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Wikipedia

Orao (computer)

December 15, 2023

Orao (en. Eagle) was an 8-bit computer developed by PEL Varaždin in 1984. Its marketing and distribution was done by Velebit Informatika. It was used as a standard primary school and secondary school computer in the former Yugoslavia (Croatia and Vojvodina) from 1985 to 1991.

Orao
Orao
TypeHome computer
Generation8-bit
Release dateYugoslavia: 1984
Lifespan1984–1991
Discontinued1991
MediaCassette tape
Floppy disk[1]
Operating systemOrao BASIC
CPUMOS Technology 6502 at 1 MHz
Memory16 KB / 32 KB
DisplayTV out (RF modulator); 256×256 pixels, 8 shades of gray
Soundinternal speaker (audio, early models) or three-channel audio via RF modulator (audio, later models)
PredecessorGaleb (computer)

Orao (code named YU102) was designed by Miroslav Kocijan to supersede Galeb (code named YU101). The goal was to make a better computer, yet with less components, easier to produce and less expensive. The initial version, dubbed Orao MR102, was succeeded by Orao 64 and Orao+.

History edit

The chief designer of Orao was Miroslav Kocijan, who previously constructed the basic motherboard for Galeb (working name YU101). Galeb was inspired by computers Compukit UK101, Ohio Scientific Superboard and Ohio Scientific Superboard II which appeared in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1979 and were cheaper than the Apple II, Commodore PET and TRS-80. Driven by the challenge of Anthony Madidi, Miroslav Kocijan began to develop a computer that is supposed to be more advanced than the Galeb with fewer components, easier to produce, better graphics, performance and a more affordable price. The working title of the new project was YU102.

Miroslav Kocijan managed to gather around him a group of people who helped in the development of electronic components and software. Kocijan had the idea to commercialize Orao, and was able to convince Rajko Ivanusic, director of PEL Varaždin, to support the idea. In the market of the former Yugoslavia, where the purchase of home computers were disabled due to high tariffs and due to the low purchasing power of citizens and schools computers were unattainable, the idea of mass-produced home computers made sense.[2]

Serial production and price edit

The price of Orao was originally set to be around 55.000 Yugoslav dinars, however the price rose to 80.000 dinars. The production began in the summer of 1984. Since the only imported components were integrated circuits which were hard to acquire in Yugoslavia because of strict monetary politics, PEL Varaždin itself financed the imports of these components, which enabled a cheaper final product. Occasional problems that occurred in the serial production were related to the construction of certain external parts and overheating.

Lack of supported software edit

Since the Orao was not compatible with any home computer of the time, its software offering was scarce due to the lack of software companies whose products supported the platform.

Lack of capabilities edit

That was one of the most common sentences related to 8-bit school computer. Result of that statement is chapter above.

Architecture edit

The graphics were controlled by a special circuit, not by the main processor as it was the case in many other home computers because Kocijan's intention was to create a graphical computer similar to Xerox Alto, or Macintosh, and as such, he had it utilize bitmap graphics. The resolution was 256x256 dots, for up to 196,608 bits of VRAM as the graphics could need no more than three bits per pixel. Such a resolution was chosen for square dots, which enabled easy writing of graphical programs. The resolution of text was 32x32, and every character was rendered in an 8x8 field. The designers of Orao went an additional step further to create a computer which could be far more easily expanded, connect with a printer and establish a net connection through RS-232.

Specifications edit

 
Back of the case, with connectors.

BASIC example edit

Math edit 

10 REM PLOTS ONE PERIOD OF SINUS GRAPH 20 for x=0 to 128 30 y=64*sin(3.14159*x/64) 40 plot x,y+96 50 next 60 END

Physics edit 

 5 REM CONVERTS KM/H TO M/S  10 PRINT"KM/H M/S"  20 FOR SP=0 TO 60  30 PRINT SP,SP*1000/(60*60)  40 NEXT

Output 

RUN KM/H M/S  0 0   1 .277777778   2 .555555556   3 .833333333   4 1.11111111   5 1.38888889   6 1.66666667   7 1.94444445   8 2.22222222   9 2.5   10 2.77777778   11 3.05555556   12 3.33333333   13 3.61111111   14 3.88888889   15 4.16666667   16 4.44444445   17 4.72222222   18 5   19 5.27777778   20 5.55555556   21 5.83333334   22 6.11111111   23 6.38888889   24 6.66666667   25 6.94444445   26 7.22222223   27 7.5   28 7.77777778   29 8.05555556   30 8.33333333   31 8.61111112   32 8.88888889   33 9.16666667   34 9.44444445   35 9.72222223   36 10   37 10.2777778   38 10.5555556   39 10.8333333   40 11.1111111   41 11.3888889   42 11.6666667   43 11.9444444   44 12.2222222   45 12.5   46 12.7777778   47 13.0555556   48 13.3333333   49 13.6111111   50 13.8888889   51 14.1666667   52 14.4444444   53 14.7222222   54 15   55 15.2777778   56 15.5555556   57 15.8333333   58 16.1111111   59 16.3888889   60 16.6666667

Machine code/Assembly example edit 

 1000 A9 7F LDA #7F  1002 85 E2 STA E2 ; x center  1004 85 E3 STA E3 ; y center  1006 A9 6F LDA #6F  1008 85 F8 STA F8 ; radius  100A 20 06 FF JSR FF06 ; draw circle  100D C6 E2 DEC E2 ; decrement x center  100F C6 E3 DEC E3 ; decrement y center   1011 A5 F8 LDA F8   1013 38 SEC   1014 E9 04 SBC #04 ; reduce radius for four points   1016 85 F8 STA F8 ; store it  1018 C9 21 CMP #21 ; compare with 0x21  101A B0 EE BCS 100A ; bigger or equal ? yes, draw again  101C 60 RTS ; no, return

Design team edit

  • Miroslav Kocijan
  • Branko Zebec
  • Ivan Pongračić
  • Anđelko Kršić
  • Damir Šafarić
  • Davorin Krizman
  • Zdravko Melnjak
  • Vjekoslav Prstec
  • Dražen Zlatarek

References edit

  1. ^ Kristian Benić (30 August 2010). "Kompjutori u školama Jugoslavije" (in Croatian). tportal.hr.
  2. ^ "Miroslav Kocijan – pionir hrvatskog računarstva" (in Croatian). ZG-magazin. 15 February 2013.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Orao (computer).
  • Orao page at old-computers.com
  • Orao implementation in FPGA
  • Another Orao implementation in FPGA
  • MESS, Multi-System Emulator which supports Orao
  • Orao emulator with source code and some software, as well as Orao 2007 recreation of original computer
  • Orao Emulator written in C#
  • Orao Emulator for Android
  • ORAO BASKET
  • Orao Emulator in web browser
  • Orao Emulator in Python
  • Browser Orao Emulator as standard web site, using Blazor/C#
  • Browser Orao Emulator as Web Assembly app, can work offline in modern browsers


December 15, 2023
orao, computer, orao, eagle, computer, developed, varaždin, 1984, marketing, distribution, done, velebit, informatika, used, standard, primary, school, secondary, school, computer, former, yugoslavia, croatia, vojvodina, from, 1985, 1991, oraooraotypehome, com. Orao en Eagle was an 8 bit computer developed by PEL Varazdin in 1984 Its marketing and distribution was done by Velebit Informatika It was used as a standard primary school and secondary school computer in the former Yugoslavia Croatia and Vojvodina from 1985 to 1991 OraoOraoTypeHome computerGeneration8 bitRelease dateYugoslavia 1984Lifespan1984 1991Discontinued1991MediaCassette tapeFloppy disk 1 Operating systemOrao BASICCPUMOS Technology 6502 at 1 MHzMemory16 KB 32 KBDisplayTV out RF modulator 256 256 pixels 8 shades of graySoundinternal speaker audio early models or three channel audio via RF modulator audio later models PredecessorGaleb computer Orao code named YU102 was designed by Miroslav Kocijan to supersede Galeb code named YU101 The goal was to make a better computer yet with less components easier to produce and less expensive The initial version dubbed Orao MR102 was succeeded by Orao 64 and Orao Contents 1 History 1 1 Serial production and price 1 2 Lack of supported software 1 3 Lack of capabilities 2 Architecture 3 Specifications 4 BASIC example 4 1 Math 4 2 Physics 5 Machine code Assembly example 6 Design team 7 References 8 External linksHistory editThe chief designer of Orao was Miroslav Kocijan who previously constructed the basic motherboard for Galeb working name YU101 Galeb was inspired by computers Compukit UK101 Ohio Scientific Superboard and Ohio Scientific Superboard II which appeared in the United Kingdom and the United States in 1979 and were cheaper than the Apple II Commodore PET and TRS 80 Driven by the challenge of Anthony Madidi Miroslav Kocijan began to develop a computer that is supposed to be more advanced than the Galeb with fewer components easier to produce better graphics performance and a more affordable price The working title of the new project was YU102 Miroslav Kocijan managed to gather around him a group of people who helped in the development of electronic components and software Kocijan had the idea to commercialize Orao and was able to convince Rajko Ivanusic director of PEL Varazdin to support the idea In the market of the former Yugoslavia where the purchase of home computers were disabled due to high tariffs and due to the low purchasing power of citizens and schools computers were unattainable the idea of mass produced home computers made sense 2 Serial production and price edit The price of Orao was originally set to be around 55 000 Yugoslav dinars however the price rose to 80 000 dinars The production began in the summer of 1984 Since the only imported components were integrated circuits which were hard to acquire in Yugoslavia because of strict monetary politics PEL Varazdin itself financed the imports of these components which enabled a cheaper final product Occasional problems that occurred in the serial production were related to the construction of certain external parts and overheating Lack of supported software edit Since the Orao was not compatible with any home computer of the time its software offering was scarce due to the lack of software companies whose products supported the platform Lack of capabilities edit That was one of the most common sentences related to 8 bit school computer Result of that statement is chapter above Architecture editThe graphics were controlled by a special circuit not by the main processor as it was the case in many other home computers because Kocijan s intention was to create a graphical computer similar to Xerox Alto or Macintosh and as such he had it utilize bitmap graphics The resolution was 256x256 dots for up to 196 608 bits of VRAM as the graphics could need no more than three bits per pixel Such a resolution was chosen for square dots which enabled easy writing of graphical programs The resolution of text was 32x32 and every character was rendered in an 8x8 field The designers of Orao went an additional step further to create a computer which could be far more easily expanded connect with a printer and establish a net connection through RS 232 Specifications edit nbsp Back of the case with connectors CPU MOS Technology 6502 at 1 MHz Read Only Memory 16 KB with BASIC interpreter and Machine code monitor RAM 16 KB expandable to 32 KB VRAM up to 24 KB Graphics monochrome 256 256 pixels in up to 8 shades of gray Text mode 32 lines with 32 characters each 72 chars in one BASIC line Sound single channel 5 octaves through built in loudspeaker Computer keyboard 61 key QWERTZ I O ports video and RF TV out cassette tape interface DIN 5 RS 232 D 25 Edge expansion connector Peripherals 5 25 floppy drive Printer Price 55 000 dinars planned but increased to 80 000 during productionBASIC example editMath edit 10 REM PLOTS ONE PERIOD OF SINUS GRAPH 20 for x 0 to 128 30 y 64 sin 3 14159 x 64 40 plot x y 96 50 next 60 END Physics edit 5 REM CONVERTS KM H TO M S 10 PRINT KM H M S 20 FOR SP 0 TO 60 30 PRINT SP SP 1000 60 60 40 NEXT Output RUN KM H M S 0 0 1 277777778 2 555555556 3 833333333 4 1 11111111 5 1 38888889 6 1 66666667 7 1 94444445 8 2 22222222 9 2 5 10 2 77777778 11 3 05555556 12 3 33333333 13 3 61111111 14 3 88888889 15 4 16666667 16 4 44444445 17 4 72222222 18 5 19 5 27777778 20 5 55555556 21 5 83333334 22 6 11111111 23 6 38888889 24 6 66666667 25 6 94444445 26 7 22222223 27 7 5 28 7 77777778 29 8 05555556 30 8 33333333 31 8 61111112 32 8 88888889 33 9 16666667 34 9 44444445 35 9 72222223 36 10 37 10 2777778 38 10 5555556 39 10 8333333 40 11 1111111 41 11 3888889 42 11 6666667 43 11 9444444 44 12 2222222 45 12 5 46 12 7777778 47 13 0555556 48 13 3333333 49 13 6111111 50 13 8888889 51 14 1666667 52 14 4444444 53 14 7222222 54 15 55 15 2777778 56 15 5555556 57 15 8333333 58 16 1111111 59 16 3888889 60 16 6666667Machine code Assembly example edit1000 A9 7 F LDA 7 F 1002 85 E2 STA E2 x center 1004 85 E3 STA E3 y center 1006 A9 6 F LDA 6 F 1008 85 F8 STA F8 radius 100 A 20 06 FF JSR FF06 draw circle 100 D C6 E2 DEC E2 decrement x center 100 F C6 E3 DEC E3 decrement y center 1011 A5 F8 LDA F8 1013 38 SEC 1014 E9 04 SBC 04 reduce radius for four points 1016 85 F8 STA F8 store it 1018 C9 21 CMP 21 compare with 0x21 101 A B0 EE BCS 100 A bigger or equal yes draw again 101 C 60 RTS no returnDesign team editMiroslav Kocijan Branko Zebec Ivan Pongracic Anđelko Krsic Damir Safaric Davorin Krizman Zdravko Melnjak Vjekoslav Prstec Drazen ZlatarekReferences edit Kristian Benic 30 August 2010 Kompjutori u skolama Jugoslavije in Croatian tportal hr Miroslav Kocijan pionir hrvatskog racunarstva in Croatian ZG magazin 15 February 2013 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Orao computer Orao page at old computers com Orao implementation in FPGA Another Orao implementation in FPGA MESS Multi System Emulator which supports Orao Orao emulator with source code and some software as well as Orao 2007 recreation of original computer Orao Emulator written in C Orao Emulator for Android ORAO BASKET Orao Emulator in web browser Orao Emulator in Python Browser Orao Emulator as standard web site using Blazor C Browser Orao Emulator as Web Assembly app can work offline in modern browsers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Orao computer amp oldid 1160857031, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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