ScuzzBlog: Diaries June 2018 Entry 8th June 2018: Post 1: Grundy NewBrain NewBrain - Grundy NewBrain Model A I have both the Version A and AD for this model. The only difference is that the AD version has the additional self contained display allowing the unit to be operated as a stand alone. Keys are well spaced allowing ease of use to the keyboard. Quite a sturdy unit and well made. Feels of a very good quality and has aged very well. There is the usual problem with the melting wires in contact with the polystyrene. I have dressed paper tissue around the cables to prevent this happening again. The NewBrain was originally a project by Sinclair Radionics in 1978. The cost of the unit was not in line with Sinclair specs and so focus was moved to the ZX80 and another company Science of Cambridge. Following the closure of Sinclair Radionics the NewBrain project was moved to Newbury Laboratories by the National Enterprise Board as the new owners of both Sinclair Radionics and Newbury Labs. The NewBrain was basically used as the guide spec for the BBC project for the computer literacy programme. The computer was first choice but no tender was submitted and therefore the BBC eventually went with Acorn. Interestingly Grundy didn't develop the NewBrain they simply purchased the technology from The British Technology Group. Both the NEB and BTG were government run organisations to promote industry. The computer supported a version of extended BASIC of ANSI BASIC which is similar to Microsoft BASIC. Interestingly HiSoft produced a NewBrain version of the Pascal compiler plus editor. The machine was also capable of running CP/M 2.2 and the NewBrain with its memory modules gave one of the highest Transient Program Areas or memory area left from initialising the OS. NewBrain made by Grundy in the UK 1980. The computer uses its own BASIC interpreter The keyboard is a QWERTY style 62 key CPU is the Zilog Z80A running at 4 MHz RAM is 32 KB with 29 KB in ROM And so does it work... We will never know. I'm not about to blow the thing up by testing it. It has never been switched on here. This is a rare beast !!! I'll feature the AD later. Grundy NewBrain Model A I will feature the AD version when I get to that end of the shelf. Sounds easy... You would think !!

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Last updated 08/06/2018

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