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M > MICROCOMPUTER ASSOCIATES INC. > Jolt   


MICROCOMPUTER ASSOCIATES INC.
Jolt

On December 1975, the coveted inside-front-cover of Byte magazine contained a two-page advertisement for "the world's lowest cost computer system". This was perhaps the first non-MOS Technology 6502 based computer system to come to market, behind only the TIM and possibly KIM-1. The computer was named Jolt, and it was marketed by Microcomputer Associates Inc. as both a kit for $249, or fully assembled and tested for $348 (Dec. 1975 Byte).

Microcomputer Associates also sold add-ons for the basic system. They included 4 kilobytes for $265, an I/O card for $96, and a power supply for $145.

The Jolt is somewhat famous for the part it played in the development of the prototype Atari 2600 VCS, which was assembled using the Jolt computer board.

Jolt was designed and developed by Raymond M. Holt, Founder and Executive Vice-President of Microcomputer Associates. Holt went on to design the SYM-1 single-board computer, a KIM-1 clone. In the late 1990's Holt was finally given government permission to discuss his role in the development of the F-14 Tomcat. Holt claims he designed and developed the worlds first microprocessor one year before Intel.

Manny Lemas was the co-founder of Microcomputer Associates, Inc. Ray Holt was the hardware side and he was the software side of the business. He wrote the DEMON (Debugger/Monitor) software for the JOLT.
This software was actually developed for MOS Technology for use in the TIM chip and the KIM-1 single board computer. M.A. was granted rights to its own version of the software for use in the JOLT.

Part of text and picture provided by Brian Bagnall.



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Hi to all that have commented. I am very sorry I missed some required responses. Please go to my website and you can send a contact message to me from there. Thanks for remembering the JOLT. It was a great little workhorse.

Ray

          
Wednesday 17th August 2016
Ray Holt (USA)
First Microprocessor

If anyone has questions about the F-14 CADC, Jolt, Super Jolt or SYM early computers just let me know.

Ray Holt
Designer

          
Monday 29th April 2013
Ray Holt (USA)
First Microprocessor

For a long time I have been looking for the JOLT. I already had it in my hands, but the owner sold his whole collection to someone else. If anyone has a JOLT to offer, please contact me through my website.

          
Thursday 24th June 2021
Achim (Germany/USA)
https://www.TheApple1.com

 

NAME  Jolt
MANUFACTURER  Microcomputer Associates Inc.
TYPE  Home Computer
ORIGIN  U.S.A.
YEAR  November 1975
END OF PRODUCTION  1978
KEYBOARD  none (V.24, teletype connection)
CPU  Mos Technology 6502
SPEED  1 MHz
RAM  512 bytes (expandable up to 4 KB)
VRAM  None
ROM  1 KB
SOUND  None
I/O PORTS  Terminal Interface (TTY or EIA)
OS  DEMON(TM) machine language monitor/debugger
POWER SUPPLY  Power supply. +5, +12 or -10(?) volts (sold seperately)
PRICE  $249 (1975, U.S.A.)




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