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8-bit computers collection
8-bit microcomputers were common in 80s and early 90s. They were relatively cheap and easier to buy than professional machines such as ones powered by CP/M or PC compatibles. They were used mostly as home computers (Commodore 64) or educational computers (Elwro 800 Junior, ZX Spectrum), but sometimes they were adapted to work as industrial process control computers (Meritum) or terminals (Robotron). They usually have 8-bit processor like Z80, MOS 65xx or Intel 8080. Every country had some machines, and some countries had "national" ones, used in national education/academic programs and other ones, available on the market (like this unknown Polish CSK machine).
Early 16-bit home or semi-professional computers, such as Amiga or Atari ST, traditionally included in "8-bit" group, were much more expensive but they gave more power, graphics, sound capabilities and better computing experience - in 8-bit ones you had BASIC interpreter and sometimes a operating environment pretending GUI (such as C64 GEOS). The main storage was a normal audio cassette, and floppy drives were as expensive as computers themselves. In Amiga and Atari ST you got a complete graphical interface, usually mouse-driven, with good file management on floppy disks, which were a main storage for programs and data.
Click a computer to get information, photos and tips...
* The year is production year of my probably oldest unit, not manufacturing start year. Sometimes it's only estimated using chip mf. dates.
Old computer benchmarks - if you want to see how fast they are
Peripherals and accessories
