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I'm new and have a mystery vintage computer!

H

Heaven9Frogg

New Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2007
Messages
4
Hello, I am new here and came across this forum while I was searching for info on my very first computer. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find anything on it, either that, or I am not remembering the exact name of it. I have a few old pictures of it. They were taken in 1989 (however I believe the computer is from the late 70s), when I was 8 years old. I taught myself basic on it. Some of the programs I remember were "books" (an accounting program), CP+ (I think that was the operating system?), qbasic, okbasic, sbcint, sbcext (both sbc programs were word processors, not sure what the difference was though), and infograph.

The computer itself was huge and very heavy. It had a built-in printer. It also had huge disc drives (2 of them) on the right side of the monitor.

Can anybody tell me what it is? Anyone ever use one back in the day?

Here are two photos:
photo.php

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1155621&l=4416d&id=742520281
 
Neat photos!! I'd be willing to bet that the keyboard and printer are a teletype hooked up to a computer, and the computer uses it as a data input device. I've never seen one like that before, but it sure is intriguing! Are you sure you used qbasic?

Nathan
 
Yeah, I'm sure I used qbasic on that computer. I remember it came with a bunch of discs, and first I had found "okbasic." Later I found "qbasic" and it was pretty much the same.

The keyboard & printer were together as one unit, which somehow fit into the part underneath the monitor. You could detach them (which was the only way to move the monster around!) but they fit together perfectly and I believe you could screw it into place as well.

I tried to read the label on the computer on the pictures but can't quite make it out. I think it says "Esper 230" or something like that.

I also remember another program, which was a database of some kind, called "Condor." There was also a button on the keyboard that said "Graph" which could be used like a shift key (it was located about where the left Alt key is on a pc keyboard now) - you'd hold it down and press say the "A" key, for example, and it would make some alternate character. I used those so much to make pretty little designs for my friends that I still remember a few of the characters.

I really wish my parents would have kept that thing around. I think eventually it stopped reading discs or something. Either way, it would have been a great addition to a museum!

If any of this sounds familiar to anyone, I would love to
hear from you. It's a real trip down memory lane for me!
 
Yes, CP+ was the menuing program, I'm certain! Now that I've looking into what CP/M is (or, was), I don't think I was working with DOS at all, it was actually CP/M. The similarities to DOS were many, however.
 
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No I don't. I asked my dad to look around to see if he still has any of the books or discs though.
 
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