NorthStar Computers was originally named Kentucky Fried Computer [1][2] and changed their name prior to the release of their Horizon product, an eight-bit business computer that was shipped with the then industry-standard CP/M operating system or NorthStar's proprietary operating system, NDOS. While initially successful, NorthStar's sales suffered from the company's short-sighted adherence to hard sector floppy drives which made software difficult to port onto NorthStar machines. It was no longer a significant factor in the industry by the time cheaper computers, such as the Osborne and the KayPro, were released.
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The NorthStar Advantage (1982)
The Advantage was a 4MHz Z80a-based computer with 64K of user RAM and 16K of graphics RAM. It used two single-sided, double density 180K floppy disk (hard sectored) drives and an optional 5MB Winchester disk. The Advantage was known for its graphics capabilities and was sold with four demonstration programs, one of which plotted and calculated a pattern of lines reminiscent of the Arcade game Qix. The Advantage also had an optional 8088 co-processor board available that ran MS-DOS 1.0.
The NorthStar Dimension (1984)
The Dimension was the tower 'blade server' of its day. Based on the 80186 chip at the server, the Dimension employed multiple screens each connected to a PC-compatible 8086-based slot card that mounted in the server. The screens and keyboards then connected to the workstation cards in the server. The unit shipped with MS-DOS and Novell NetWare was available as an option. The Dimension was NorthStar's last product, and did not enjoy the success of NorthStar's previous models.
References
- ^ Greenberg, Mark; Charles Grant (February 1977). "Kentucky Fried Computers advertisement". BYTE 2 (2): pg 103. Slogan: "A Computer in Every Pot" Address was 2465 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
- ^ Reiling, Robert (June 1976). "Bulletin Board". Homebrew Computer Club Newsletter 2 (6): pg 2. Retrieved on 2007-07-21. "Kentucky Fried Computers, a new retail computer kit business in Berkeley makes this offer: All IMSAI products (except some peripherals) will be sold at 10% off to Homebrew Computer Club members. Add 2% if shipping is desired (excess is refunded). Orders may be picked up in Berkeley by appointment only. If there is sufficient volume from Homebrew members, we will arrange free delivery for distribution at Homebrew meetings. California residents must add 6% sales tax. The discount offer expires July 31, 1976. Terms: cash. Kentucky Fried Computers is operated by Mark Greenberg and Charles Grant. They plan to open a store later this year, but for now they are selling on a mail and telephone order basis. Contact them at Applied Computer Technology, 1038 Merced, Berkeley, Ca. 94707; telephone (415) 527-6760."
