Video Genie

TRZ-80 redirects here. This should not be confused with the TRS-80 computer line.
The first version of the Video Genie System, including the right-hand Shift key that was replaced in later versions.
PMC-80, a rebadged Video Genie distributed in North America by Personal Micro Computers, Inc.[1]

Video Genie (or simply Genie) was a series of computers produced by Hong Kong-based manufacturer EACA during the early 1980s. They were compatible with the Tandy TRS-80 Model I computers and could be considered a clone, although there were hardware and software differences.

The computers making up the series were

Although Video Genie was the name used in Western Europe, the machines were sold under different names in other countries. In Australia and New Zealand they were known as the Dick Smith System 80 MK I (EG3003) and System 80 MK II (EG3008), and in North America they were sold as the PMC-80 and PMC-81. In South Africa the Video Genie was sold as the TRZ-80, a name similar to its rival.[2]

In early 1983, the related Colour Genie machine was released by EACA.

Video Genie - poster for first version.

Features

Versions

EG3014 Expander

The EG3014 Expander add-on corresponds to the Tandy TRS-80 Model I Expansion Interface. It has a Centronics printer port and a single density floppy interface for up to 4 single-sided or 3 double-sided drives. It also has sockets for adding two 16K banks of RAM (making it possible to expand to 48K RAM) and edge connectors for the EG3020 RS-232 interface and EG3022 S-100 bus interface. The EG3014 could also be expanded with the EG3021 double density kit.

EG3016 Parallel Printer Interface

Centronics printer port add-on.

Reception

InfoWorld in April 1981 favorably reviewed the PMC-80. It reported that the computer was compatible with all tested software and several S-100 boards in the expansion interface, and found the integrated datacassette recorder to be very reliable. While criticizing the absence of a right shift key, the magazine concluded that the computer was "a well-built alternative ... if you are considering buying a TRS-80 Model III, the PMC-80 ... costs less and has essentially the same performance and the bonus of S-100 expansion possibilities".[3] A BYTE writer in January 1983 stated that "of all the business machines at the" Personal Computer World show, the EACA Genie III was "the one that caught my eye. Like the IBM Personal Computer, it is newsworthy not because it's innovative but because it carefully combines the best features of other computers".[4]

References and footnotes

  1. ↑ http://www.trs-80.org/pmc-80/
  2. ↑ Eric Lindsay, What's a TRZ-80? - or a Video Genie or a Dick Smith System 80?, 80 Microcomputing, January 1982, page 218
  3. ↑ Hogan, Thom (1981-04-13). "PMC-80: TRS-80 'Workalike' Computer". InfoWorld. p. 54. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Williams, Gregg (January 1983). "Microcomputer, British Style / The Fifth Personal Computer World Show". BYTE. p. 40. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

See also

References

    External links