The Dragon 64, launched in 83, was exactly the same computer as the Dragon 32, except that it had 64k RAM instead of 32k, an OS9 operating system and a RS232C connector.
The Extended Basic has been modified to provide RS232 I/O calls, to remove the USR bug present in the Dragon 32 ROM and to add calls allowing the additional interpreter to be invoked.
This second interpreter was the same Extended Basic re-compiled to run from a higher memory address and stored in a EPROM. When invoked, the machine was switched into 64k RAM mode and the interpreter copied from EPROM to RAM giving an extra 16K BASIC workspace. (Source : Jon's Dragon Home Page)
The Dragon 64 was sold in various European countries. A slightly modified version was also manufactured and sold in the US by TANO (Technical Associates of New Orleans) from August 1983. They sold the machine under the TANO name for a few months but couldn't compete with the agressive price policy from Commodore, Atari and T.I. All the unsold machine were eventually sold off to a discount store called California Digital.
In 85 Eurohard, a spanish manufacturer, acquired Dragons Data. Then the Dragon 200 replaced the 64 with some minor changes: power-on lights, auto-repeat keyboard... They also also had plans for a 128k Dragon and a MSX Dragon.
Chuck, I had a Dragon 64 and also a clutch of TRS80 cartridges. About a third of them workied ok on the Dragon, but the others would start but not do anything.
It was much much better than the Dragon 32.
Tuesday 20th December 2011
Hugh (England)
Just out of curiosity, was the cartridge slot on the dragon, compatible with the TRS80 Color Computer''s cartridge?
Thursday 8th December 2011
Chuck (Vermont, USA)
Well, found this oldie outta my room somewhere, but the power source is broken. Damn, i'd like to see this baby working but well, seems like no.
Wednesday 26th October 2005
Aegis (Finland)
NAME
Dragon 64
MANUFACTURER
Dragon Data Ltd
TYPE
Home Computer
ORIGIN
United Kingdom
YEAR
Summer 1983
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
Microsoft Extended Basic
KEYBOARD
QWERTY Mechanical keyboard 53 keys
CPU
Motorola MC6809EP
SPEED
0,9 Mhz
CO-PROCESSOR
Motorola MC-6847 Video Display Generator
RAM
64 kb
ROM
32 kb
TEXT MODES
32 x 28 and 51 x 16 under OS9
GRAPHIC MODES
Several graphic modes, max : 256 x 192 (with 2 colors)
COLOrsc
8
SOUND
1 voice, 5 octaves with the Basic 4 voices, 7 octaves with machine code
I/O PORTS
TV connector, 2 analogue joystick ports, cassette port, Centronics parallel printer port, cartridge slot, composite monitor port, serial connector
BUILT IN MEDIA
None
OS
OS9
POWER SUPPLY
External AC transformer. Built-in power regulation
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(France, december 84)
