Once again, I am pleased to tell you about the new innovations that were on display at this year’s Consumer Electronics show at McCormick Place on Chicago’s lake front.
Two items, in my opinion, stole the show, as far as computer products go.
MINDLINK
The first is a product called Mind-Link from Atari. This device is a headset the attaches to any Atari computer. The user can control the computer’s operation through the use of this device. It finds its primary use in arcade type games with hands-off operation.
The operation is not done with the thoughts of the operator or mental bio-feedback, but rather with with the movement of various muscles of the operator’s head.
Mind-Link is supposed to be introduced in August of this year and should be enough of a novelty to show a strong market demand.
COLOR PRINTER FROM OKIDATA
The Okimate 10 is designed to be used with the Atari and Commodore computers. It is a lightweight (7 lbs.) device that will print in 40 to 50 colors at 60 characters per second or graphics characters with 9 by 9 dot matrix at 18 characters per second.
The package comes with a black ribbon, a color ribbon, computer paper, connecting cable, printer handbook, “Learn-to-Print” software package, “Color Screen Print” software package and OKIMATE 10 PLUG’n PRINT operating module with optional PLUG’n PRINT modules available.
It is designed to work with most existing software and will print on mailing labels, computer paper, thermal paper and even plastic acetate for overhead transparencies.
The big surprise is the suggested retail price at only $288.00 – – –
Other interesting devices were chess-playing computers.
Fidelity, the grand-daddy of dedicated chess playing computers, had their top competitor (CSC – Champion Sensory Chess Challenger) on display. This model has a 32K game and is claimed to have a near 1800 USCF rating.
SciSys has a model (205-SUPERSTAR – $199.00) that claims to solve Mate-In-Eight problems.
Novag’s model (831 – Constellation – 199.95) claims to solve Mate-In-Twelve problems with a 16K program and has an ELO rating of 2000 points. This is the model that Grandmaster Jon Speelman lost to in simultaneous play with 28 other oponents.
NEW COMMODORE COMPUTERS
Commodore introduced 2 new computers and true to form, they are not compatible with any software for other Commodore computers. The hardware, however, is compatible.
The PLUS/4 is a 64K machine designed to take the place of the C-64 and will be priced at under $400.00. It will come with four software packages built in – File Management, Spreadsheet, Word Processing and Graph Graphics of which the last three are integrated.
The Commodore 16 is a 16K version of the PLUS/4 and is designed to replace the VIC-20 market at under $150.00.
Also available will be a new color monitor (CM 141), a near letter quality 60 cps dot matrix printer (MPS 802), a letter quality 18 cps daisy wheel printer (DPS 1101) and a new fast disk drive (SFS 481).
This last item would be a welcome accessory to anyone used to using the 1541 drives. The SFS 481 can load a 16K program in 10 seconds.
COLECO ADAM
A representive from Coleco has assured me that all the bugs have been eliminated from the ADAM and that there have been virtually no returns of equipment for service since February of this year.
The trading stock, however, still suffers which to me is an indication of the unfavorable stigma that the ADAM has wrought – a fine example of a good idea gone sour.
Most software vendors were displaying their wares on Commodore 64s, with IBM PCs running a close second. The domination of Apple software in previous shows has changed to show the strong competition from other manufacturers.
Noticeably missing was anything that was computer related involving Timex. This was quite a contrast to the booths (about 3000 square feet) that Timex had last year.
Sinclair had a small booth with a number of their QLs on display (see QL article this issue) and dispensed literature on the QL and their pocket TV.
The hand-held flat-screen set measures 5 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ x 1 1/4″ and weighs just 12 ounces. The screen measures 1 7/8″ across by 1 5/16″ down. The only controls for manual adjustment are on/off, volume and channel selection – all others are adjusted internally by a single integrated circuit. Power is supplied by a new-technology Lithium Power Card, as slim as a credit card. This battery can easily be changed by slipping it out and slipping a new one in. Each battery allows 15 hours of viewing. The screen is claimed to be three times as bright as a conventional tube and has pin sharp black and white contrast, yet uses one third to one tenth of the power of a conventional set.