When the Nimbus PC series was launched, Research Machines already had a long history of providing innovative and reliable computers for the British education market.
The Nimbus PC was also intended to support schools in the use of the computers. It wasn't a pale copy of a standard PC but a fast and versatile DOS machine entirely designed and manufactured by RM.
The basic machine held 192 KB of RAM, a single 720 KB floppy drive and extended sound and graphics. It could be expanded to 1 MB of RAM, dual floppy drives and up to 160 MB hard disk. The Nimbus was also designed as a network station and came with built-in Piconet and ethernet ports.
The Nimbus ran a modified version of Microsoft MS-DOS 3.10 that could not run on a standard PC. Sadly, this was quite a limitation. Although an IBM emulator software allowed some standard PC programs to run, only software specifically written for the Nimbus was able to take advantage of the improved sound and graphic features. However, RM and third-parties released numerous languages and educational software that fulfilled most school needs.
A special x86 version of BBC Basic also allowed a wide range of programs written for Acorn machines to be run. To note also that some Nimbus software would run on a standard PC, for example the Nimbus versions MS Word and Multiplan.
Special thanks to Margaret Wainwright and Peter Russell who donated us this computer !
I used to manage a 480z and Nimbus school network in the 80s. RM was unfortunate in that it made the machines non-standard in trying to enhance them for school use.
I have acquired a nimbus pc2 system (twin floppy) recently, but it really needs a new home. Is anyone interested?
I don''t know if anyone here can help, but what I''d really like to do is convert some paintspa pics into a useable format. I believe one of the versions of painspa ran on a conventional pc, but woudl still read and convert older files . Can anyone confirm, and help me track down a copy?
Wednesday 6th October 2010
unravelled (London, UK)
NAME
Nimbus PC
MANUFACTURER
Research Machines
TYPE
Professional Computer
ORIGIN
United Kingdom
YEAR
1985
END OF PRODUCTION
1987
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
RM Basic diskette
KEYBOARD
PC like with 10 function keys and numeric keypad
CPU
AMD 80186
SPEED
10 MHz
CO-PROCESSOR
Socket for a 80187 math coprocessor
RAM
192 KB, up to 1 MB
ROM
16 KB
TEXT MODES
40 or 80 columns x 25 lines
GRAPHIC MODES
320 x 250 (16 colours), 640 x 350 (4 colours)
COLOrsc
16
SOUND
3 voices, 8 octaves + white noise (AY-8910 chip)
I/O PORTS
Mono and colour monitor, Serial, Mouse/Joystick, Serial/Piconet port
BUILT IN MEDIA
1 or 2 720 KB 3.5'' floppy drives - optional 10 or 20 MB hard disk
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