Memotech MTX

The MTX500 was fitted as standard with 32 KB of user RAM, An optional "communications" board was available for use with the internal slot, which added two 19,200 baud RS-232 interfaces and an interface for the FDX disk peripheral. Networking was supported over RS-232 via the communications board and up to 255 MTX machines could be connected with the MTX "Node/Ring" system. All models had 24KB of ROM accessible in the first 16KB of address space. The extra 8KB of ROM was available through bank switching. The ROM could be switched out entirely, allowing the full 16-bit address space to be used for RAM. The Memotech series featured an aluminium case and full-size 79-key keyboard with mechanical full-travel keys. This was a distinctive feature as many competing home computers of the time used a cost-reduced chiclet, membrane or rubber keyboard that was difficult to type on. == Software ==

An MTX variant of the BASIC language interpreter was supplied on ROM as standard, which was a user expectation in the mid 80s for a home computer. The BASIC had extended graphics commands and also integrated support for turtle graphics in the style of the Logo language used in education. A Z80 assembler/disassembler was also included. The source and object versions of machine code programs occupied the same space in RAM allowing for storage within less memory. Machine code could also be mixed arbitrarily with BASIC to enhance software performance. This was a rarer feature, but was seen in the BASIC of some other contemporary machines such as the BBC Micro and Camputers Lynx. A machine code monitor was included called Front Panel that could be used for debugging programs. Monitors were popular in the 1970s as a method of interacting with computers but were a less common standard feature when the Memotech was released. A novel proprietary programming language called MTX Noddy was available in ROM that was a card based information retrieval system somewhat similar in concept to HyperCard. From this software such as simple databases, an expert system or text adventure games could be constructed. Noddy cards could also be integrated with BASIC. The name of the software is a reference to British slang, meaning simple or trivial. The Memotech supported "virtual screens" which were a form of primitive window. Areas of the screen could be defined that operated independently and the user could switch between them for different tasks. The output of a program could be directed to one user defined window and then the output of a different program to another window. The Memotech did not use a mouse, window size and position on the screen was controlled using commands. While the concept had been previously invented, windowing support was an uncommon feature for a personal computer in 1983. The Macintosh and subsequent Microsoft Windows that popularised the windowing user interface style would not be released until later years. The MTX could run the CP/M operating system and a license for CP/M 2.2 was included with the purchase of the optional FDX and HDX disk peripherals. Use of CP/M enabled compatibility with a large library of existing software applications and enabled the machine to be a viable business proposition. At this time, the soon to be dominant MS-DOS was only at the beginning of its ascent and CP/M was a widely popular platform for software releases. == Peripherals ==

The FDX (Floppy Disk Expansion) was a data storage peripheral with space for expansion cards. The device could be used with any of the machines in the range but at least 64 KB of RAM was needed, necessitating an upgrade for the Memotech 500 model, and required the optional communications board to which it attached with a ribbon cable. It was sold with either one or two 5.25" floppy disk drives installed and contained a SASI interface supporting up to four drives in total. The system also supported older 8" floppy drives. Four RAM disk cards (referred to as silicon disks) could be added within the FDX chassis, each with up to 8 MB of storage, providing 32 MB of solid state storage in total. These cards could emulate drives accessible by CP/M with the intent of accelerating software performance versus running software from mechanical disks. In contrast to modern SSDs, these disks were volatile, meaning the data was lost when power is removed. With the addition of the FDX peripheral, the MTX resembled a desktop PC configuration but the system logic was mostly contained within the keyboard and the FDX unit was principally a storage add-on. A variant of the FDX called the HDX was produced, that was sold with a 5 - 20 MB hard disk combined with a single 5.25" floppy drive. This video mode was well beyond that typically offered on personal computers of the era. The attached MTX computer delivered image manipulation features such as scale, rotate, blur, sharpen, edge detection and contrast adjustment. It could also overlay painted vector graphics onto the image. The HRX adapter was supplied as a separate chassis containing the video interface ADC/DAC circuitry, additional RAM and a controller. An HRX system was priced at £4,500 (in 1984) and would form the basis of Memotech's later video wall business. == Games ==

There are '''''' commercial games for the Memotech MTX. == References ==