboard] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210220146/http://www.geekvintage.com/atari-2600-compumate-keyboard.php |date=10 December 2015 }}, Geek Vintage[http://www.samdal.com/svhistory.htm The history of Spectravideo], By Roger Samdal[http://www.atarihq.com/museum/2678/hardware/compmate.html Spectravideo CompuMate], AGH Museum
File:UNIVERSUM Computertastatur fuer Atari Videospiel 2600 Seite rechts.jpg
File:UNIVERSUM Computertastatur fuer Atari Videospiel 2600 Frontansicht.jpg
In Germany, the CompuMate was marketed by Quelle, a catalogue company, as the Universum Heimcomputer. In Brazil (circa 1985), at least two clones of CompuMate were made: the Dactar-Comp by Milmar Electronics, and the CompuGame.[http://www.atari.com.br/historia/index.html A history of Atari in Brazil].
Hardware
The ComputeMate consists of a membrane keyboard, output interfaces, and read-only internal storage. It connects to the console's module slot and to both controller ports. The user could optionally place the ComputeMate on top of the console—although not when used with the Atari 2600 Jr. model.[http://gamesmuseum.pixesthesia.com/history/gen2/2600/2600comp.html How to Turn Your Atari Into a Computer(For Less Than $90)], by Martin Bass, Appeared in the August/September 1983 issue of "Video Games Player"
The CompuMate has a 3.5-mm phone connector in order to connect a Compact Cassette unit for non-volatile data storage. Its read-only memory is preinstalled with three computer programs.
PAL and NTSC versions of the CompuMate were manufactured.[http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-compumate_16722.html PAL version], CompuMate[http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-compumate_19587.html NTSC version], CompuMate
Software
The CompuMate has three simple computer programs in its internal read-only memory:[http://battleofthebits.org/lyceum/View/CompuMate/ CompuMate], Battle of the Bits Lyceum
- Magic Easel, a drawing and animation program with a 40×40-pixel canvas and 10 selectable colors. It can animate up to nine frames in a repeating loop. It has two demonstration pictures: a world map and a snowman.[http://weltenschule.de/vgames/Cmpumate.txt Subject: Compumate - the REAL "Music Machine"! (was "What's a Spectravideo Compumate keyboard for?"], Date: Mon, 24 Mar 1997, From: christian-oliver windler, Newsgroups: rec.games.video.classic
- Music Composer, a software synthesizer with four demonstration songs: "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", "Long, Long Ago", "Jingle Bells", and "My Bonnie".
- BASIC editor and interpreter[https://web.archive.org/web/20040123023347/http://www.mindspring.com/~sidartha/Basic%20and%20Compumate%20Programming.htm SongMate (SF-984)]
Spectravideo only published two programs for the CompuMate on Compact Cassette, PictureMate (1983) and SongMate (1983).[http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-picturemate_21006.html PictureMate (SF-985)]
See also
- BASIC Programming cartridge for the Atari 2600
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.oldcomputers.net/spectravideo-compumate.html Spectravideo CompuMate], Oldcomputers.net
- [http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-2600-vcs-compumate_16722.html Atari 2600 VCS CompuMate], scans of instructions
- {{YouTube|qq9-2_qfTXM|Atari 2600 SpectraVideo CompuMate - Demo}}
- {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040123023347/http://www.mindspring.com/~sidartha/Basic%20and%20Compumate%20Programming.htm |date=January 23, 2004 |title=Compumate FAQ:BASIC PROGRAMME EXAMPLES FOR ATARI 2600 (BASIC PROGRAMMING & CompuMate). AUTHOR: Graham.J.Percy, Version 1.0, 25 September 1998. }}
- [http://atariage.com/forums/topic/178634-the-compumate-list/ The CompuMate List(Loadable programs)] - Atari 2600 - AtariAge Forums
- [http://ninepinninja.weebly.com/compumate.html CompuMate Basic Programs]
- [https://stella-emu.github.io/docs/index.html Stella -- A multi-platform Atari 2600 Emulator] Supports CompuMate emulation.
- [http://www.whimsey.com/z26/readme.html z26 -- An Atari 2600 Emulator] Supports CompuMate emulation.
{{Atari 2600}}
{{BASIC}}
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Category:6502-based home computers
Category:Computer-related introductions in 1983