Thanks for the new interesting information. But IMHO the proper title for the Acorn Archimedes is the first ARM based computer. The ARM technology is perhaps more important than the whole branch of the RISC technologies.
Thanks to our discussion I have just added information about other 1986-87 computers that were also able to show nice colours.
Thanks to our discussion I have just added information about other 1986-87 computers that were also able to show nice colours.
Japan produced other computers capable of beautifully displaying photographic images. The X68000 succeeded the previous Sharp X1 line of computers, which had been in production since 1982. The top-of-the-line X1 turbo Z, which was in production since 1986, has a 320x200 video mode with 4096 free colours, with a palette of the same 4096 colours. Surprisingly, the main processor of this top-end model was, as on the initial model, the Z80@4MHz, which is clearly too small for the video mode, where the screen image requires almost 96 KB of video memory.
Fujitsu, better known as a major player in the mainframe business, had been producing the FM-7 line of computers since 1982. The top-end versions of these computers were labelled FM-77 and were produced from 1984. Starting with the FM77AV, produced from 1985, they could use a video mode similar to the X1 turbo Z. And the latest models from the end of 1987 could even display 18 bpp (262144 free colours!) in a 320x200 image. The processor for all FM-77s was the Motorola 6809 at frequencies ranging from 1.6 (pre-1987) to 2 MHz (from 1987). Although the later FM-77 models were faster than the Sharp X1, they were not much faster and it was not enough to use 12 bpp graphics effectively, let alone 18 bpp. One wonders why they didn't use the pin-compatible Hitachi 6309 instead of the 6809. The 6309 can be up to 50% faster at the same frequency.
NEC, Japan's largest chip and personal computer manufacturer, had been producing various variants of the PC-8800 series of computers since 1981. Some models of this line, produced from 1987, supported graphics up to 640x408 with 256 free colours or 640x204 with 65536 free colours from a palette of 65536 colours. However, the multicolour modes of the PC-8800, FM-77 and X1 were almost never used. And these models themselves, capable of showing colour photos, were rare even in Japan and completely unknown in other countries.
Statistics: Posted by litwr — Sat Feb 17, 2024 7:26 am