BBC Microcomputer

Summary

In the early 1980s, the BBC launched the Computer Literacy Project to explain the importance of computers to the British public. It wanted a computer capable of graphics, sound and controlling external devices, and approached Sinclair, Acorn, Newbury Laboratories, Tangerine Computer Systems and Dragon Data. Acorn won the competition because it was already developing a suitable computer. The BBC Microcomputer (BBC Micro for short) went on sale on 1 December 1981, and the BBC series The Computer Programme ran from January to March 1982.

The BBC Microcomputer was available as Model A with 16 KiB RAM and Model B with 32 KiB. On 25 August 1983, Acorn Computers launched the Acorn Electron, a cheaper version of the BBC Micro. In mid-1985, the BBC Micro Model B+ increased memory to 64 KiB, and the B+128 to 128 KiB. The BBC Master followed in 1986 as the BBC Microcomputer’s successor, with 128 KiB RAM.