Rockwell AIM 65 (R6500 Microcomputer System)

Summary

The AIM 65 (also R6500 Advanced Interactive Microcomputer (=AIM)) is an American home computer from Rockwell and is based on the MOS 6502. At the same time, in 1977, he competed with the KIM-1 (computer of MOS itself) and SYM-1. The AIM 65 does not have a sound or graphics chip, on the board is soldered a 16-segment LED display for 20 characters. It also integrates a small thermal printer that can print 20 columns. The keyboard is separated from the “Master Module” and of good quality. Inputs can also be given by an external terminal, for which there is even a switch on the front of the board: TTY/KB. The ROM contains a machine language monitor but no BASIC; this had to be retrofitted via a ROM. The board offered three free ROM slots. The power supply is unusual because the computer needs — the printer included — four power sources: +5 V, +12 V, -12 V and +24 V. Various shells (chassis) were given to the AIM 65, so that it appears in different optical variants. A later version of Rockwell is the Rockwell AIM 65/40, with a 40-character LED display.