The Lynx was an 8-bit British home computer that was first released in early 1983 as a 48 KB model. Several models were available with 48 KB, 96 KB or 128 KB RAM. It was possible to reach 192 KB with RAM expansions on board. John Shireff designed the hardware and Davis Jansons the firmware.
Details The machine was based around a Z80A CPU clocked at 4 MHz (6 MHz for the 128/192 KB models) and featured a Motorola 6845 as video controller. It was possible to run CP/M with the optional 5.25" floppy disk-drive on the 96 KB and 128 KB models.
Unique features of this computer (compared to other home computers at the time) include: All numbers were floating point BCD numbers (even line numbers). The computer always ran in "high" resolution graphics mode (256x252 pixels in eight colours) using a 6 x 10 pixel font. Only a few bytes of graphic memory could be manipulated during the horizontal sync period, and thus graphics were extremely slow compared to most other computers. Up to 192 KB of RAM and 20 KB of ROM (16 KB on the smallest model) on a 16-bit address bus was implemented using special hardware. As a consequence, certain RAM areas shadowed by ROM could only be used for data storage and the video memory had a green and alternative green bank that could be switched by a hardware register. For sound it had a simple (6-bit) DAC. A comparator was included to serve as an ADC (primarily used for reading from tape drives).
Compared to, for example, the Commodore 64, the BASIC was more extensive; but computer games on the other hand suffered from the special implementation and lack of hardware for sound and sprites.
History The machine was quite advanced for its time. A 48K machine cost £225, a 96K machine £299 and a 128K machine £345. When compared to its competitors, such as the ZX Spectrum and the Oric 1, it was also fairly highly priced. Camputers rebranded and relaunched each machine on several occasions, with the 48K machine renamed the Leisure, and the 128K machine renamed as the Laureate.
The machine had very little software available, and survived only until Camputers ceased trading in June 1984. It is believed that approximately 30,000 Camputers Lynx units were sold worldwide.
Anston Technology took over in November 1984 and a re-launch was planned but never happened. In June 1986, Anston sold everything - hardware, design rights and thousands of cassettes - to the National Lynx User Group. The group planned to produce a Super-Lynx but was too busy supplying spares and technical information to owners of existing models, and the project never came into being.
Reception After seeing a preview of the Camputers Lynx at the Personal Computer World Show, BYTE in January 1983 stated that it "offers more computing power for the money than any other machine I saw there". Computing Today in June 1983 criticised the manual as "put together in something of a hurry ... confusing" and criticised the computer for not meeting published specifications and having manufacturing defects. It concluded that the Lynx "could be seen as a flawed jewel ... If the less satisfactory aspects can be put to rights, it could prove to be a very popular machine. That, however, could entail some sacrifices."
Video games
There are 60 known commercially released game for the Camputers Lynx Title Publisher Year 3D Monster Craze Camsoft 1983 Air raid Camsoft 1983 Alien 8 Ultimate Play the Game 1985 Atom Smasher Romik Software 1983 Battlebrick Bus-Tech 1983 Centipede Play It! Colossal Adventure Level 9 Computing 1983 Compass Level 9 Computing 1983 Dam Buster Camsoft 1983 Deathball Bus-Tech 1983 Delta Wing Creative Sparks 1984 Diggerman GEM Software 1984 Draughts Camsoft Dungeon Adventure Level 9 Computing 1983 Floyds Bank Romik Software 1983 Football Manager Addictive Games 1984 Gempak 4: Sea Harrier / Sub Chase GEM Software 1983 Golf GEM Software 1983 Gomoku Netstrak Software 1983 Gridtrap L' Oeil de Lynx 1984 Hangman Camsoft 1983The Hobbit Melbourne House 1983 Labyrinth Quazar Computing 1983 L'odyssée d'Asterix Bibliotheque de Cintre 1984 Logichess Camsoft 1984 Lord of the Rings Melbourne House 1986 Lynx Invaders Camsoft 1983 Mastermind Willowsoft 1983 Maxi-Mots L' Oeil de Lynx 1984 Mazeman Abersoft 1983 Mined-Out Quicksilva 1983 Monster Mine GEM Software 1983 Moon Camsoft Moonfall Camsoft 1983 Muncher Bus-Tech 1983 Night Flight L. Corrigan 1984 Oh Mummy! GEM Software 1983 Panik Camsoft 1984 Pengo Play It! 1984 Pontoon GEM Software 1983 Power Blaster Camsoft 1983 Protector Sian Software 1983 Racer Sian Software 1983 Reversi GEM Software 1983 Roader FL Software 1983 Robo-Run Gazza 1983 Rocketman Bamby Soft 1983 Siege Attack Quazar Computing 1984 Snake GEM Software 1983 Space Trek Quazar Computing 1983 Spannerman GEM Software 1983 Spellbound Bamby Soft 1983 Sultan's Maze GEM Software 1983 Treasure Island Camsoft 1983 Twinkle GEM Software 1983The Valley Phoenixx Software 1984 WASP Romik Software 1984The Worm Quazar Computing 1983 Ynxvaders Bus-Tech 1983 Zombie Panic Bus-Tech 1983
References