Robotron KC 87
{{short description|Microcomputers made in East Germany from 1984 until 1990.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022|cs1-dates=y}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = Kleincomputer robotron KC 87
| logo = VEB Robotron Margin.svg
| image = Robotron-KC87-1.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| aka =
| developer = VEB Robotron-Meßelektronik "Otto Schön" Dresden
| manufacturer =
| type = Microcomputer
| releasedate = Z 9001: 1984
KC 85/1: 1985
KC 87: 1987
| discontinued = Z 9001: 1985
KC 85/1: 1987
KC 87: March 1989
| price = Z 9001.10: 1550 MZ 9001 price - Jugend + Technik (magazin), issue 8, August 1984, p. 587.
KC 85/1.10: 1550 M
KC 85/1.11: 1940 M
KC 87.10: 3005 M
KC 87.11: 3390 MRobotron leaflet: [http://hc-ddr.hucki.net/wiki/lib/exe/fetch.php/z9001:preisliste_z9001.txt Price list for Robotron hardware] queried on 11 February 2023.
| connectivity =
| lifespan = 5 years
| media = Cassette tape, expansion modules
| os = Z9001-OS [de] (4 KB),
character ROM (2 KB),
KC 87: KC-BASIC [de] interpreter in ROM
| input =
| camera =
| power = 220 V, 50 Hz, 25 W
| cpu = U880 (Zilog Z80 clone)
| CPUspeed = 2.5 MHz
| storage =
| memory = 17 KB (64 KB max.)
| RAMtype = DRAM
| display = 40x20 or 40x24 characters (semigraphics)
X.X0: monochrome
X.X1: color
with expansion: 256×192 pixels monochrome
| audio =
| service =
| dimensions = 40 cm × 30 cm × 8.5 cm
(15,7 in x 11.8 in x 3.1 in)
| weight = ~4 kg
| touchpad =
| predecessor =
| successor = BIC A 5105 [de]
| related =
| sound = Buzzer
| platform = K 1520 bus
}}
The Robotron KC 87,{{Cite web |title=KC 87 Robotron |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=568 |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=www.old-computers.com}}{{Cite web |title=Robotron KC 87 |url=http://www.heimcomputer.de/english/comp/kc87.html |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=www.heimcomputer.de}} fully known as Kleincomputer robotron KC 87 (KC standing for Kleincomputer, lit. "small computer"), was an 8-bit microcomputer released in 1987 and produced in East Germany by VEB Robotron-Meßelektronik "Otto Schön" Dresden, part of Kombinat Robotron.{{Cite web |title=The KC85 Computers |url=https://floooh.github.io/virtualkc/p010_kc85.html |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=floooh.github.io}}
The first model in the series, the Robotron Z 9001, originally designed as a home computer and introduced in 1984, was renamed to Robotron KC 85/1 in 1985 to de-emphasize its use as consumer good.{{cite web |title=Die Kleincomputer der DDR |url=http://www.robotron-net.de/kc85xx.html |website=robotron-net.de |access-date=10 March 2023}} Despite similar names, the Robotron Kleincomputers were not directly related to the KC 85 mass-produced by VEB Mikroelektronik "Wilhelm Pieck" Mühlhausen.{{cite web|url=http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/8/8841/1.html|title=Auferstanden aus Platinen|author=Peter Mühlbauer|publisher=Telepolis|language=German|trans-title=Risen from boards|date=3 October 2000|accessdate=30 November 2009}}
The availability of the Robotron KC series for private customers was very limited. The computers were mostly used at educational institutions, organizations, and enterprises. Therefore, the extracurricular use of KC computers was often allowed for students at institutions and organizations.
Technical information
The Robotron KC series used an U880 microprocessor, a clone of the Zilog Z80, clocked at 2.5 MHz. Every machine came with a built-in keyboard, power supply and RF modulator. Software could be loaded from cassette tapes, which required a separate cassette deck. All models featured K 1520 bus slots for up to four expansion modules. They allowed expanding the hardware, such as upgrading the RAM, connecting a printer or displaying bitmapped graphics, but also included modules with application software and programming languages. The KC 87 had a KC-BASIC [de] interpreter in ROM. In earlier models, the user had to load BASIC from tape or use an expansion module. Sufficiently expanded models could even run SCP [de], an East German CP/M clone.{{Cite web |title=Betriebssystem SCP |url=https://www.robotrontechnik.de/html/software/scp.htm |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=www.robotrontechnik.de}} Robotron also offered cassette tapes with applications and games.
{{clear}}
File:Z9001 Prototyp.jpg|Robotron Z 9001 prototype
File:Robotron Z9001.jpg|Robotron Z 9001
File:Robotron-KC85-1-5.jpg|Robotron KC 85/1
File:Robotron-KC87-3.jpg|Robotron KC 87, side view
File:KC85-1 Arbeitsplatz 1.jpg|Workplace with Robotron KC 85/1: cassette deck Geracord 6020 Portable, dot matrix printer Robotron K 6313 and Russian Junost-402B television set.
File:Robotron-KC85-1-3a.jpg|Internals of the KC 85/1, keyboard folded up
File:Robotron-KC87-4a.jpg|KC 87 with revised mainboard
Trivia
Thomas Dohmke, who became CEO of GitHub in 2021, started coding on a Robotron KC 87.{{cite web |url=https://github.blog/2021-11-03-building-the-next-phase-of-github-together/ |title=Building the next phase of GitHub, together |author=Thomas Dohmke |date=2021-11-03 |publisher=GitHub |access-date=2023-05-23}}{{cite web |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/digitec/github-thomas-dohmke-wird-neuer-chef-der-open-source-software-17618652.html |title=Begonnen auf einem Robotron KC 87 |trans-title=Started on a Robotron KC 87 |author=Bastian Benrath |publisher=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |date=2021-11-04 |access-date=2023-05-23 |language=de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104182602/https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wirtschaft/digitec/github-thomas-dohmke-wird-neuer-chef-der-open-source-software-17618652.html |archive-date=2021-11-04}}
See also
- Robotron Z 1013 – A mostly compatible hobbyist kit, available even to private consumers via written order, waiting of one year and then self-pickup from factory outlet.
- RFT KC 85 – A series of mostly compatible microcomputers made by VEB Mikroelektronik.
- RFT KC compact – The only pre-assembled home computer made in the GDR aimed at private consumers; not compatible to any of the other KC systems.
References
External links
{{commons|Robotron#Z 9001, KC 85/1|Robotron KC series}}
- [http://www.robotron-net.de/kc85xx.html robotron-net.de - The KCs from East Germany] [https://www-robotron--net-de.translate.goog/kc85xx.html?_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en (English translation)]
- [https://www.robotrontechnik.de/html/computer/kc_dresden.htm robotrontechnik.de - KCs made in Dresden] {{in lang|de}}
- [http://robotron.foerderverein-tsd.de/322.html foerderverein-tsd.de - History of home computers in GDR] [https://robotron-foerderverein--tsd-de.translate.goog/322.html?_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en (English translation)]
- [http://www.jens-mueller.org/jkcemu/index.html jens-mueller.org - JKCEMU] [https://www-jens--mueller-org.translate.goog/jkcemu/index.html?_x_tr_sch=http&_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en (English translation)] - KC 87 emulator written in Java
Category:Computer-related introductions in 1984
Category:Goods manufactured in East Germany