Editing Intellivision (section)

===Keyboard Component===
[[File:Intellivision - trojandan 14871699 - white background.jpg|thumb|The Keyboard Component was [[code-named]] the Blue Whale, also known as the Intelliputer.<ref name=KC/>]]
The Intellivision was designed as a modular home computer; so, from the beginning, its packaging, promotional materials, and television commercials promised the addition of a forthcoming accessory called the Keyboard Component. The Master Component was packaged as a stand-alone video game system to which the Keyboard Component could be added, providing the computer keyboard and [[tape drive]]. Not meant to be a hobbyist or business computer, the Intellivision home computer was meant to run pre-programmed software and bring "data flow" ([[Videotex]]) into the home.<ref name=papaint_his/>

The Keyboard Component adds an 8-bit [[MOS Technology 6502|6502]] processor, making the Intellivision a dual-processor computer. It has 16K 10-bit shared RAM that can load and execute both Intellivision [[General Instrument CP1600|CP1610]] and 6502 program code from tape, which is a large amount as typical contemporary cartridges are 4K. The cassettes have two tracks of digital data and two tracks of analog audio, completely controlled by the computer. Two tracks are read-only for the software, and two tracks are for user data. The tape drive is block addressed with high speed indexing. A high resolution 40×24 monochrome text display can overlay regular Intellivision graphics. There is a microphone port and two expansion ports for peripherals and [[random-access memory|RAM]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wiki.intellivision.us/index.php?title=Keyboard_Component|title=Keyboard Component – Intellivision Wiki|website=wiki.intellivision.us|access-date=2017-03-22|archive-date=2017-03-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323053537/http://wiki.intellivision.us/index.php?title=Keyboard_Component|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Microsoft BASIC]] programming cartridge uses one of these ports. Expanded memory cartridges support 1,000 pages of {{val|8|u=[[kilobyte|KB]]}} each. A third pass-through cartridge port is for regular Intellivision cartridges. It uses the Intellivision's power supply.

David Rolfe of APh wrote a control program for the Keyboard Component called PicSe (Picture Sequencer) specifically for the development of multimedia applications. PicSe synchronizes the graphics and analog audio while concurrently saving or loading tape data.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gooddealgames.com/interviews/int_rolfe.html|title=Good Deal Games – Classic Videogame Games INTERVIEW – David Rolfe|website=www.gooddealgames.com|access-date=2017-03-22|archive-date=2011-09-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927211244/http://www.gooddealgames.com/interviews/int_rolfe.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Productivity software for home finances, personal improvement, and [[educational software|self education]] were planned. Subject experts were consulted and their voices recorded and used in the software. Only two applications using the PicSe system were released on [[cassette tape]]: ''Conversational French'' and ''Jack Lalanne's Physical Conditioning''. Cassettes in development include ''Super Football'', ''Spelling Challenge'', ''Chartcraft Stock Analysis'', and ''Jeanne Dixon Astrology''.<ref name="APh_credits">{{cite web |title=APh easter egg credits |date=26 August 2022 |url=https://forums.atariage.com/topic/340017-bi-tape-20-for-the-keyboard-component}}</ref>

Programs written in BASIC do not have access to Intellivision graphics and were sold at a lower price. Five [[Microsoft BASIC|BASIC]] applications were released on tape: ''Family Budgeting'', ''Geography Challenge'', and ''Crosswords I, II, and III''.

The Keyboard Component was an ambitious piece of engineering for its time, and it was repeatedly delayed as engineers tried to reduce manufacturing costs. In August 1979, a [[breadboard]] form of the Component was successfully entered into the [[Sears]] Market Research Program. In December 1979, Mattel had production design working units but decided on a significant internal design change to consolidate circuit boards. In September 1980, it was test marketed in Fresno, California, but without software, except for the BASIC programming cartridge. In late 1981, design changes were finally implemented and the Keyboard Component was released at {{US$|600|1981|long=no|round=-1}}<ref name=timeline/> in Seattle and New Orleans only.<ref name=papaint_his/> Customers who complained in writing could buy a Keyboard Component directly from Mattel. The printer, a rebadged Alphacom Sprinter 40,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://papaintellivision.com/hwKeyboard.php|title=Keyboard Component Hardware – Papa Intellivision|website=papaintellivision.com|access-date=2017-03-25|archive-date=2017-01-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124095912/http://papaintellivision.com/hwKeyboard.php|url-status=live}}</ref> was only available by mail order.

The Keyboard Component's repeated delays became so notorious around Mattel headquarters that comedian [[Jay Leno]], when performing at Mattel's 1981 Christmas party, got his biggest response of the evening with the line: "You know what the three big lies are, don't you? 'The check is in the mail', 'I'll still respect you in the morning', and 'The keyboard will be out in spring.'"<ref name=KC>{{cite web | url = http://www.intellivisionlives.com/bluesky/hardware/keyboard_tech.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170629111841/http://www.intellivisionlives.com/bluesky/hardware/keyboard_tech.html | url-status = usurped | archive-date = 2017-06-29 | publisher = Intellivision Lives | title = Keyboard Component}}</ref>

Complaints from consumers who had chosen to buy the Intellivision specifically on the promise of a "coming soon" personal-computer upgrade eventually caught the attention of the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC), who started investigating Mattel Electronics for fraud and [[false advertising]]. Mattel explained to the [[Federal Trade Commission|FTC]] that the Keyboard Component was a failed product, avoiding fines.<ref name="B&S2024_105">{{cite book |last1=Boellstorff |first1=Tom |title=Intellivision: How a Videogame System Battled Atari and Almost Bankrupted Barbie |last2=Soderman |first2=Braxton |date=2024 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=9780262380553 |page=105}}</ref> Mattel subsequently cancelled the product in August 1982, and offered to buy back all of the existing Keyboard Components from customers. Mattel provided a full refund, but customers without a receipt received {{US$|long=no|550}} for the Keyboard Component, {{US$|long=no|60}} for the BASIC cartridge, and {{US$|long=no|30}} for each cassette software.<ref name=dereinte>{{cite web|url=http://spatula-city.org/~im14u2c/intv/jzintv-1.0-beta3/doc/De_Re_Intellivision/dri_1.txt|title=De Re Intellivision|access-date=2017-04-05|archive-date=2017-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406020559/http://spatula-city.org/~im14u2c/intv/jzintv-1.0-beta3/doc/De_Re_Intellivision/dri_1.txt|url-status=live}}</ref> Any customer who opted to keep the products was required to sign a waiver with the understanding that no more software would be written for the system and absolving Mattel of any future responsibility for technical support.<ref name="lives_hw">{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Keith |title=Consoles & Peripherals |url=http://www.intellivisionlives.com/bluesky/hardware |website=Intellivision Lives |publisher=Intellivision Productions |access-date=2005-10-03 |archive-date=2017-07-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724132757/http://www.intellivisionlives.com/bluesky/hardware |url-status=usurped }}</ref> They were also compensated with {{US$|long=no|1000}} worth of Mattel Electronics products.<ref name=dereinte />

Though approximately 4,000 Keyboard Components were manufactured, it is not clear how many of them were sold and they are rare. Many of the units were dismantled for parts. Others were used by Mattel Electronics programmers as part of their development system. A Keyboard Component could be interfaced with an Intellivision development system in place of the hand-built Magus board [[RAM]] cartridge. Data transfer to the Keyboard Component RAM is done serially and is slower than the Magus board parallel interface.<ref name=KC/>

The keyboard component debacle was ranked as No. 11 on ''[[GameSpy]]''{{'}}s "25 dumbest moments in gaming".<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/index14.shtml | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081231052715/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/index14.shtml | archive-date = December 31, 2008 | publisher = GameSpy | title = Dumbest Moments}}</ref>