
Microdigital Eletrônica Ltda. was a Brazilian
computer company in the 1980s, based in
São Paulo
São Paulo (; ; Portuguese for 'Paul the Apostle, Saint Paul') is the capital of the São Paulo (state), state of São Paulo, as well as the List of cities in Brazil by population, most populous city in Brazil, the List of largest cities in the ...
.
History
Established in 1981 by the brothers George and Tomas Kovari (whose initials were the TK of the
domestic computers line made by the company), its first product was the TK80, a clone of the
British
British may refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
* British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...
microcomputer
Sinclair ZX80
The Sinclair ZX80 is a home computer launched on 29 January 1980 by Science of Cambridge Ltd. (later to be better known as Sinclair Research). It is notable for being one of the first computers available in the United Kingdom for less than a hu ...
.
The company reached its height around 1985, with the launching of the
TK90X (clone of the
ZX Spectrum
The ZX Spectrum () is an 8-bit computing, 8-bit home computer developed and marketed by Sinclair Research. One of the most influential computers ever made and one of the all-time bestselling British computers, over five million units were sold. ...
)
and the
TK 2000/II''
'', a
personal computer
A personal computer, commonly referred to as PC or computer, is a computer designed for individual use. It is typically used for tasks such as Word processor, word processing, web browser, internet browsing, email, multimedia playback, and PC ...
partially compatible (at
Applesoft BASIC
Applesoft BASIC is a dialect of Microsoft BASIC, developed by Marc McDonald and Ric Weiland, supplied with Apple II computers. It supersedes Integer BASIC and is the BASIC in Read-only memory, ROM in all Apple II series computers after the ori ...
level) with the
Apple II+
The Apple II Plus (stylized as Apple ] or apple plus) is the second model of the Apple II series of personal computers produced by Apple Inc., Apple Computer. It was sold from June 1979 to December 1982. Approximately 380,000 II Pluses were ...
. At this time, it had approximately 400 employees in three plants (two in
São Paulo (state), São Paulo and one in the
Zona Franca
A free-trade zone (FTZ) is a class of special economic zone. It is a geographic area where goods may be imported, stored, handled, manufactured, or reconfigured and re-exported under specific customs regulation and generally not subject to ...
de
Manaus
Manaus () is the List of capitals of subdivisions of Brazil, capital and largest city of the States of Brazil, Brazilian state of Amazonas (Brazilian state), Amazonas. It is the List of largest cities in Brazil, seventh-largest city in Brazil, w ...
) and more than 700 peddlers spread for all
Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
.
Although the logo of the company is identical to the earlier Microdigital Ltd of the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
the company is not related.
Line of products
A not extensive list of Microdigital's products:
Home computers
*
TK80 (1981)
*
TK82 (1981)
*
TK82C (1981)
*
TK83 (1982)
*
TK85 (1983)
*
TKS800 (1984 - ''
vapourware'')
*
TK90X (1985)
*
TK95 (1986)
File:TK82C Microdigital Eletrônica.jpg, TK82C
File:Microdigital TK85 A.jpg, TK85
File:Microdigital TK90X (5393244395).jpg, TK90X
File:Microdigital TK95 left view.jpg, TK95
Personal computers
*
TK 2000 (1984)
*
TK 2000/II (1985)
*
TK-3000 IIe (1986)
*
TK-3000 IIe Compact (1987)
* TK EXTended (1987)
* LT 1600 D (?)
* TK Portable (?)
File:Tk2000-ii.jpg, TK 2000 II 128 KB
File:Tk3000iie 2.jpg, TK-3000 IIe with green phosphor display, 5.25" disk drive and Apple mouse
Peripherals
* TK Printer (''
vapourware'')
Video-games
* Onyx (1984)- Colecovision clone, never launched
* Onyx Jr (1985)
Software
Microdigital sold software (almost always pirate copies of foreign programs) through its subsidiary, ''Microsoft''.
Others
* Microdigital Rhythmic 2 Portable Keyboard
References
External links
*
Microdigitalby Chema Matas i
MicroHobby.com*
Electronics companies of Brazil
Defunct computer companies of Brazil
Defunct manufacturing companies of Brazil
Manufacturing companies based in São Paulo
{{Brazil-company-stub