IMSAI 8080
 | |
| IMSAI 8080 | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | IMS Associates, Inc. |
| Type | Hobbyist computer |
| Casing | Aluminum |
| Production | August 1975 |
| Discontinued | 1978 |
| CPU | Intel 8080A @ 2 MHz |
| RAM | 256 bytes |
| Expansion | Card-cage with S-100 bus |
| Software | IMDOS, BASIC |
| Storage | Optional cassette or |
The IMSAI 8080 was an early microcomputer released in 1975, based on the Intel 8080 and S-100 bus[1]. It was compatible with its main competitor, the earlier MITS Altair 8800, by which it was inspired. The IMSAI is largely regarded as the first "clone" computer. The IMSAI machine ran a highly modified version of the CP/M operating system called IMDOS. It was developed, manufactured and sold by IMS Associates, Inc. (later renamed IMSAI Manufacturing Corp). In total, between 17,000 and 20,000 units were produced from 1975 until 1978. An IMSAI Series Two kit was recently developed and released, featuring a 50 MHz Zilog eZ80 CPU. [2]
History
In May 1972, Bill Millard began business individually as IMS Associates (IMS) in the area of computer consultancy and engineering, using his home as an office. By 1973, Millard founded IMS Associates, Inc. Millard soon found capital for his business, and received several contracts, all for software.
In 1974, IMS was contacted by a client which wanted a "workstation system" that could complete jobs for any General Motors new-car dealership. IMS planned a system including a terminal, small computer, printer, and special software. Five of these work stations were to have common access to a hard disk, which would be controlled by a small computer. Eventually product development was stopped. Millard and his chief engineer Joe Killian turned to the microprocessor. Intel had announced the 8080 chip, and compared to the 4004 to which IMS Associates had been first introduced, the 8080 looked like a "real computer". Full scale development of the IMSAI 8080 was put into action, and by 1975 an ad was placed in Popular Electronics, receiving positive reactions.
IMS shipped the first IMSAI 8080 kits on December 16, 1975. In 1976, IMS was renamed to IMSAI Manufacturing Corporation because by then they were a manufacturing company, not a consultancy firm. By October 1979 the IMSAI corporation had gone bankrupt, and the 'IMSAI' trademark was sold to Fisher-Freitas Co, who continued manufacturing the computers under the IMSAI name; however these models are different than the originals produced by IMS and IMSAI Manufacturing Corporation.
Uses
The IMSAI 8080 was used for:
- Small business data processing applications
- Data communications and data entry systems
- Scientific applications
- Computer sciences education and development
- Banking and insurance applications
- Military and general government applications
- Personal computer systems
IMSAI in popular culture
An IMSAI 8080 and an acoustic coupler type modem were among the hacking tools used by the main character in the 1983 movie WarGames. However, even by 1983 the acoustic coupler was out of date. It was selected over a more modern model so that the audience would immediately recognize it as the device that interfaced with the telephone.
Footnotes
References
- THE HISTORY OF IMSAI: The Path to Excellence, produced 1978
- Jonathan Littman, Once Upon a Time in Computerland: The amazing Billion Dollar tale of Bill Millard's Computerland empire, 1987, ISBN 0-671-70218-1
External links
- Distributor of IMSAI parts, docs and the Series Two model
- Short description of the IMSAI 8080 with photos
- The History of the IMSAI 8080
- Obsolete Technology website - IMSAI 8080
- The Computer Science Club - IMSAI 8080
- old-computers.com - IMSAI 8080
- Collection of old digital and analog computers at oldcomputermuseum.com