Dragon Data

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Dragon Data was a Welsh producer of home computers based on the Motorola MC6809E microprocessor, the SN74LS783/MC6883 Synchronous Address Multiplexer (SAM) and the MC6847 Video Display Generator (VDG). I/O was provided by two MC6821 Peripheral Interface Adaptors (PIAs).

These computers, the Dragon 32/64, strongly resembled the Tandy TRS-80 Color Computer ("CoCo")—both followed a standard Motorola datasheet configuration for the three key components (CPU, SAM and VDG). However, the Dragon design was complicated by circuitry to convert the US machine's VDG 525-line output (NTSC) to the UK 625-line standard (PAL), although a Composite Video port was also provided for connection of a computer monitor. The machines came in both 32KB and (later) 64KB versions. The standard BASIC interpreter was in 16K of ROM and provided by Microsoft, then a relatively small and little-known software company.

The history of Dragon Data in the period 1982–84 was a chequered one. The company was originally set up by a Toy Company called Mettoy, and after initial good sales looked to have a bright future. At its high point it entered negotiations with Tano to form a North American branch. Mettoy then suffered financial difficulties, casting a shadow on the future of Dragon Data before it was spun off as a separate company. However, a number of circumstances (the delay in introducing the 64K model, poor colour support with a maximum of 4 colours displayable in "graphics mode" and only 2 colours in the highest 256 x 192 pixel mode, the late introduction of the external disk unit and of the supporting OS9-based software) caused the company to lose market share.

To combat this, under the control of GEC, Dragon Data worked on the next generation of Dragon computers - the Dragon Alpha (or Professional) and Beta (or 128) these systems only made it to prototype stage before the business went into receivership and was sold on to the Spanish startup Eurohard in 1984. Unfortunately Eurohard also suffered financial problems and went into receivership a couple of years later.