Talk:IMSAI 8080

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[edit] Memory size

The infobox says there was 256 bytes of RAM and a BASIC interpreter. Is this correct? How on Earth can a BASIC interpreter run in 256 bytes? There would be enough space for about 5 lines of code in memory. Actually, scratch that, how can you run CP/M in 256 bytes, when the CPM Memory Map requires the low 256 bytes of memory to be reserved for system data...? JulesH 20:49, 17 February 2007 (UTC)

  • well...I'm trying to remember if the original kit came with any memory boards at all. I kinda think not; you'd buy a 4K board or an 8K board separately. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 07:55, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
I think 256 bytes was the standard, then you added more as expansion cards?. The specs are from http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=389&st=1 — Wackymacs 08:53, 18 February 2007 (UTC)
The first IMSAI ad in BYTE magazine (Jan 1976, page 40) stated 256 bytes on a 4K board. The original IMSAI ad in Popular Electronics (Oct 1975 page 110) stated 1K on a 4K board. (You need a magnifying glass to read this 1/6 page ad.) -- SWTPC6800 (talk) 03:01, 19 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Front panel story...

This latest edit has some problems:

  1. Front panels with switches and lights were hardly archaic; most computers had them at that time
  2. The bootstrap loader was hardly tedious to load; thirty years later, my fingers still have the muscle memory to automatically key it in. Something like 21 00 01 DB FE E6 7F C2 03 00 DB FF 77 23 C3 03 00. That's all.
  3. Core dumps aren't necessary if you have a front panel; that's the whole point. All of memory could be examined from the front panel.
  4. What "certain toddler"?
  5. What do you mean "keyboard interface"? The thing was generally connected to either a teletype, or to a CRT (often an ADM-3A, the cheapest ones around); alternately, keyboard were connected to (I forget which port) and the rudimentary video cards were used (there was a black and white one, but there was also the Cromemco Dazzler for fancy color play.)
  6. Who are these engineers that were fired?

I'll be removing this section if these issues aren't clarified. --jpgordon∇∆∇∆ 16:09, 10 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Early IMS advertisements

The first ads for IMS Associates, Inc. appeared in the April 1975 issue of Popular Electronics on page 90. The one inch high ad was for the 7400 Series TTL Pinout Handbook that sold for $2.95. The street address was 1298 E 14th St. San Leandro, Cal. The same ad ran each month through the September issue. The October 1975 issue had a 1/6 page ad that lists the IMSAI 8080 computer and many accessories. (Printers, floppy disk, and even a 50 MB hard disk controller.) It also mentions the Pinout Handbook. The December 1975 issue has a 2/3 page, easy to read, ad.

The fist ad in BYTE was a full page showing a picture of the IMSAI 8080 computer. (January 1976 page 40) -- SWTPC6800 (talk) 04:02, 19 December 2007 (UTC)