Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Mindset (computer)
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
==Description== The system architecture is based on the [[Intel 80186]], with proprietary [[Very Large Scale Integration|VLSI]] chips that enhance and speed up the graphics. Although it is disk compatible with the IBM PC's [[DOS]], its enhanced graphics capabilities make achieving full IBM compatibility more difficult than its competitors.<ref name="infoworld">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kS4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA20|title=InfoWorld Mar 19 1984|date=19 March 1984}}</ref> [[Bill Gates]] became involved with development, assisting Mindset in emulating IBM character graphics without losing performance. Once Mindset officials determined that most of the desirable software was compatible, development was frozen and the OS burned to [[read-only memory|ROM]], which locked out 20% of the PC software base, including ''[[Microsoft Flight Simulator]]''. [[WordStar]] is one of the PC applications reported to run, and Mindset publicized a list of 60 applications that run unmodified. The software base was expected to increase dramatically once a final version of Windows was released.<ref name="infoworld"/> Mindset's design is modular in many aspects. The top of the case has an opening to access its [[system bus]]; this allows for the expansion module to plug into the main computer module to add memory and one or two disk drives. The Mindset was designed by several ex-Atari engineers<ref name="infoworld"/> like the [[Amiga 1000]], another computer of the era with an advanced graphics subsystem and modular expandability. Jack Tramiel (forming [[Atari Corporation|Tramel Technology, Ltd.]]) tried to buy Mindset's technology in Spring of 1984.{{sfn|Anderson|1985|p=50}} A dual 5.25-inch [[floppy disk|floppy drive]] module that sits above the main unit was available and part of the common sales configuration for the system. The module also includes 224 KB of expansion memory as well. Mindset has dual front-mounted ROM cartridge ports with a locking knob on the left side of the main computer module to lock the ROM modules into place. The Mindset has the option (through its System Configuration Utility) to be able to select whether the system boots from left or right ROM carts, or disk drive. Cartridges can also contain [[CMOS RAM]], which is retained when unplugged by a battery in the cartridge case. Cartridges were envisioned to be a primary medium for software distribution on the Mindset, but sales of the system were too low for cartridges to be economical, and software was distributed on disk instead.<ref>Anderson 1985, p. 50: "However, perhaps because the Mindset has failed to set the industry on fire, our version of GW-Basic arrived on disk rather than ROM. It seems unlikely to me that new ROM software is likely to appear for the machine, let alone costly CMOS RAM cartridges."</ref> While released in 1984, models of the M1001 Mindset computer with [[BIOS]] ROM code 1.07 and earlier show a copyright notice of (c) 1983 Mindset Computer Corp. ===Sound processor=== Mindset has a custom sound-processor (CSP). The optional Sound Module adds a second CSP, along with a right channel audio output jack. There are four operating modes:<ref name="MindsetDevGuide">{{cite web |title=Mindset Software Developers Guide |url=http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/mindset/Mindset_Software_Developers_Guide.pdf |website=Bitsavers |publisher=Mindset Corporation}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Mode ! Name ! Description |- | 1 | Music | Four musical voices with limited effects, [[wavetable synthesis|wavetable lookup]] |- | 2 | Sound Effects/Music | Three voices with sound effects, modified wavetable lookup |- | 3 | Max Voice | Six voices with limited controls, all voices same volume, ramped waveform |- | 4 | See-Through | Direct access to [[digital-to-analog converter|DAC]] |}
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)