Telmac 1800

{{Short description|1977 microcomputer}}

{{Infobox computer

| Photo = Telmac 1800.JPG

| Caption = Telmac 1800 assembled using a briefcase as a computer case.

| Name = Telmac 1800

| Type = Home computer, Computer kit

| Announced =

| Released = {{start date and age|1977}}

| Price =

| Discontinued =

| Processor = RCA 1802 (COSMAC) microprocessor CPU

| Media = Compact Cassette

| Memory = 2 kB RAM, expandable to 4 kB

| graphics = RCA CDP1861

| Sound = fixed frequency tone

| OS =

| predecessor =

| successor = Telmac TMC-600 / Telmac TMC-2000

| display = 64×128 pixels display resolution

| units sold = 2000

}}

File:Telmac 1800 emolevy.jpg

File:Telmac1800.jpg

The Telmac 1800{{Cite web|url=http://www.hobbylabs.org/telmac.htm|title=Telmac|website=www.hobbylabs.org}} is an early microcomputer that was delivered in kit form.{{Cite web |title=The 1970s |url=http://www.nic.funet.fi/index/FUNET/history/internet/en/1970-luku.html |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=www.nic.funet.fi}} It was introduced in 1977 by Telercas Oy,{{Cite web | url=https://www.emma02.hobby-site.com/telmac1800.html | title=Emma 02 }}{{Cite web |title=RigPix Database - Vintage home computers (Except IBM PC's and their clones) - Telmac 1800 |url=https://www.rigpix.com/vcomp/telmac_1800.htm |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=www.rigpix.com}}{{Cite book |last1=Bubenko |first1=Janis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qZIgLbka3ogC&dq=Telmac+1800+-wiki&pg=PA280 |title=History of Nordic Computing: IFIP WG9.7 First Working Conference on the History of Nordic Computing (HiNC1), June 16-18, 2003, Trondheim, Norway |last2=Impagliazzo |first2=John |last3=Soelvberg |first3=Arne |date=2005-01-14 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-0-387-24167-8 |language=en}} the Finnish importer of RCA microchips. Most of the 2,000 kits manufactured over four years were bought by electronics enthusiasts in Finland, Sweden and Norway.

An expansion board, OSCOM, later became available, and included an alphanumeric video display, and up to {{nowrap|12 kB}} of memory. A {{nowrap|4 kB}} Tiny BASIC could be run on this configuration.{{cite web|last= |first= |title= 1977:Telmac 1800|publisher=HobbyLabs|date=October 2007|url=http://www.hobbylabs.org/telmac.htm|accessdate=2008-04-06}}

The first-ever commercial video game to be developed in Finland, Chesmac, was developed by Raimo Suonio on a Telmac 1800 computer in 1979.{{Cite journal |last=Reunanen |first=Markku |date=2014-12-10 |title=Chesmac: ensimmäinen suomalainen kaupallinen tietokonepeli – jälleen (Chesmac – Yet Another First Commercial Finnish Computer Game) |url=https://www.academia.edu/9764486 |journal=Pelitutkimuksen Vuosikirja 2014}}

The Telmac 1800 was followed by the Oscom Nano and the Telmac 2000.