MTU-130: A New 6502 Microcomputer
Micro Technology Unlimited of Raleigh, North Carolina has announced the development of a new "top-of-the-line," general purpose microcomputer. The first production shipments were announced for November for this 6502-based machine which will retail for $3995 (with single-sided disk drive, 500,000 bytes storage). Other packages are offered, which increase disk storage, up to a unit with two double-sided drives, two million bytes, for $4995.
These prices include the MTU-130 computer with 80K RAM, a 12" green phosphor CRT module, the selected floppy drive(s), all necessary cables, the operating system CODOS, an Editor, four-voice, digital, synthesized music, and a demo disk.
Novel Features
"MTU believes that the user should receive a system powerful enough to perform all necessary functions without having to add memory expansion, graphic expansion, etc. . . ." the designers remarked. The result is a computer which is fully, one might say luxuriously, implemented.
The unit features a 1 MHz 6502 with 18 bit addressing for up to 256K clear address space. Three video display operating modes: 1. bit-mapped black and white high resolution graphics 480 wide by 256 high; 2. 25 lines by 80 characters, mixable with graphics; and 3. bit-mapped graphics with four levels of gray in 240 wide by 256 high.
Figure 1.
NOTE: I/O addresses occupy 0BE00-0BFFF when enabled under software control.
All the software is in RAM permitting easy upgrading or personalizing. It includes a CODOS disk operating system, printer drivers (see the high-resolution possible on a definable dot-matrix printer in the photo), two eight-bit parallel ports and one RS-232 serial port with software select of baud rate, an eight-bit D/A port with filter and amp (for speech, sound, and music), and an interface for a 50K Baud, interrupt driven, network option.
Additionally, the MTU-130 contains four EPROM sockets which are software controlled, a high resolution light pen, separate cursor keys, and a bank of eight user-defined function keys.
A unique approach to bank switching—using indirect addressing on the 6502—allows one 64K section of memory to contain a program while the data resides above in its own 64K zone.
Digitized Sound
The optional MTU-BASIC 1.0 with graphics and disk library extensions is an enhanced Microsoft BASIC. Currently, bank switching is not available to BASIC directly, but the system permits relatively easy user enhancements. Also, when the computer is turned on, it says, "MTU model 130. Please enter today's date." The "voice" is entirely digital and sounds remarably human (except that high frequency is muted—the cutoff is around 4 KHz). This provision for digital storage of sound is exciting, but, like high resolution graphics, it is a byte-eater. A two second message uses 16K on the disk. This space can be reduced, though, and plans are in the works to make the storage more efficient. The manufacturer also expects to provide an optional A/D microphone peripheral which will permit owners to digitize their own messages.
The eight inch floppy drive spins all the time, but the head remains out of contact with the disk until necessary. And it is fast. A 14K high-resolution picture can load to screen in about two seconds. Transfer rate is over 19 thousand bytes per second, sustained.
Future Options
MTU is currently working on additional software for the 130. Expected in early 1982 are FORTH, PASCAL, cassette I/O, PET/Apple BASIC translator utilities, and a word processor. Planned hardware includes a 128K memory expansion board, the A/D microphone system, a high fidelity sound synthesis and analysis package, a network operating system, and a rigid disk controller.
A prototype board for construction of custom circuits and a banker board are available now as options.
Micro Technology Unlimited
2806 Hillsborough St.
P.O. Box 12106
Raleigh, NC 27605 (919)833–1458