BBC Micro facts for kids
BBC Micro Model A/B (standard configuration)
|
|
| Manufacturer | Acorn Computers |
|---|---|
| Type | 8-bit home computer |
| Release date | 1 December 1981 |
| Introductory price | £235 Model A, £335 Model B (in 1981) |
| Discontinued | 1994 |
| Units sold | Over 1.5 million |
| Media | Cassette tape, floppy disk (optional) – 5.25″ (common) (SS/SD, SS/DD, DS/SD, DS/DD), 3.5″ (rare) (SS/DD, DS/DD), hard disk also known as 'Winchester' (rare), Laserdisc (BBC Domesday Project) |
| Operating system | Acorn MOS |
| Power | 50 W |
| CPU | 2 MHz MOS Technology 6502/6512 |
| Memory | 16–32 KiB (Model A/B) 64–128 KiB (Model B+) |
| Storage | 100–800 KB (DFS) 160–1280 KB (ADFS floppy disks) |
| Graphics | 640×256, 8 colours (various framebuffer modes) 78×75, 8 colours (Teletext) |
| Sound | Texas Instruments SN76489, 4 channels, mono TMS5220 speech synthesiser with phrase ROM (optional) |
| Input | Keyboard, twin analogue joysticks with fire buttons, lightpen |
| Connectivity | Printer parallel, RS-423 serial, user parallel, Econet (optional), 1 MHz bus, Tube second processor interface |
| Predecessor | Acorn Atom |
| Successor | Acorn Archimedes |
| Related articles | Acorn Electron |
The BBC Micro, nicknamed "The Beeb", was an 8-bit home computer series that was developed and manufactured by Acorn Computers in 1981. Over 1.5 million units were sold during its lifespan. For many children in the UK, The BBC Micro was their first exposure to computers as they were mainly used in schools. An estimated 80% of schools in the UK had a BBC Micro computer.
In total nine models of the BBC Micro were produced, with the Model B being the most common, the BBC Master series with an upgraded 128KB of RAM and other refinements and various other models such as RAM upgraded Model B's and a version for North America that outputted an NTSC video signal.
Related Articles
Images for kids
-
Some of the BBC Micro team in 2008
-
Keyboard of a Model B, one of two very similar designs used on the model
-
Rear of the BBC Micro. Ports from left to right: UHF out, video out, RGB, RS-423, cassette, analogue in and Econet.
-
Advert in Interface Age magazine, November 1983, 'The BBC Microcomputer Is Here!'
-
Elite (Acornsoft, 1984). The unusual game screen used two display modes at once, to show both detail and colour.
-
BASIC prompt after switch-on or hard reset
-
Acorn co-founder Hermann Hauser playing a game on a Master in 2012
-
Clockwise from top left: Hermann Hauser, Andy Hopper, Christopher Curry, Sophie Wilson, David Allen, Chris Serle, David Kitson, Chris Turner, and Steve Furber at the BBC Micro 30th anniversary in 2012
See also
In Spanish: BBC Micro para niños
