VideoBrain


The VideoBrain was an obscure and ultimately short-lived system, yet it holds a special place in computer history as the first cartridge based computer system.

When it was released in 1977, the VideoBrain was equipped with a 36 key keyboard (with 71 distinguishable input symbols), 1K of RAM, 4K of ROM, two joysticks and was sold for $299. It has some built-in applications

such as text editor, clock, alarm, and color bar generator. Additional programs could be loaded into the system via cartridges which were sold separately for $20 to $40 each. Like many other early computers, the VideoBrain had an RF output and used a regular TV as a monitor. Computer could be connected to a printer, cassette player, or a modem through special expansion modules, which was quite impressive for 1977.

Unfortunately, from the very start, the VideoBrain was plagued by a number of problems and never gained sufficient market. Some of the problems were the VideoBrain's confusing and non-user friendly keyboard which was poorly designed and made even a simple typing a nightmare. Another key problem was that it did not support the popular programming language BASIC. Instead users had to settle for APL/S, an obscure and quirky programming language used mainly by mathematicians. Most of the available programs were either productivity or educational in nature with only a smattering of action titles.