Colour Genie

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The EACA EG2000 Colour Genie is a computer produced by Hong Kong-based manufacturer EACA. It followed their earlier Video Genie I and II computers (and was released around the same time as the business-oriented Video Genie III). The BASIC is compatible to the Video Genie I and II and the TRS-80, execpt for graphic and sound commands, some routines for Video Genie I BASIC commans where still left in the Colour Genie's BASIC ROM. Programms where provivided to load TRS-80 programms into the Colour Genie. Colour Genie disks could be read with TRS-80 floppy disks drives but not vice versa.

Unlike the earlier Video Genies, which were compatible with their main competitor (the Model I TRS-80), the Colour Genie is also incompatible with the rival TRS-80 Color Computer- one fundamental difference being the different CPUs.

Contents 1 Technical Specifications 1.1 Internal hardware 1.2 I/O ports and power supply 1.3 External hardware options 2 External links

[edit] Technical Specifications

[edit] Internal hardware

• CPU
  • Zilog Z80 , 2 MHz

• Video Hardware
  • 6845 CRTC
  • 40×25 text, 16 colours, 128 user defined characters
  • 160×102 graphics, 4 colours

• Sound Hardware
  • General Instruments AY-3-8910
  • 3 sound channels, ADSR programmable
  • 1 noise channel
  • 2 8-bit wide I/O ports

• RAM:
  • 16 KB RAM, expandable to 32 KB

• ROM:
  • 16 KB containing LEVEL II BASIC

• Keyboard
  • 63-key typewriter style
  • 4 programmable function keys

[edit] I/O ports and power supply

• I/O ports:
  • Composite video out and audio out (cinch plugs)
  • Integrated RF modulator antenna output, which also carries sound, to TV
  • Cartridge expansion slot (slot for edge connector with Z80 CPU address/data bus lines and control signals, as well as GND and voltage pins; used for ROM cartridges or the floppy disk controller
  • 1200 baud tape interface (5 pin DIN)
  • RS-232 port (5 pin DIN)
  • Lightpen port (5 pin DIN)
  • Parallel port for printer or joystick controller
• Power supply: 5V DC, +12V DC and -12V DC

[edit] External hardware options

• Floppy disk controller with floppy disk station.
  • Supported up to 4 drives (5.25 inch).
  • Support for 90 KB SS/SD up to 720 KB DS/DD drives.
• Cassette recorder
• EPROM cartridge of 12 KB
• EG2013 Joystick Controller
  • 2 Analogue joysticks with keypads

[edit] External links

• www.colourgenie.de.vu Colour Genie Homepage (at this time in German only)
• gansweith.freehostia.com/colourgenie/cgenie_en.html Colour Genie Homepage (English Version)