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TK95

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TK 95
Brazilian clone of ZX Spectrum
ManufacturerMicrodigital Eletrônica
TypeHome computer
Release date1986; 38 years ago (1986)
Introductory priceCz$ 4559
Operating systemSinclair BASIC
CPUZilog Z80B @ 3.5 MHz
Memory48 KB RAM
Removable storageCassette tape
DisplayTV RF out (VHF channel 3), PAL-M, 256 x 192, 15 colours
GraphicsCustom IC
SoundBeeper
Backward
compatibility		ZX Spectrum
PredecessorTK90X

The TK 95 microcomputer was a 1986 ZX Spectrum clone by Microdigital Eletrônica, a company located at São Paulo, Brazil.[1][2][3][4] It was an evolution of the TK90X introduced the previous year.[5][6][7][8]

The case was redesigned (copied from the Commodore Plus/4[9][10]) and the keyboard was said to be "semi-professional" (according to the Brazilian manufacturer),[11] with the addition of some Sinclair BASIC commands that did not exist in the ZX Spectrum's basic set (for user-defined characters – UDG), and better compatibility with the original ZX Spectrum (compared to the TK90X).[6]

Like the Spectrum, the machine had 48 kilobytes of RAM. Inside, the same processor: Z80A running at 3.58 MHz,[5] a 16 KB ROM chip and some RAM chips (old dynamic rams 4116 and 4416).[5][6] Microdigital did some reverse engineering to develop a chip with the functions of the original ULA from Sinclair/Ferranti. The modulator was tuned to VHF channel 3 and the TV system was PAL-M (60 Hz). The cassette interface ran at a faster speed than the Spectrum.

Only two peripherals were released by Microdigital – a light pen interface and a parallel printer interface. Other companies in Brazil released clone versions of Interface 1 joysticks (Atari 2600-compatibles) and interfaces for 5¼" PC drives (360 KB). The games had questionable legality being close to copies of the originals and the fans of the ZX Spectrum computer in Brazil were counted in tens of thousands.

References

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  1. ^ Veja (in Brazilian Portuguese). Editora Abril. 1986. p. 82.
  2. ^ Visão (in Brazilian Portuguese). 1986. p. 11.
  3. ^ Exame informática (in Brazilian Portuguese). Editôra Abril. 1986. p. 10.
  4. ^ "TK 95 chega ao mercado" (PDF). Micro Sistemas. November 1986. p. 16.
  5. ^ a b c "1000 BiT - Computer's description". www.1000bit.it. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  6. ^ a b c "Tk-95 Microdigital". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  7. ^ "Sinclair Nostalgia Products - Sinclair Clones - MicroDigital". www.interface1.net. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  8. ^ Old, Vintage is The New (8 November 2020). "Collector's Corner: TK-95 – The Brazilian ZX Spectrum, but better". Vintage is The New Old. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  9. ^ "Microdigital TK90x" (in French). Archived from the original on November 25, 2006. Retrieved 2013-03-14. notre constructeur brésilien va faire un effort et sortira dans la foulée le TK95 à l'allure d'un Commodore Plus/4.
  10. ^ "A EVOLUÇÃO DOS COMPUTADORES". www.ic.uff.br. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  11. ^ "Microdigital TK 95". anticuario-digital.com.ar. Retrieved 2023-01-19.
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