From 1979-1992 I worked for computer shop in North London, UK (Da Vinci computers) and the DAI was one of the machines I evaluated for our store to sell. The hardware was good, but VERY expensive. Apparently it was designed by some engineers who worked for Texas Instruments. As the design was 'rushed' the prototype machine was developed with the Intel 8080 , and the plan was to replace the 8080 with a more modern and slightly more powerful z80, but this did not happen. I evaluated the machine for a few weeks and then sent it back to the importer. It had a very powerful, semi-compiling BASIC and a math co-processor from AMD. The graphics were superb and fast. However it was FAR too expensive and there was no hardware expansion and pretty much ZERO software. Stephen Walters G7VFY.
The more I see of your work and your projects (like the Agon), the more admiration and respect I have for what you do. Your aims are admirable and I think you are doing a great job. Loved the video, and am enjoying watching the preservation of this very rare machine
I remember these... but just from seeing them advertised in the magazines back in the day... It's great to finally have a look at one. :) 1:45 Yay... shout out to Swindon's Museum of Computing... we haven'y got a lot in Swindon, but the Museum of Computing is really rather good.
Wow - just found this channel from the Hackaday Q1 page. I've got a DAI that's been in storage in the UK since 1990 when I went to University. Just rescued it - along with the disc drives! (Was all working when put into storage - not been switched on for 30+ years...) Will definitely watch this series for inspiration!
9:40 for jobs like that, I like using a nylon spudger. That way you don't have to worry about gouging or scratching the plastic underneath the adhesive.
The DAI had in 1980 a JIT (just-in-time) BASIC to bytecode compiler in stead of a BASIC interpreter, a technique that was later popularized by Java (HotSpot) in 1999.
That brings back some memories. One of the teachers at my school had one and I was allowed to play with it at lunch times, even though it was in the sixth form building and I was a lowly fifth year. It was the first computer I used with not only colour, but also graphics. It was far better than the three other computers at my school, an RML-380Z (the machine I used the most where I had to load basic from tape), a TRS-80 and a PET.
Me too - amazed I found this via the Q1 video on Hackaday. Whilst watching that video I thought 'I really should see if there are any DAI videos around' as I should look at mine - and lo-and-behold - I found this on the same channel!
I had a few DAI mini cassettes at one point, but I can't find any picture/video of the way these tapes were used on the DAI. It has no built in drive like the P2000T. Is it in one of your other video's? Was it an automatic device as well, with computer controlled loading/searching/indexing?
From 1979-1992 I worked for computer shop in North London, UK (Da Vinci computers) and the DAI was one of the machines I evaluated for our store to sell. The hardware was good, but VERY expensive. Apparently it was designed by some engineers who worked for Texas Instruments. As the design was 'rushed' the prototype machine was developed with the Intel 8080 , and the plan was to replace the 8080 with a more modern and slightly more powerful z80, but this did not happen. I evaluated the machine for a few weeks and then sent it back to the importer.
It had a very powerful, semi-compiling BASIC and a math co-processor from AMD. The graphics were superb and fast. However it was FAR too expensive and there was no hardware expansion and pretty much ZERO software. Stephen Walters G7VFY.
The more I see of your work and your projects (like the Agon), the more admiration and respect I have for what you do. Your aims are admirable and I think you are doing a great job. Loved the video, and am enjoying watching the preservation of this very rare machine
Every once in a while I run across a machine I've never seen before. This is always a treat!
I remember these... but just from seeing them advertised in the magazines back in the day... It's great to finally have a look at one. :)
1:45 Yay... shout out to Swindon's Museum of Computing... we haven'y got a lot in Swindon, but the Museum of Computing is really rather good.
Wow - just found this channel from the Hackaday Q1 page. I've got a DAI that's been in storage in the UK since 1990 when I went to University. Just rescued it - along with the disc drives! (Was all working when put into storage - not been switched on for 30+ years...) Will definitely watch this series for inspiration!
The case looks really fantastic, great work.
Thank you!
9:40 for jobs like that, I like using a nylon spudger. That way you don't have to worry about gouging or scratching the plastic underneath the adhesive.
There is a nice "Mensch, ärgere Dich nicht!" game for the DAI.
Oh, that case is beautiful. I like the idea of using the wax to preserve the 303. How often would the museum need to reapply this treatment?
Once every few years at most!
Awesome!
The DAI had in 1980 a JIT (just-in-time) BASIC to bytecode compiler in stead of a BASIC interpreter, a technique that was later popularized by Java (HotSpot) in 1999.
That brings back some memories. One of the teachers at my school had one and I was allowed to play with it at lunch times, even though it was in the sixth form building and I was a lowly fifth year. It was the first computer I used with not only colour, but also graphics. It was far better than the three other computers at my school, an RML-380Z (the machine I used the most where I had to load basic from tape), a TRS-80 and a PET.
I should give mine some TLC too, going to get through your videos first ;)
Me too - amazed I found this via the Q1 video on Hackaday. Whilst watching that video I thought 'I really should see if there are any DAI videos around' as I should look at mine - and lo-and-behold - I found this on the same channel!
I had a few DAI mini cassettes at one point, but I can't find any picture/video of the way these tapes were used on the DAI. It has no built in drive like the P2000T. Is it in one of your other video's? Was it an automatic device as well, with computer controlled loading/searching/indexing?
There is.a standard ear/mic port at the rear, so I assume it can use a standard cassette player, like the early Sinclair computers.
@@thebyteattic Oh, then they must have used a mini-cassette memo recorder or such.