Talk:Newbear 77-68

Rename of this article
Hello,

I think the title needs to be changed to "Bear Microcomputer Systems 77-68". All my documentation refers to the "77-86" and not "77/68".

"NewBear" came into existance at a later date - I'll get back to you on this.

Andrew


 * Andrew go right ahead - my memory is hazy now since I built mine around 1980! Did you have one too? I just gave mine to the new computer museum at Swindon Infilms 09:04, 3 April 2006 (UTC)


 * I too think it should be 77-68 not 77/68, as you can see from the photo I just added. Anthony Hay (talk) 14:08, 27 December 2008 (UTC)


 * By popular concensus I've renamed the page - thanks guys Hugh Mason (talk • contribs 16:44, 28 December 2008 (UTC)
 * It would be better to have a reference for the name - was that front panel a factory-made part or was this a home-lettered front panel? Any factory literature, advertising, etc. ?  Google, ever the unreliable oracle, gives a large nubmer of hits on 77/68 as well as the 77-68 forms (even discounting Wikipedia echoes). --Wtshymanski (talk) 17:46, 28 December 2008 (UTC)


 * Fair comment and thanks for the prompt to get the history right. This is what the front page of the official constructor's manual says: "77 — 68 THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SIMPLE MICROCOMPUTER USING A 6800 MICROPROCESSOR", so I think that's fairly conclusive as regards the name. The rest of the front page and the preface also contains useful historic information so I copy it here verbatim:
 * © BEAR MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEMS 1977 24 College Road, Maidenhead, Berks. SL6 6BN First edition June 1977.
 * Preface
 * 77-68 was designed to be a low cost system with which the constructor could learn about microcomputing by direct experience. The board can then be expanded, without restriction, to the limit of the 6800 microprocessor’s potential. Throughout the following months, additional items will be made available e.g. memory cards, Kansas City interface, RS 232C interface, Monitoring ROM’s. The User Group will hold all the latest information and it is expected to play a major role in the development of this system.
 * If difficulty is experienced in obtaining any parts or in commissioning the microcomputer, do not hesitate to contact the “BEAR” or the User Group.
 * The Instruction set is reproduced by kind permission of Motorola Ltd.
 * BEAR MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEMS JUNE 1977 Hugh Mason (talk • contribs 08:23, 29 December 2008 (UTC)


 * "...was that front panel a factory-made part or was this a home-lettered front panel?" - It was purchased from either Bear Microcomputer Systems or NewBear by my father. The lettering is as supplied by the manufacturer. For a little additional confusion: the text on the solder-side of the CPU board says "7768 CPU Iss 1" (i.e. no hyphen or slash). Similarly, the first place I read about the 7768 was in the April 1977 issue of the Amateur Computer Club Newsletter (I still have it), which contained an article by Mike Lord titled "7768 MICROCOMPUTER" and refers to 7768 without hyphens or slashes throughout. Anthony Hay (talk) 17:28, 29 December 2008 (UTC)
 * LOL well it looks like Newbear were great microcomputer designers but maybe not so hot in the 'brand police' department then ... shall we settle on adding a redirect for 7768 pointing to this page and adding a note on the variations on the naming in the article? Hugh Mason (talk • contribs 00:14, 31 December 2008 (UTC)
 * Hugh, the redirect from 7768 sounds like a good idea. But I think it may be wrong to say that Newbear designed the 7768. I think Mike Lord designed it, published the design in the ACC Newsletter (of which he was editor at the time) and made the PCB available for "£7.75 inc UK P&P from Mike Lord." I don't know if Newbear was involved from the start or not. I wish Mike Lord would tell us! Anthony Hay (talk) 21:45, 5 January 2009 (UTC)

Additional material
I did have one but had to get rid of it a few years ago. I still have all the documentation and have scanned in the second release of the construction manual. I'd like to include it here but am not sure if I can attached a pdf.

I have a lot of the design notes and some price lists which I will include once I can find out how to attach pdfs!

Andrew


 * if you have further material, sample programs or anything else that would add to this, please attach it or leave me a message if you would prefer me to do that Hugh Mason (talk • contribs 16:44, 28 December 2008 (UTC)