EXL 100
{{Short description|French home computer released in 1984}}
{{Infobox computer
| image = Exelvision EXL-100 couleur.jpg
| caption =
| type = Home computer
| developer = Exelvision
| manufacturer =
| generation = 8-bit
| releasedate = France: {{Start date and age|1984|df=yes}}
| price = 3,190 FF
| lifespan = 1984
| discontinued =
| unitssold = 9000 used in schools
| media = Cassette tape, cartridges, floppy disk (optional)
| os = None (ExelBasic on cartridge)
| cpu = TMS 7020
| memory = 34 KB RAM, 4 KB ROM
| graphics = TMS 3556
| predecessor =
| successor = Exeltel
| sound = TMS 5220 (with speech synthesis in French)
| display = 40 x 25 character text mode, 320 x 250 pixel graphics mode, 8 colors
| CPUspeed = 4.9 MHz
}}
The EXL 100 is a computer released in 1984{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=Exelvision EXL-100 |url=https://www.nightfallcrew.com/31/08/2018/exelvision-exl-100/?lang=it |website=nIGHTFALL Blog}} by the French brand Exelvision, based on the TMS 7020{{Cite web |last=Shvets |first=Gennadiy |date=2023 |title=Texas Instruments TMS7020NL |url=https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/TMS7000/Texas%20Instruments-TMS7020NL.html |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=CPU-World}} microprocessor from Texas Instruments.{{Cite web |title=EXELVISION > EXL 100 |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=3&c=123 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205200938/https://old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=123 |archive-date=5 February 2023 |website=OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum}}{{Cite web |last=Novo |first=David |date=2003-04-26 |title=Exelvision EXL 100 |url=http://www.web8bits.com/Marcas/Exelvision/English/EXL100.html |website=Web8bits.com}} This was an uncommon design choice (at the time almost all home computers either used 6502 or Z80 microprocessors) but justified by the fact that the engineering team behind the machine (Jacques Palpacuer, Victor Zebrouck and Christian Petiot) came from Texas instruments.{{Cite web |last=Montupet |date=2024 |title=Exelvision, des hommes aux vision d'excellence |url=http://www.ti99.com/exelvision/website/ |website=Exelvision - « L'informatique facile à vivre ! »}}
It was part of the government Computing for All plan and 9000 units were used in schools.
Design
The design is unusual compared with similar machines of the time, as it had a separate central unit. Two keyboards were available: one with rubber keys and another with a more standard touch. Keyboard and joystick were not connected to the central unit by a cable but by infrared link, and are battery powered.{{Cite web|url=http://myretrocomputing.altervista.org/exelvision-exl-100/index.php|title=Exelvision EXL-100: storia, informazioni e fotografie|website=myretrocomputing.altervista.org}}{{Cite web |title=Exelvision informations techniques |url=http://www.silicium.org/oldskool/france/exl_tech.htm |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=www.silicium.org}} Many extensions were available: modem, floppy disk drive and a 16 KB CMOS RAM powered by an integrated lithium battery. Its TMS 5220 sound processor was capable of French speech synthesis,{{Cite web |title=Computer's description EXL 100 |url=https://www.1000bit.it/scheda.asp?id=1211 |website=1000 BiT - Computer's description}} another unusual feature.
= Specifications =
- Release price: 3,190 French francs
- CPU: TMS 7020{{Cite web |last=Shvets |first=Gennadiy |date=2023 |title=Texas Instruments 7000 microcontroller family |url=https://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/TMS7000/index.html |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=CPU-world}} at 4.9 MHz
- Graphics chip: TMS 3556{{Cite book |url=http://www.vintagecomputer.net/fjkraan/comp/prof80/doc/TMS_3556_TEXAS.pdf |title=TMS 3556 Video Display Processor |publisher=Texas Instruments}} (40 x 25 character text mode, 320 x 250 pixel graphics mode, 8 colors)
- Sound: TMS 5220 (with speech synthesis in French)
- Storage: cartridge port, cassettes, optional floppy disk drive
- Memory: 34 KB RAM (2 KB RAM + 32 KB Shared VRAM), 4 to 32 KB ROM
= Variants =
A version with an integrated V23 modem named Exeltel was released in 1986.{{Cite web |last=NECK |first=Fabien |date=2022 |title=Exelvision - Exeltel |url=https://www.system-cfg.com/detailcollection.php?ident=46 |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=System.cfg}}
Software
The machine came with a BASIC version on cartridge named ExelBasic.{{Cite web |title=Exelvision - Exelbasic |url=http://www.ti99.com/exelvision/website/index.php?page=exelbasic2 |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=www.ti99.com}}{{Cite web |title=Exelvision - Le langage Exelbasic |url=http://www.ti99.com/exelvision/website/index.php?page=exelbasic |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=www.ti99.com}}{{Cite web |title=EXELBASIC EXELVISION EXL100 FREEWARES PROJECTS |url=http://miniordi.free.fr/EXL100.htm |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=miniordi.free.fr}}{{Cite web |title=Exelbasic + |url=http://dcexel.free.fr/programmes/exelbasic-plus/index.html |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=dcexel.free.fr}}{{Cite web |title=Initiation à L'EXELBASIC Vol. 3, Exelvision EXL 100 cass. by Exelvision (198?) |url=https://www.arcade-history.com/?n=initiation-a-lexelbasic-vol.-3&page=detail&id=217713 |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=www.arcade-history.com}}{{Cite web |last=Motoschifo |title=ExelBASIC - MAME software |url=http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/?mess=exelbas&list=exl100 |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=adb.arcadeitalia.net |language=it}}{{Cite web |title=1000 BiT - Computer's description |url=https://www.1000bit.it/scheda.asp?id=1436 |access-date=2022-11-30 |website=www.1000bit.it}} There are more 140 games for the system.{{Cite web |title=Listing of all Exelvision EXL 100 games |url=https://www.video-games-museum.com/en/sys/166-exl-100/3/all |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=The Video Games Museum |language=en}}