Philips VG5000
{{Short description|Home computer introduced in 1984}}
{{Infobox computer
| image = frameless
| caption =
| type = Home computer
| developer = Philips
| manufacturer = Radiotechnique (RTS)
| generation = 8-bit
| releasedate = France: {{Start date and age|1984|10|01|df=yes}}
| price = 1990 FF
| lifespan = 1984-1986
| discontinued = 1986
| unitssold = 300000 in 1984
| media =
| os = VG5000 BASIC
| cpu = Z80
| memory = 24 KB RAM, 18KB ROM
| predecessor =
| successor =
| graphics = Thomson EF9345
| display = Semigraphics (equivalent resolution of 320x250), 8 colors
| CPUspeed = 4 MHz
| sound = 1 voice, 5 octave range
| name = VG5000μ
| memory card = Cassette tape
| language = Logo
}}The VG5000μ is a computer created by Philips in 1984.{{Cite journal |last=Gondicas, Piechaud |date=1985 |title=Philips - L'ordinateur de crise VG 5000 |url=http://www.le-grenier-informatique.fr/pages/la-collextion/radiola-vg-5000.html |journal=Science & Vie Micro |issue=13 |pages=56|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806054220/http://www.le-grenier-informatique.fr/pages/la-collextion/radiola-vg-5000.html |archive-date=2020-08-06 }}{{Cite journal |last=Lilen |first=Henri |date=1984 |title=Le "VG 5000" PHILIPS, un familial français |url=http://www.le-grenier-informatique.fr/pages/la-collextion/radiola-vg-5000.html |journal=Micro-Ordinateurs |issue=27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806054220/http://www.le-grenier-informatique.fr/pages/la-collextion/radiola-vg-5000.html |archive-date=2020-08-06 }}{{Cite web |title=Philips - VG5000 |url=https://www.doctsf.com/philips-vg5000/f71299 |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Doctsf Le Grand Livre de la TSF |language=fr}} It was manufactured in Le Mans by Radiotechnique (RTS){{Cite web |title=RADIOLA VG 5000 |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=1073 |website=OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum}} and marketed under the Philips,{{Cite web |last=NECK |first=Fabien |date=2018 |title=Philips - VG 5000 |url=https://system-cfg.com/detailcollection.php?ident=29 |website=system-cfg - Collection d ordinateurs anciens et de consoles de jeux}}{{Cite web |date=2020-08-06 |title=Philips VG 5000 |url=http://www.le-grenier-informatique.fr/pages/la-collextion/radiola-vg-5000.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806054220/http://www.le-grenier-informatique.fr/pages/la-collextion/radiola-vg-5000.html |archive-date=2020-08-06 |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=Le grenier informatique - Site sur la restauration et la collection des anciens ordinateurs.}} Radiola{{Cite web |title=Ordinateur : Le Radiola VG 5000μ |url=http://mo5.com/musee-machines-rvg5000.html |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Association MO5.COM}} and Schneider{{Cite web |title=Ordinateur : Le Schneider VG 5000μ |url=http://mo5.com/musee-machines-svg5000.html |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Association MO5.COM}} brands.{{Cite web |last=Osmose |date=2020-05-17 |title=À la découverte du Philips VG5000μ |url=https://www.queenmeka.com/philips-vg5000/ |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Queen Meka |language=fr-FR}}
Not compatible with any other machines, it offered VG5000 BASIC (derived from Microsoft BASIC-80) as the operating system upon boot, with Logo available on cartridge.{{Cite book |last=Éditions Atlas |url=https://archive.org/details/abc-informatique/aBc%20informatique%2062/page/1228/mode/2up?view=theater |title=aBc informatique |date=1984 |pages=1229}}
Graphic ability was limited to a semigraphic symbol display, with the equivalent resolution of 320 x 250 pixels in 8 colors.{{Cite web |title=Philips VG5000 |url=http://www.silicium.org/oldskool/france/vg5000/p5000.htm |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Silicium}}
It had some hardware compatibility with the Philips VG 8000, such as power supply connectors, cassette player interface and cartridges. {{Cite web |date=2021-11-03 |title=La page des fans du VG5000µ |url=http://vg5k.free.fr/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103212750/http://vg5k.free.fr/ |archive-date=2021-11-03 }}
History
Aimed at schools,{{Cite news |date=March 1985 |title=Le VG 5000 |pages=1229–1231 |work=ABC Informatique |issue=62 |url=https://www.abandonware-magazines.org/affiche_mag.php?mag=62&num=1667%20&album=oui}} it was unsuccessful and production ended in 1986.{{Cite web |title=PHILIPS VG 5000 |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=249&st=1 |website=OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum}} 300 000 units were sold in 1984 according to an internal Philips report, with 500 000 predicted for 1985. There are about forty games available for the system.{{Cite web |title=Listing of all Philips VG5000 games |url=https://www.video-games-museum.com/en/sys/87-vg5000/3/all |website=The Video Games Museum}}{{Cite web |last=Turk182 |date=2022 |title=#Rétrogaming : tu te souviens… US Rallye sur VG5000 |url=https://www.thmmagazine.fr/retrogaming-test-us-rallye-vg5000/ |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=THM Magazine |language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web |title=Philips VG5000 |url=https://www.uvlist.net/platforms/detail/186-Philips+VG5000 |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Universal Videogame List |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Liste de tous les jeux Philips VG5000 |url=https://www.musee-des-jeux-video.com/fr/sys/87-vg5000/3/all?systeme_affichage=liste |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Le Musee des Jeux Video |language=fr}}
As of 2022, enthusiasts remain active in developing new homebrew software and emulators for the system.{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Votre VG5000 n'est pas fragile. |url=http://vg5000bazar.free.fr/ |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=VG5000 Bazar}}{{Cite web |title=Articles avec le tag " VG5000 " |url=https://www.triceraprog.com/tag/vg5000.html |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=Triceraprog La programmation depuis le Crétacé}}{{Cite web |last=Coulom |first=Daniel |date=2022 |title=Emulateur VG5000 DCVG5K |url=http://dcvg5k.free.fr/ |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=DCVG5K - Emulateur pour Windows du VG5000μ Philips/Radiola/Schneider}}{{Cite web |last=HERVIER |first=Carl |date=2014 |title=My VG5000 :-) |url=http://vg5000.free.fr/ |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=vg5000.free.fr}}{{Cite web |last=max |first=Sergio |date=2022-08-24 |title=logiciels développés cette année 2017 :: Vg5000 |url=https://vg5000.webnode.fr/projets/ |access-date=2022-11-13 |website=Sergio max. |language=fr}}{{Cite web |title=Retro Programmers United for Obscure Systems - Philips VG5000 session |url=https://itch.io/jam/retro-programmers-united-for-obscure-systems-philips-vg5000-session |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=itch.io |language=en}}
= Peripherals =
Several peripherals were developed to support the VG5000μ operation:{{Cite web |date=2021-10-28 |title=Materiel |url=http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WHGt5IEeCwE |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=La page des fans du VG5000µ|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028050513/http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WHGt5IEeCwE |archive-date=2021-10-28 }}
- VY0030: cassette player{{Cite web |date=2015-05-26 |title=La page des fans du VG5000µ |url=http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK0UgOcY5.C |access-date=2024-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526123028/http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK0UgOcY5.C |archive-date=2015-05-26 }}
- VG5200: joystick interface{{Cite web |date=2015-05-26 |title=The VG5000µ page |url=http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnKrPYVcY5.C |access-date=2024-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526175412/http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnKrPYVcY5.C |archive-date=2015-05-26 }}
- VU0001: joystick (see Magnavox Odyssey 2){{Cite web |date=2015-05-26 |title=La page des fans du VG5000µ |url=http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK6UgVTY5.C |access-date=2024-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526131518/http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK6UgVTY5.C |archive-date=2015-05-26 }}
- VU0011: RF modulator{{Cite web |date=2015-05-26 |title=The VG5000µ page |url=http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK6UgMTY5.C |access-date=2024-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526175406/http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK6UgMTY5.C |archive-date=2015-05-26 }}
- VU0022: power supply{{Cite web |date=2015-05-26 |title=The VG5000µ page |url=http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK6UgNUY5.C |access-date=2024-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526175425/http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK6UgNUY5.C |archive-date=2015-05-26 }}
- VG5216: 16KB RAM memory expansion with joystick and printer ports{{Cite web |date=2015-05-26 |title=La page des fans du VG5000µ |url=http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnKrPYMYY5.C |access-date=2024-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526120105/http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnKrPYMYY5.C |archive-date=2015-05-26 }}
- VU0031: 16KB RAM memory expansion{{Cite web |date=2015-05-26 |title=La page des fans du VG5000µ |url=http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK6UgOTY5.C |access-date=2024-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526120524/http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK6UgOTY5.C |archive-date=2015-05-26 }}
- VW0010: 40 column printer{{Cite web |date=2015-05-26 |title=La page des fans du VG5000µ |url=http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK8UgMcY5.C |access-date=2024-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526123328/http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK8UgMcY5.C |archive-date=2015-05-26 }}
- VW0020: 80 column printer{{Cite web |date=2015-05-26 |title=La page des fans du VG5000µ |url=http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK8UgNcY5.C |access-date=2024-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526123909/http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK8UgNcY5.C |archive-date=2015-05-26 }}
- VW0030: 80 column printer{{Cite web |date=2015-05-26 |title=The VG5000µ page |url=http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK8UgOcY5.C |access-date=2024-11-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526175418/http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnK8UgOcY5.C |archive-date=2015-05-26 }}
Specifications
- File:Vg5000 start up.gifZilog Z80A{{Cite book |url=https://archives.doctsf.com/documents/afficher_document.php?num_doc=96239&num_fic=1&PHPSESSID=f263c78a84d80af7b94ad083c96d4c5a |title=VG5000 Manuel de service (Service manual) |publisher=Edition Service SA |year=1984}} processor running at 4 MHz
- RAM: 24KB, including 16KB of system memory (expandable to 48KB) and 8KB of dedicated memory for the video processor
- ROM: 18KB, including 16KB containing the VG5000 BASIC (derived from Microsoft BASIC-80){{Cite web |last=Hoagie |date=2022 |title=MadeInFrance 11 : Micros & crocos, the French home computer market in the '80s |url=https://www.abandonware-france.org/ltf_abandon/ltf_infos_fic.php?id=103539 |access-date=2022-12-24 |website=Abandonware France |language=fr}} and 2KB of character bitmaps built into the video processor
- Video processor: SGS Thomson EF9345P{{Cite web |last1=Hervier |first1=Carl |last2=Vanlierde |first2=Stéphane |date=2023 |title=La page des fans du VG5000μ |url=http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnKt4BAeCwE |website=vg5k.free.fr}}
- Graphics: semigraphics based on 8 × 10 pixel characters (equivalent to 320 × 250 pixels) in 8 colors{{Cite web|url=http://vg5k.free.fr/index.php?gosub=sEJ-gF15F%5DdO5WnKt4BAeCwE&lng=EN|title=The VG5000μ page|website=vg5k.free.fr}}
- Sound: 1 voice, 5 octave range
- Keyboard: Built-in 63 keys AZERTY keyboard with BASIC keywords
- Ports: DIN5 cassette player connector (1200/2400 baud), DIN8 SCART connector
- Expansion: 2×25 pins bus connector
List of video games
There are 33 commercial video games for Philips VG5000.[http://adb.arcadeitalia.net/lista_mess.php?&software_list_name=vg5k Arcadeitalia][http://vg5k.free.fr/ VG5K]
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="width:50%; font-size:95%;" id="softwarelist"
!rowspan="1"|Title !rowspan="1"|Release year !colspan="1"|Publisher |
| Backgammon
|1984 |Philips |
| Bris de Glace
|1984 |Philips |
| Citadelle
|1984 |Philips |
| Divertissements
|1984 |Philips |
| Football
|1984 |Philips |
| Glouton
|1984 |Philips |
| Hélicoptère
|1984 |Philips |
| La Carotte Malicieuse
|1985 |VIFI-Nathan |
| La Moto Infernale
|1984 |Philips |
| La Pierre Philosophale Chapter 1 - La Pierre Philosophale
|198? |Elite Diffusion |
| La Pierre Philosophale Chapter 2 - La Clef de l'Ile
|198? |Elite Diffusion |
| La Pierre Philosophale Chapter 3 - La Porte du Jardin des Hesperides
|198? |Elite Diffusion |
| La Pierre Philosophale Chapter 4 - La Porte des Gnomes
|198? |Elite Diffusion |
| La Pierre Philosophale Chapter 5 - La Porte des Pieuvres
|198? |Elite Diffusion |
| La Pierre Philosophale Chapter 6 - La Porte du Harpie
|198? |Elite Diffusion |
| La Pierre Philosophale Chapter 7 - La Porte du Gouffre
|198? |Elite Diffusion |
| L'abeille
|1984 |Philips |
| Le Fou Volant
|1984 |Philips |
| Le Labyrinthe et la Princesse
|1985 |
| Le monstre
|1984 |Philips |
| Mes Premiers Mots Croises Vol. 1 - Francais-Vocabulaire
|1985 |VIFI-Nathan |
| Mes Premiers Mots Croises Vol. 2 - Francais-Vocabulaire
|1985 |VIFI-Nathan |
| Micros Jeux Cocktails de Jeux
|1985 |VIFI-Nathan |
| Mission Omega
|1984 |Philips |
| Monkey Academy
|1984 |Philips |
| Objectif Delta
|1984 |Philips |
| Preterite Star
|1985 |
| Reversis
|1984 |Philips |
| Simulateur de Vol
|1984 |Philips |
| Staroc
|1984 |Philips |
| Tortues
|1984 |Philips |
| US Rallye
|1984 |Philips |
| Viking
|1984 |Philips |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=249&st=1 Old Computers: ]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20200806054220/http://www.le-grenier-informatique.fr/pages/la-collextion/radiola-vg-5000.html le greniers informatique]
- [http://vg5k.free.fr French VG5000μ fan site]
- [http://vg5000.webnode.fr/projets/ Logiciels et développement 2017 (VG5000μ)]
- [http://vg5000.free.fr My VG5000 - site dedicated to the VG5000 micro]
- [http://dcvg5k.free.fr Emulation of VG5000]
- [http://vg5000bazar.free.fr The VG5000 shop]
- [http://www.triceraprog.fr pages dedicated to programming the VG5000]
{{Philips}}