This professional computer was compatible with most of the hardware and software designed for the Apple II.
It could run under DOS 3.x, but thanks to its second CPU, a Z80 processor, it could also run under CP/M.
The Basis 108 had 128 KB RAM, (two switchable memory banks of 64k).
Two 5"1/4 disk-drives (Apple compatible) could also be mounted inside the computer. In the picture, these are Apple Disk II drives.
The Basis 108 was a good Apple II compatible machine with a lot of options built-in (80 columns, disk-drives controller, CP/M, high-resolution graphics), and was cheaper than the equivalent Apple system...
A year after introduction, the Basis Junior was presented at various different electronic shows. It was basically the same computer but with only 64 KB RAM (with optional expansion to 128k).
I used my Basis 108 for two or three years. The 16 MB retro-fit hard disk, and everything. There was a "Basis Users Group" with about 125 members (peak). I moved from Apple DOS to p-system, then to CP/M. Almost everything worthwhile I did under CP/M - including a command processor replacement whose name I don''t recall. I upgraded the 2 MHz 8080 CPU on the motherboard with an 8 MHz Z80 card. Centronics port to a dot-matrix printer. Serial port to a Hayes modem.
Eventually Basis got shut out for copyright infrigement on Apple DOS in ROM.
Friday 23rd May 2014
Charlie Weesner (Tucson, Az)
I too had a Basis 108. I visited a nice couple in Munster, Germany and got the first upgrade z80 card to run at 4.5 Also a very smart audio engineer, a Mr. Smith, in Cali, adapted a $995 hard drive to work with the Basis. The hard drive Co. failed in their attempt.
Friday 12th April 2013
Ed Weiner
I had one of theses that was built under a licence in Hong Kong, known as Medfly. I belonged to a US based user''s group and learned a lot about computing using this PC. I ran both Applesoft and CPM on it for many years.
(France, 1983)
