K-202, the first 16-bit computer in the world?

Shoonay · 15 March 2009, 19:23

K-202 is an unknown 16-bit polish computer constructed by Jacek Karpiński between 1971-1973, that was 10 years ahead of it's time and died as being too advanced (multi-tasking, multi-CPU's, able to address up to 8MB of RAM) and too expensive to produce...
Still, almost 30 units were produced and sold in the UK, Poland and The Soviet Union.

ENG --- K-202 article on Wiki --- POL
ENG --- Jacek Karpiński article on Wiki --- POL
Wynalazcy I Naukowcy, Jacek Karpiński i polskie komputery @ Historycy.org
K-202 refleksja

Madcrow · 15 March 2009, 21:18

It's not the first 16-bit minicomputer by any stretch of the imagination, but it's certainly an early an early and advanced one. Reminds me a lot of the PDP-11, though in 1971 the -11 could only address 64 KB of RAM (though an add-on MMU allowed up to 256 KB, but was so expensive that almost no one got it. The 4 meg version didn't come out until '75, several years later)

Photon · 15 March 2009, 22:33

Which CPU chip was it based on?

Shoonay · 15 March 2009, 23:09

Hard to say for a hardware noob like me, but it must've been something custom made by Jacek Karpiński and his crew, methinks

Here's a huge interview with him. One tiny problem is that this is polish only, but maybe some online translators make it "readable" and you could find the answer. (maybe i'll try to make something out of it laterz)

Madcrow · 15 March 2009, 23:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Photon

Which CPU chip was it based on?

None, probably. In 1971, computers were still built from large numbers of discreet transistors, with maybe a few small and primitive ICs thrown into the mix. Different computer lines had different instruction sets and most companies had several different lines of machines. DEC for example had the entry-level 12-bit PDP-8, the mid-level 18-bit PDP-7/9, the mid-level PDP-11 and the near-mainframe PDP-10 (36-bit) The situation was similar at most companies of the era.

Shoonay · 15 March 2009, 23:56

Ah, thanks for the professional explanation Madcrow

lilalurl · 16 March 2009, 02:07

Wow, in the 70's, women in technical products advertising already looked like they had no clue what they were doing...

mfletcher · 16 March 2009, 06:50

The woman in the picture above is playing BoulderDash... I just know it.

Shoonay · 16 March 2009, 07:21

Back in the 70's only women knew how to operate computers here...

lilalurl · 16 March 2009, 07:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfletcher

The woman in the picture above is playing BoulderDash... I just know it.

And training her peripheral vision

. She is not even looking at the screen

... but at some point on that green curtain.

Shoonay · 16 March 2009, 07:37

Guess she has some "crossed eye" problem, or how do you call it

(or admiring the curtain behind the computer

)

Paul_s · 16 March 2009, 08:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfletcher

The woman in the picture above is playing BoulderDash... I just know it.

That's Miss Polski of the day

TCD · 16 March 2009, 08:46

Interesting machine *wonders how Turrican would run on this...

*
Have just read a bit about the PDP series and of course the K-202. Very nice to see that some people thought quite ahead of their time, even before the Amiga

So thanks Shoonay and Madcrow for that

btw : The girl in the picture looks strange

I know it's the 70's and stuff, but still...

Paul_s · 16 March 2009, 09:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCyberDruid

btw : The girl in the picture looks strange

I know it's the 70's and stuff, but still...

what!!! She has a glowing aura around her. She looks well funky imo. I'd reprogram Turrican II to work and then make love to her on the keyboard/monitor.

Or should that be the other way round?

TCD · 16 March 2009, 10:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_s

Or should that be the other way round?

You reprogram her to run on the machine and make love to Turrican 2? Interesting...

Shoonay · 16 March 2009, 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCyberDruid

btw : The girl in the picture looks strange

gotta love the cheesy flowers, aye?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul_s

what!!! She has a glowing aura around her

just like an angel, aye?

cosmicfrog · 16 March 2009, 10:58

she`s my kind of hippy computer babe

View Poll Results: Could it really be that advanced?
Sounds real...	3	33.33%
Cool!	5	55.56%
I doubt it...	1	11.11%
No way!	0	0%
Voters: 9. You may not vote on this poll

15 March 2009, 19:23	#1
Shoonay Global Caturator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Porando Age: 43 Posts: 6,107	K-202, the first 16-bit computer in the world? K-202 is an unknown 16-bit polish computer constructed by Jacek Karpiński between 1971-1973, that was 10 years ahead of it's time and died as being too advanced (multi-tasking, multi-CPU's, able to address up to 8MB of RAM) and too expensive to produce... Still, almost 30 units were produced and sold in the UK, Poland and The Soviet Union. ENG --- K-202 article on Wiki --- POL ENG --- Jacek Karpiński article on Wiki --- POL Wynalazcy I Naukowcy, Jacek Karpiński i polskie komputery @ Historycy.org K-202 refleksja Last edited by Shoonay; 15 March 2009 at 21:36.

15 March 2009, 23:09	#4
Shoonay Global Caturator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Porando Age: 43 Posts: 6,107	Hard to say for a hardware noob like me, but it must've been something custom made by Jacek Karpiński and his crew, methinks Here's a huge interview with him. One tiny problem is that this is polish only, but maybe some online translators make it "readable" and you could find the answer. (maybe i'll try to make something out of it laterz) Last edited by Shoonay; 15 March 2009 at 23:53.

16 March 2009, 02:07	#7
lilalurl Global Moderator Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: France Posts: 3,289	Ot Wow, in the 70's, women in technical products advertising already looked like they had no clue what they were doing...

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15 March 2009, 21:18	#2
Madcrow Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 228	It's not the first 16-bit minicomputer by any stretch of the imagination, but it's certainly an early an early and advanced one. Reminds me a lot of the PDP-11, though in 1971 the -11 could only address 64 KB of RAM (though an add-on MMU allowed up to 256 KB, but was so expensive that almost no one got it. The 4 meg version didn't come out until '75, several years later)

15 March 2009, 22:33	#3
Photon Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eksjö / Sweden Posts: 5,625	Which CPU chip was it based on?

15 March 2009, 23:56	#6
Shoonay Global Caturator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Porando Age: 43 Posts: 6,107	Ah, thanks for the professional explanation Madcrow

16 March 2009, 06:50	#8
mfletcher Bawbag. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Chicago, USA Posts: 375	The woman in the picture above is playing BoulderDash... I just know it.

16 March 2009, 07:21	#9
Shoonay Global Caturator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Porando Age: 43 Posts: 6,107	Back in the 70's only women knew how to operate computers here...

16 March 2009, 07:37	#11
Shoonay Global Caturator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Porando Age: 43 Posts: 6,107	Guess she has some "crossed eye" problem, or how do you call it (or admiring the curtain behind the computer )

16 March 2009, 08:46	#13
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,730	Interesting machine wonders how Turrican would run on this... Have just read a bit about the PDP series and of course the K-202. Very nice to see that some people thought quite ahead of their time, even before the Amiga So thanks Shoonay and Madcrow for that btw : The girl in the picture looks strange I know it's the 70's and stuff, but still...

16 March 2009, 10:58	#17
cosmicfrog The 1 who ribbits Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: leek, Staffs, UK Age: 56 Posts: 3,557	she`s my kind of hippy computer babe

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