VideoBrain 101A

Summary

Umtech introduced the VideoBrain Family Computer at the end of 1977 for 499.95 USD, but due to the low success the production ends already in March 1978. The design comes from David Chung and Albert Yu; Chung previously works at Fairchild Semiconductor and designs the F8 processor, which is not only in the VideoBrain, but also in the Fairchild Channel F console.

The VideoBrain looks like a video game console with keyboard; software comes over modules. 1 KiB RAM and 4 KiB ROM don’t give much room. The ROM contains a text editor, a clock (which is reset after restart), a timer and a color generator. On the TV it gives picture (400 x 160 in 16 colors) and sound.

The software offer is modest with less than 25 titles. The keyboard is smaller than usual, unergonomic and there are only 36 keys. The programming language APL/S is unknown. 4 joysticks can be connected and an extension in the expansion port.

The F8 CPU is clocked to 1.79 MHz. The modules are a maximum of 12 KiB. Interested users can find the little successful computer briefly at the department store Macy’s or order it by mail.