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The MRB Z1013 (Mikrorechnerbausatz = mikrocomputer kit) was an East German Single-board computer produced by VEB Robotron Riesa which was primarily intended for private use and educational institutions. It was powered by an U880 processor (a Z80 clone) and comes together with a membrane keyboard. Over time four different variants had been designed. The versions differs in the amount of memory and quality of the selected components with regards to the clock frequency. It has been available since 1985, and only sold as a kit. This contained the assembled and tested motherboard, a flat foil keyboard, various small parts and detailed technical documentation. BASIC interpreter for simple programming of the devices could be used by loading from compact cassette or by using a plug-in module. In 1987, Robotron produced Z9001, KC85/1 and KC87 expansion modules. The BASIC module uses a common core ROM so the programs where widely compatible among the different models of GDR computers. The system bus connector was based on the K1520 standard which allow the reuse of hardware from other minicomputers and increase compatibility on program level. Due to the simplistic makeup, demand and production kept a kind of balance. In that way it was the only computer freely available for private purchase. To purchase you had to send a post card to the Robotron shop in Erfurt and 6-12 month later pick it up personally over there. Between late 1985 and mid-1990, a total of about 25,000 kits have been delivered.〔Klaus-Dieter Weise: (''Erzeugnislinie Heimcomputer, Kleincomputer und Bildungscomputer des VEB Kombinat Robotron.'' ) 2005, Weise S. 12/13.〕 == History == Despite the Cold War and the associated high-technology embargo CoCom the government pushed for an ambitious program to keep up with international development of engineering and microelectronics. That generated a huge interest among individuals who tried to develop electronics at work or at home aside from the government's economic programs. In 1984 the first two lines of home computers the Z9001 and HC900 were presented to the public. Due to small scale of production those devices were difficult to obtain. They were very expensive, but still could not satisfy the demand. With a production yield of a few percent, a significant amount of circuits failed to pass the acceptance criteria. The components were called "Anfalltyp" or "rejects". Most of them were functional, but exceed allowed tolerances. Within limits, e.g. speed or access time, they may work fine. Therefore, the manufacturing companies pushed for a development of simple fault-tolerant learning or hobby computers which can make use of the rejects. The use of waste production could lower the reported reject rates and partly close gap in demand for home computers.〔(). robotron-net.de, Mikrorechnerbausatz Z1013 (1984)〕 Following the same concept to sell rejects as a fraction of the original price, the computer design should only consist of the cheapest and easiest available circuits. As a result, three single board computers were brought to industrial production: the LC 80 with calculator display and keyboard, the Polycomputer 880 with 8-digit seven-segment display and the more comfortable Z1013 with TV output.〔Klaus-Dieter Weise: (''Erzeugnislinie Heimcomputer, Kleincomputer und Bildungscomputer des VEB Kombinat Robotron.'' ) 2005, S. 48 f.〕〔Peter Salomon: ''Die Geschichte der Mikroelektronik-Halbleiterindustrie in der DDR.'' Funkverlag Bernhard Hein e. K., 2003, ISBN 3-936124-31-0, S. 75.〕 The initiators of the Z1013 concept favored a caseless single-board computer with membrane keyboard. Through simple appearance and design the price had been kept under 1000 M for the targeted group of electronics amateurs. The development and production transferred to the well-established industry PCB manufacturer VEB Robotron Riesa in early 1984.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Robotron Z1013」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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