I bought my Microbee 16 with my first pay packet as a 17 year old back in 82. Still have it, and it still works. The Microbee had a lot of grunt for its time compared to other offerings.
Ewan, I love my six classic Microbee's and the modern two I've built of yours. Just thank you for keeping this whole community alive. I first came into contact with them in 1982 up in Gosford, where a lass called Gaye Follington used to teach kids Microworld BASIC programming. Changed my life. Thank you for keeping it all alive. Can't wait to see the Delta. Any plans to do a Gamma? It's pretty darned interesting.
I built one of the kit versions when they came out. The nice thing about them was the battery backed cmos ram so it didn't need to be reloaded all the time. The system was in rom. For some reason I decided to disassemble the rom spending hours translating hex code into z80 assembler and the basic entry points. Used it to check my programming algorithms as i worked through uni which only had a mainframe machine and quotas on everything resources wise including terminal time. I incorporated a couple of these machines into work projects that used an AD converter card I'd designed for it. The low power demand of these machines and the cmos ram made them very useable off a gel battery.
I remember using a Mitsubishi Microbee in 6th class in 1985 here in Australia. We only has two computers for the entire school, which had 300+ students!
We had Microbee 16k computers at my school. One of the mums built a multiplexer that networked all of the Microbees to our Apple ][e "server". On each Microbee you would type "in#5" which would tell it to receive characters from the serial port as if they were typed locally. The Apple would send a small loader program and then it would send the main program that you wanted to load - often it was Lemonde Stand. Good times.
We had a whole network of Microbees at Nowra Public School in the late 80's. Would *love* to add one to my collection now; but they're as rare as hens teeth now.
I remember back when I went to Primary School, their computer lab was a single room upstairs, with several Microbee Computers linked via network. You could play a selection of games and other things, and it was a great time to use. That was before the school started getting Apple Macintosh PCs, and that was where I learned about the CD-ROM format. Nowadays, they mainly use laptops, Windows PCs, and they converted part of the library originally for fiction books into an online computer network. Boy, how times have changed!
I am restoring a 128k Microbee at present. A great computer and very rugged and fun system, the Microbee Club had some great guys in the old days. Great to hear there is still interest.
I grew up in Victoria, Australia, going to school between 1983 and 1996, and I never saw a microbee system anywhere - it was all Apple II machines, Apple Macintosh and IBM compatible systems. So this is very interesting stuff to me.
Me too, until 1985. My schools had a TRS-80 Model III and half a dozen Apple IIs. I rarely saw a MicroBee and never touched one. I guess they were more common in NSW than VIC?
I just picked up two Microbee 16's at the local tip, a guy was just throwing them away. They still work tho I havent the foggiest idea of how to actually use them. None for sale on eBay. Any thoughts on their value??
I found a boxed 16 that went for $225.50AU in an ebay auction that was also available for US and other international delivery (and thus bids). Want to sell me one?
I still have my Microbee series 2, and all the programming books. I did a course in machine code at college, the microbee had a compiler so I was able to check my code... I purchased mine instead of the Apple II as the reps in Brisbane were to far up them selves and looked down on me as had very little money to spend
I think the first basic was actually written by Matthew Star. When I worked for Applied Tech in 82 & start of 83, we were still manually placing the components and ran the board through a flow solder machine.
It's an irrelevant selfish thought, but I can stop noticing how Ewan looks younger than me yet has to be at least 10 years older. They are built different in Australia. Being alert for venomous critters must keep you young.
We had a very microbee passionate computer teacher in primary school at Hornsby North P.S that had a little array of networked Microbee running as slave with a single master that he enjoyed getting straight into as soon as possible always saying you don't need to learn word see how it used to be....
Oh bloody Hell. I chucked one in a bin around 5 years ago. Offered it for free online and got told "nobody cares about a little computer made in Australia".
I bought my Microbee 16 with my first pay packet as a 17 year old back in 82. Still have it, and it still works. The Microbee had a lot of grunt for its time compared to other offerings.
Such a wonderful and friendly staff from recall :)
Ewan, I love my six classic Microbee's and the modern two I've built of yours. Just thank you for keeping this whole community alive. I first came into contact with them in 1982 up in Gosford, where a lass called Gaye Follington used to teach kids Microworld BASIC programming. Changed my life. Thank you for keeping it all alive. Can't wait to see the Delta. Any plans to do a Gamma? It's pretty darned interesting.
Great interview, I have very fond memories of my primary school computing lessons on the MicroBee
Thank you :)
I built one of the kit versions when they came out. The nice thing about them was the battery backed cmos ram so it didn't need to be reloaded all the time. The system was in rom.
For some reason I decided to disassemble the rom spending hours translating hex code into z80 assembler and the basic entry points.
Used it to check my programming algorithms as i worked through uni which only had a mainframe machine and quotas on everything resources wise including terminal time.
I incorporated a couple of these machines into work projects that used an AD converter card I'd designed for it. The low power demand of these machines and the cmos ram made them very useable off a gel battery.
I remember using a Mitsubishi Microbee in 6th class in 1985 here in Australia. We only has two computers for the entire school, which had 300+ students!
Thanks for all these great videos !
We had Microbee 16k computers at my school. One of the mums built a multiplexer that networked all of the Microbees to our Apple ][e "server". On each Microbee you would type "in#5" which would tell it to receive characters from the serial port as if they were typed locally. The Apple would send a small loader program and then it would send the main program that you wanted to load - often it was Lemonde Stand. Good times.
We had a whole network of Microbees at Nowra Public School in the late 80's. Would *love* to add one to my collection now; but they're as rare as hens teeth now.
I remember back when I went to Primary School, their computer lab was a single room upstairs, with several Microbee Computers linked via network. You could play a selection of games and other things, and it was a great time to use. That was before the school started getting Apple Macintosh PCs, and that was where I learned about the CD-ROM format. Nowadays, they mainly use laptops, Windows PCs, and they converted part of the library originally for fiction books into an online computer network. Boy, how times have changed!
I am restoring a 128k Microbee at present. A great computer and very rugged and fun system, the Microbee Club had some great guys in the old days. Great to hear there is still interest.
I grew up in Victoria, Australia, going to school between 1983 and 1996, and I never saw a microbee system anywhere - it was all Apple II machines, Apple Macintosh and IBM compatible systems. So this is very interesting stuff to me.
Had them at Banyule High School in Melbourne. 1986-87 I remember.
I used them in highschool from about 1985 to 1988.
Me too, until 1985. My schools had a TRS-80 Model III and half a dozen Apple IIs. I rarely saw a MicroBee and never touched one. I guess they were more common in NSW than VIC?
@@andrewdunbar828 They were in every school in WA as well.
Learnt to program BASIC on a Microbee in high school in the mid 80s!
Sounds like a very interesting machine. If I had the space I'd probably enjoy getting my hands on one, if they're available in the UK.
We had an article down here about it in Popular Science mag. Didn't expect to see an interview about it here
I worked with the S3 in Sweden back in the days, did the Spreadsheet app and some other stuff. Great fun!
I just picked up two Microbee 16's at the local tip, a guy was just throwing them away. They still work tho I havent the foggiest idea of how to actually use them. None for sale on eBay. Any thoughts on their value??
I found a boxed 16 that went for $225.50AU in an ebay auction that was also available for US and other international delivery (and thus bids). Want to sell me one?
I still have my Microbee series 2, and all the programming books. I did a course in machine code at college, the microbee had a compiler so I was able to check my code... I purchased mine instead of the Apple II as the reps in Brisbane were to far up them selves and looked down on me as had very little money to spend
I need one of those Microbee Technologies shirts.
The computer of choice for Port Hacking High School - Miranda in the 80 "s !
Who made the BASIC for the Microbee? Was it from Microsoft?
Microbee basic is a highly modified and upgraded version of 'Basic Etc' by East Texas Computers
I think the first basic was actually written by Matthew Star. When I worked for Applied Tech in 82 & start of 83, we were still manually placing the components and ran the board through a flow solder machine.
Ewan, you are nopw a museum piece :) Hows the accord?
It's an irrelevant selfish thought, but I can stop noticing how Ewan looks younger than me yet has to be at least 10 years older. They are built different in Australia. Being alert for venomous critters must keep you young.
We had a very microbee passionate computer teacher in primary school at Hornsby North P.S that had a little array of networked Microbee running as slave with a single master that he enjoyed getting straight into as soon as possible always saying you don't need to learn word see how it used to be....
Sounds like the beach mate! :D
Oh bloody Hell. I chucked one in a bin around 5 years ago. Offered it for free online and got told "nobody cares about a little computer made in Australia".
Damn! I would love to be able to buy it from you.
If anyone has a Microbee they'd like to sell me, either original or Premium Plus+, please let me know. I want to port my games to the Microbee.