video games gallery from the last century



Nabu

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Nabu 1100

Nabu 1600

Nabu Personal Computer

1994


The NABU Network was an early home computer system which was linked to a precursor of the World Wide Web, operating over cable TV.
It operated from 1982 to 1985, primarily in Ottawa, Canada. Its functionality was then revolutionary, though it was not a commercial success. It has been called The Internet — 10 years ahead of its time (even though elements of the history of the internet predate it).

The heart of a NABU PC, short for Natural Access to Bi-directional Utilities, was the Z80A processor chip running at 3.57 MHz and the Texas Instruments TMS9918 video chip. Data was served via a Gould SEL minicomputer. By default, the PCs lacked any individual offline storage, but an optional hard drive could be purchased.

The interface module included four socketed chips: a TR1865CL-04, a full-duplex UART, an SC87253P 8-bit microprocessor, an N8X60N FIFO I/O controller and a pre-programmed ROM. The remainder of the parts on the board were numerous 74LS series logic ICs.
There was an RF module that down-converted signals from the cable connection and up-converted requests to be sent to the server. There were four circuit boards for frequency synthesis, data in and out and RF conversion and dual helical coil bandpass filters. Download speeds over the cable TV line were up to 6.4 Mbit/second.