Date   : Wed, 02 Jul 2003 13:14:35 +0100 (BST)
From   : Brian Widdas <brian@...>
Subject: Re: Torch users?

On Wed, 2 Jul 2003, [iso-8859-1] Jules Richardson wrote:

> > I'm one, I have a Torch Z80.
>
> OK, so what did one of those comprise of? I thought that was one of their
> 'upgrades' to a stock BBC machine, but your comment about keyboards below
> suggests not.

I think there were some variances (eg, hard disk instead of floppy), but
the one I have consists of a BBC motherboard, monitor, two floppies and
Z80 co-pro in a single large (and heavy) metal case.

The keyboard isn't the standard Beeb keyboard, but instead a separate unit
(with additional keys), connected via a 15-core cable. A small circuit
board plugs into the BBC motherboard's keyboard connector and performs the
necessary logic to make the external keyboard work.

The motherboard has a disk controller (can't remember if it's 8271 or
1770), speech chip, and Econet.

Brian
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