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Camputers Lynx

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Lynx
Camputers Lynx 48k
Also known asLeisure, Laureate
ManufacturerCamputers
Release dateMarch 1983; 41 years ago (1983-03)[1][2]
Introductory price£225 (48K), £299 (96K), £345 (128K)
DiscontinuedJune 1984 (1984-06)[3]
Units soldapproximately 30,000
Operating systemBASIC
CPU4 MHz Z80A, (6 MHz for the 128/192 KB models)[4]
Memory48,[5] 96, 192 KB RAM
Display256 x 252, 8 colours
GraphicsMotorola 6845
Sound6-bit DAC
ConnectivitySerial port, Tape (600 to 2100 baud), RGB video output, TV RF out, composite video output, lightpen
Camputers Lynx 48k - Rear Connectors - Left
Camputers Lynx 48k - Rear Connectors - Right

The Lynx was an 8-bit British home computer that was first released in early 1983 as a 48 KB model.[5] Several models were available with 48 KB, 96 KB or 128 KB RAM.[6][7] It was possible to reach 192 KB with RAM expansions on board. John Shireff designed the hardware and Davis Jansons the firmware.[8]

Details

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The machine was based around a Z80A CPU clocked at 4 MHz (6 MHz for the 128/192 KB models) and featured a Motorola 6845 as video controller. It was possible to run CP/M with the optional 5.25" floppy disk-drive on the 96 KB and 128 KB models.

Unique features of this computer (compared to other home computers at the time) include:

  • All numbers were floating point BCD numbers (even line numbers).
  • The computer always ran in "high" resolution graphics mode (256x252 pixels in eight colours) using a 6 x 10 pixels font. Only a few bytes of graphic memory could be manipulated during the horizontal sync period[citation needed], and thus graphics were extremely slow compared to most other computers.
  • Up to 192 KB of RAM and 20 KB of ROM (16 KB on the smallest model) on a 16-bit address bus was implemented using special hardware. As a consequence, certain RAM areas shadowed by ROM could only be used for data storage and the video memory had a green and alternative green bank that could be switched by a hardware register.
  • For sound it had a simple (6-bit) DAC. A comparator was included to serve as an ADC (primarily used for reading from tape drives).

Compared to, for example, the Commodore 64, the BASIC was more extensive and faster and resolution of graphics was better;[7] but computer games on the other hand suffered from the special implementation and lack of hardware for sound and sprites.[9]

History

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The machine was quite advanced for its time. A 48K machine cost £225, a 96K machine £299 and a 128K machine £345. When compared to its competitors, such as the ZX Spectrum and the Oric 1, it was also fairly highly priced. Camputers rebranded and relaunched each machine on several occasions, with the 48K machine renamed the Leisure, and the 128K machine renamed as the Laureate.[10]

The machine had very little software available, and survived only until Camputers ceased trading in June 1984.[3] It is believed that approximately 30,000 Camputers Lynx units were sold worldwide.

Anston Technology took over in November 1984 and a re-launch was planned but never happened. In June 1986, Anston sold everything - hardware, design rights and thousands of cassettes - to the National Lynx User Group. The group planned to produce a Super-Lynx but was too busy supplying spares and technical information to owners of existing models, and the project never came into being.

Reception

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After seeing a preview of the Camputers Lynx at the Personal Computer World Show, BYTE in January 1983 stated that it "offers more computing power for the money than any other machine I saw there".[11] Computing Today in June 1983 criticized the manual as "put together in something of a hurry ... confusing" and criticized the computer for not meeting published specifications and having manufacturing defects. It concluded that the Lynx "could be seen as a flawed jewel ... If the less satisfactory aspects can be put to rights, it could prove to be a very popular machine. That, however, could entail some sacrifices."[8]

Video games

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There are 69 known commercially released game for the Camputers Lynx.[12] Considering applications, demos, operating systems modern homebrew software and others, the library for this machine is around 120 titles.[13]

Camputers Lynx software
Type Title Publisher Date
Educational Numerons Camsoft 1983
Educational Spellbound Smith, G. 1983
Educational Numerons Camsoft 1983
Educational Rocketman - A Pair of Number Games for Kids Bamby Software 1983
Diskmags Lynx Revival Group - Volume 1 Koushappas, John 1988
Applications MODER-80 v1.0 Seven Stars Publishing 1983
Applications Copys -
Applications Compass v1.1 Level 9 Computing 1983
Applications Hyperbolic Functions -
Applications Maths -
Applications Programme Chopin -
Applications Assembler -
Applications Lynx Disassembler v1.1 Camputers
Applications 6845p -
Applications Lion Text Lion-Soft
Applications Music Master Camsoft
Applications Aide - Lab-Proc -
Applications Generateur Basic Aussage, C. 1984
Applications Programme Chopin -
Applications Assembler -
Applications Test -
Applications Copys -
Applications Generateur de Caracteres -
Applications Lynx Compose Kennedy, Mike 1983
Applications Character Generator Game Camputers 1984
Applications Sketch Pad Camputers 1984
Applications Disassembler -
Applications Inteltab Sauget, A. 1984
Demos SimDisc Death Todd
Demos User-Defined Characters Camputers 1984
Demos Dump Death Todd 1985
Demos Screen Dump 2 Lynx User 1983
Demos 128 Graphics Demo -
Demos Pattern Box Demo Camputers 1984
Demos Demo 4 -
Demos Rising Moon Lynx User 1983
Demos Prelude from Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier Camputers 1984
Demos Lynx-Trot -
Demos User-Defined Characters Camputers 1984
Demos 3D City -
Demos Lynx Basic Demonstration Camputers 1984
Demos Enlarge -
Demos Forest, The Lynx User 1983
Demos JIK Death Todd 1985
Demos Triangles Lynx User 1983
Demos Lynx-Trot -
Demos Demo 3 -
Demos Screen Dump 1 Lynx User 1983
Demos Enlarge -
Demos 3D Section Death Todd 1985
Demos 3D Secan Death Todd 1985
Applications Lynx JM Utilities Disk v1.0 Koushappas, John 1989
Games Odysee d'Asterix, L' La Bibliotheque de Cintre
Games Scrablynx Sauget, Alain 1985
Games Zombie Panic -
Games Labyrinthe Quazar Computing
Games Muncher Gordon, Robert 1983
Games Snake Hunt, C. 1983
Games Tron Blocker Sawyer, Stephen
Games Star Rover Lynx User 1983
Games Dam Busters Camsoft 1983
Games 3D Monster Craze Camsoft 1983
Games Colossal Adventure Level 9 Computing 1983
Games Dam Busters Camsoft 1983
Games Moonfall Camsoft 1983
Games Treasure Island Higgins, Neil 1983
Games Oh Mummy!! Gem Software 1983
Games Dungeon Adventure Level 9 Computing 1983
Games Moonfall Camsoft 1983
Games Floyds Bank Romik Software 1983
Games Snake Hunt, C. 1983
Games Moonfall Camsoft 1983
Games Panik Judd, M.D.
Games Diggerman Gem Software
Games Play Your Cards Right -
Games Battlebrick -
Games Twinkle Gem Software 1983
Games Racer Camsoft 1983
Games Reversi Hunt, C. 1983
Games Deathball Miller, A. 1983
Games Gobble de Spook Camsoft 1983
Games Worm, The Quazar Computing 1983
Games Gridtrap -
Games Pontoon Gem Software 1983
Games Quest -
Games Mined Out Camsoft 1983
Games Backgammon Camsoft 1983
Games Panik Judd, M.D.
Games Lynx Hangman French, Steven B. 1983
Games Mastermind -
Games Worm, The Quazar Computing 1983
Games Logichess v2.2 Danielsen, Kaare - Ekner, Hartvig 1983
Games Space Trek Quazar Computing 1983
Games Power Blaster Camsoft 1983
Games Mazeman Abersoft 1983
Games Pengo Play It! 1984
Games Centipede Play It!
Games Lynx Invaders Camsoft 1983
Games Air Raid Camputers 1984
OS CPM v2.2 Digital Research
Games Gempack 4 Gem Software 1983
Games Nuclear Invaders H Scainet Soft 2014
Games Dans la Prison Hantée Glaize, Sylvain 2023
Games Darkness Possamaï, Christophe 2023
Games Planet Explorer Olipix 2023
Games Symbola StevanR 2023
Games Zypsos Odyssey Heydon, Vincent 2023

References

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  1. ^ TOSEC: Camputers Lynx (2012-04-23)
  2. ^ InfoViews:English Channel, Page 33, 1982-12-27, InfoWorld, A new company called Camputers, for instance, is about to release the Lynx, selling for 225 pounds, including 48K of memory, color display to 512X248 pixels,..
  3. ^ a b Worlock, Peter. "Storm Breaks Over Camputers". Personal Computer News. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  4. ^ Benchtest:The Lynx, By Maggie Burton, PCW, March 1983, Page 136
  5. ^ a b The Lynx effect: The story of Camputers' mighty micro, 20 Mar 2013, By Tony Smith, The Register
  6. ^ "Camputers Lynx 96 - Computer - Computing History". www.computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  7. ^ a b "LYNX Camputers". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  8. ^ a b Thomasson, Don. "Review: Camputers Lynx". Computing Today. Retrieved 13 November 2012.
  9. ^ "Listing of all Camputers Lynx games". The Video Games Museum. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  10. ^ Worlock, Peter. "Camputers Lynx Relaunch". Personal Computer News. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  11. ^ Williams, Gregg (January 1983). "Microcomputer, British Style / The Fifth Personal Computer World Show". BYTE. p. 40. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  12. ^ Gaming History
  13. ^ "Camputers Lynx TOSEC". 2012.