The BBC Master was an enhanced version of the BBC Model B providing improved features, but sadly also introducing compatibility problems with earlier BBC systems.
These features were: loads more memory such as shadow, sideways and private RAM, 4 sound channels, twin cartridge sockets, as well as several built-in ROM software packages like View (word processor), ViewSheet (spreadsheet), ADFS (Advanced Filing System), a text editor and terminal utilities.
Like the Model B, the system had so many I/O ports that most of them had to be placed under the case. Luckily, they only used flat-cable connectors.
When it was released, the BBC Master met with great success. From 1986 to 1989, about 200,000 systems were sold, mainly to U.K. schools and universities.
Several enhanced versions of the Master were launched in the following months:
- The Master 512 was a Master 128 with 512 KB of RAM and an internal 80186 processor. It could be upgraded up to 1024 KB and ran MS-DOS.
- The Master Turbo was a Master 128 with a 65C02 as a second processor.
The BBC Master and Master Compact could be considered the most accomplished 8-bit 'home' computers and among the last mass-produced 8-bit machines. Production ended in 1993.
While developing and marketing the BBC Master, Acorn realized the PC world was moving on from 8-bit to 16-bit processors and started developing their own 32-bit chip, the Acorn RISC Machine, or ARM.
My high school had these things up until 1994 when they were replaced with Macs! I always loved seeing these in action in the late 80's at the library there (before I started at that school in 93) with networking and games like Xor. They were a well designed computer, the fact that they hung around for so long says something. From the previous page, I think an Australian school having BBC micro's must have been something of an anomaly.
Sunday 5th September 2004
Steve (Adelaide, Australia)
NAME
BBC Master
MANUFACTURER
Acorn Computer
TYPE
Home Computer
ORIGIN
United Kingdom
YEAR
February 1986
END OF PRODUCTION
1993
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
BBC BASIC IV interpreter
KEYBOARD
Full stroke 93 key with numeric keypad and 10 function keys
CPU
65C102 (an evolution of the 6502)
SPEED
2 MHz.
RAM
128 KB
ROM
128 KB (Expandable)
TEXT MODES
40/80 x 25 lines, 20/40/80 x 32, Teletex mode (40 x 25 x 8 colours)
GRAPHIC MODES
160/320/640 x 256 dots in 2 to 8 colours
COLORS
8 among 16
SOUND
4 chanels, 8 octaves - SN76489 sound generator
SIZE / WEIGHT
46.7 (W) x 34.5 (D) x 7.5 (H) cm.
I/O PORTS
Tube expansion, BBC High Speed Bus, FDD interface, User interface, RS423 serial, Analog, Econet network, Parallel, tape recorder, TV/RF, RGB & Composite outputs,
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