I have the one I bought back in the 80s, still in good working order. It was a lovely machine to program on although sprite collision commands didn't work (at least not on the early units).
Internally it was quite well built, much like the exterior. I converted several games for this machine which were never published due to the collapse of the market and Memotech at the time. I suspect those tapes are rotting in a unit somewhere.
This was a machine i never heard of... and it should of gotten a better fate than it had! I like metal cases on keyboards in a pinch you can use it to defend yourself i the event of zombie attack...It might happen!
768k wow, built in assembler...waaa i want one...
You can get eletro lube in a spray can to clean stuff or a can of air will do. or take EVERY key out and clean it.
This was a great computer, but in real use it the power tended to heat up quite much and there was increasing interference when connecting it to a TV. I have great memories of this, I'm still not sure why, but it was incredibly exciting to hack on this computer. Possibly because it was my first introduction to basic programming.
I tried the NODDY programming language too. You could design screens and display them from code. Very similar to the text TV feature in many televisions.
Very nice system review. Any computer with a bullshit key is a winner in my book! LOL
Love the background information you give.
I totally agree about the excellent sleek design. I guess the good looks and the MTX512 designation is what made it a star in that 80s Weird Science movie.
But don't forget it IS true that you can fabricate cyberwomen with this machine. Just a brazier on the head some clippings et voila madame leBroc ! LOL
@DdlyHeadshot Oops... catching up here, sorry for the delay. Pressing both blank keys together resets the machine, kinda like Ctrl, Amiga, Amiga on the Amiga.
@Bakemon13 You plug an audio lead from the tape player into the audio input on the computer. Type LOAD "" on the computer, hit ENTER and then press play on the tape. The tape contains an audio track that sounds like the screeching from a dialup modem... this is the data in analogue audio form. The computer interprets that analogue audio into digital data, and loads it into memory. When it's all loaded, the computer runs it, or sometimes you have to type RUN.
@SteveBenway ... unless you get "R Tape Loading Error" or "Nonsense in Basic." ;-)
Interestingly, it's not just old 8 Bit machines that used tapes either. We used to use an old Boss (DR-550) drum machine in my band and the patterns were saved and loaded via tape. For longer gigs, I did actually have to take a tape recorder and load the second half of the set off tape because the machine could only hold so much data. Mad but true !!
@SteveBenway i know i actually didnt ask but i had always wondered about this and as is the case here had never bothered to ask. Thankfully Bakemon13 has done this for me and you have provided a fantastic answer and in turn i get to continue to be lazy and clueless , but slightly enlightened ,everyone's happy :P
I remember drooling over the MTX in a magazine as a teenager, but I've yet to see a great game for it on YouTube... It looks capable enough on paper so maybe none of the decent software houses were writing games for it?
@Gooberslot My guess would be it's some kind of printer control, but I can't be sure, coz I don't have a printer for it. I should probably dig out the manual some time... I have it here somewhere... lol.
@Gooberslot line feed is the ASCII character to advance to the next line. The return ASCII character returns the cursor to beginning of a line. If you look at standard ASCII file on your PC with a hex editor you will see the both the line-feed, and return character at the end of every line.
If you've seen the terminal that they use in e.g. auto parts store the attendant will use [return] key to enter the information into a a screen than press the [enter] key to send it.
I had a memotech 16k ram pack for my zx81.It was really wobbly.Do not know if it was better than the sinclair one.I do not get the BS key joke.Please explain.If they wanted to build a superior machine why didn't they use a 6502 chip.Remember when it first came out. I never thought it had a Z80 cpu ,for its' high retail price.What is better the 6502 or the Z80 CPU?
@edwardszzz There's always been an argument over which was better, Z80 or 6502. The answer is not simple, as each is better at different things. The Z80A in this MTX512 is way ahead of the 6502 that appeared in many of its contemporaries, but is still beaten by the cpu in the BBC B, even though that one sports a lower clock speed.
The BS key joke... BS is a common abbreviation for bullshit.
No matter how more advance new computers can be and get I find older computers much more interesting. Even though I would use a modern day computer for everyday usage. But a classic computer is great for fun.
@MrPowertorque I totally agree. To me at least, computers stopped being interesting with the death of the Amiga. Modern PCs and Macs, to me, they're all just tools to perform a function.
Oh shit I love the way you say aluminum over there it amuses the shit out of me every time I hear it. :D I also love seeing all the videos about the vintage Computers...it's interesting as I'm more of a console guy so all of this is new to me which is very refreshing.
@JerryTerrifying Apparently, aluminium is one of the few words where the English fucked up what was originally an American word, instead of the other way around :D
Love your system reviews on consoles and computers. Im not a huge computer guy but you make the review very intresting. I remember back when I was in grade 6 having to learn DOS, these reviews just remind me of that.
I wouldn't say they ripped of the MSX at all looks wise, it looks like a C16 with black keys. IM KIDDING JOKE JOKE :D Although it does look Commodore'ish. It's true, I once used one of these to hack the pentagon, I can't show you my MTX as evidence, my BS button has worn down to the hilt :)
i've been looking forward to actually seeing this thing (didnt want to look on google and spoil it lol) and i've got to say its not what i expected, it really is a good looking piece of kit. I expecting some kinda cheap looking thing but it has a really premium look to it and it doesn't look old either really.
@ReplayRetro The games do make it seem like it'd be a bit ropey, but I think that may be down to a lack of top flight developers working on it. Reading the specs, the internal hardware seems to be very impressive, while the outside is definitely very pretty.
When I first saw Weird Science I thought it was an american computer, maybe I thought of Memorex and got confused. But it sure is a nice looking machine. Thx for the review.
System reviews FTW. Was looking forward to this one and was not disappointed. Thanks for the fun vid! That's a pretty sharp-looking machine, I love black aluminum. Seems like with all the technical capabilities it could have been a quite capable machine, though it seems like it never reached its full potential.
@phreakindee It's hard to say what it was really capable of. Plenty of hardware sprites, fast CPU, reasonable amount of RAM. I suspect if top flight programmers had got hold of it, it could have been extremely impressive. At the end of the day though, it was too expensive for the home market, and beaten to the education market by the Acorn BBC Micro.
Interesting stuff as always Steve! Never heard of this one. It does look really slick. Sad history attached to it though, a shame it went this way, there was quite an innovative boom going on and it would've been nice if that lasted longer.
@HalfBlindGamer For about 5 years, the UK was leading the world in the development and production of home computers. Then it all went to hell. Such a shame.
I have the one I bought back in the 80s, still in good working order. It was a lovely machine to program on although sprite collision commands didn't work (at least not on the early units).
Internally it was quite well built, much like the exterior. I converted several games for this machine which were never published due to the collapse of the market and Memotech at the time. I suspect those tapes are rotting in a unit somewhere.
Thanks for the trip down Memotech lane.
CastleDeacon 1 month ago
I saw one of these on Craigslist recently.
TeamRocketReviews 2 months ago in playlist My Collection & System reviews
This was a machine i never heard of... and it should of gotten a better fate than it had! I like metal cases on keyboards in a pinch you can use it to defend yourself i the event of zombie attack...It might happen!
768k wow, built in assembler...waaa i want one...
You can get eletro lube in a spray can to clean stuff or a can of air will do. or take EVERY key out and clean it.
blackcountryme 7 months ago
That's the computer used in Weird Science? Have you tried making a woman with it?
theinquisitor 11 months ago
This was a great computer, but in real use it the power tended to heat up quite much and there was increasing interference when connecting it to a TV. I have great memories of this, I'm still not sure why, but it was incredibly exciting to hack on this computer. Possibly because it was my first introduction to basic programming.
I tried the NODDY programming language too. You could design screens and display them from code. Very similar to the text TV feature in many televisions.
Bemmu 1 year ago
Very nice system review. Any computer with a bullshit key is a winner in my book! LOL
Love the background information you give.
I totally agree about the excellent sleek design. I guess the good looks and the MTX512 designation is what made it a star in that 80s Weird Science movie.
But don't forget it IS true that you can fabricate cyberwomen with this machine. Just a brazier on the head some clippings et voila madame leBroc ! LOL
markvergeer 1 year ago
@markvergeer I don't think I'll be trying that... lol :D
SteveBenway 1 year ago
in the 1980's our computers were keyboards that hooked up to the tv..
Then we got real computers.
2011. Were back to keyboards that hookup to our tv's again.
Zagroseckt 1 year ago
interesting little system i must say, certainly looks the part. Though I can see why it flopped over even the Dragon 32
madcapoperator 1 year ago
What are the blank keys either side of the space bar? I presume they're something along the lines of control keys or command keys or something...
DdlyHeadshot 1 year ago
@DdlyHeadshot Oops... catching up here, sorry for the delay. Pressing both blank keys together resets the machine, kinda like Ctrl, Amiga, Amiga on the Amiga.
SteveBenway 1 year ago
Used too gaze in raptures of want & desire at this compuker at the local compuker shop (every town had two or three compuker shops back then!)
Another 1st class review by Mr Benn.
Fawltykog 1 year ago
How do you load video from a tape? Really, I don't get it!
Bakemon13 1 year ago
@Bakemon13 You plug an audio lead from the tape player into the audio input on the computer. Type LOAD "" on the computer, hit ENTER and then press play on the tape. The tape contains an audio track that sounds like the screeching from a dialup modem... this is the data in analogue audio form. The computer interprets that analogue audio into digital data, and loads it into memory. When it's all loaded, the computer runs it, or sometimes you have to type RUN.
SteveBenway 1 year ago
@SteveBenway ... unless you get "R Tape Loading Error" or "Nonsense in Basic." ;-)
Interestingly, it's not just old 8 Bit machines that used tapes either. We used to use an old Boss (DR-550) drum machine in my band and the patterns were saved and loaded via tape. For longer gigs, I did actually have to take a tape recorder and load the second half of the set off tape because the machine could only hold so much data. Mad but true !!
mathowlett 1 year ago
@SteveBenway i know i actually didnt ask but i had always wondered about this and as is the case here had never bothered to ask. Thankfully Bakemon13 has done this for me and you have provided a fantastic answer and in turn i get to continue to be lazy and clueless , but slightly enlightened ,everyone's happy :P
Great Review!
blaizevincent 1 year ago
I love the look of this machine. Looks like something that you'd see in the Knight Rider truck.
RPKGameVids 1 year ago
I remember drooling over the MTX in a magazine as a teenager, but I've yet to see a great game for it on YouTube... It looks capable enough on paper so maybe none of the decent software houses were writing games for it?
ForViewingOnly 1 year ago
What's the Line Feed button for?
It's always nice to see something not made of plastic.
Gooberslot 1 year ago
@Gooberslot My guess would be it's some kind of printer control, but I can't be sure, coz I don't have a printer for it. I should probably dig out the manual some time... I have it here somewhere... lol.
SteveBenway 1 year ago
@Gooberslot line feed is the ASCII character to advance to the next line. The return ASCII character returns the cursor to beginning of a line. If you look at standard ASCII file on your PC with a hex editor you will see the both the line-feed, and return character at the end of every line.
If you've seen the terminal that they use in e.g. auto parts store the attendant will use [return] key to enter the information into a a screen than press the [enter] key to send it.
rednight2476 1 year ago
very interesting system like to have one, it looks really cool in black aluminium :D
FritoFredrik 1 year ago
Help How do i retro bright computer keys
ComradeZX 1 year ago
@ComradeZX I've never used the stuff, so I'm afraid I can't help you there.
SteveBenway 1 year ago
love to see a review of the ti-99 4a, i find texas instruments a fascinating company, they were and are into alot of stuff, it is hard to fathom
playablemovies 1 year ago
@playablemovies That one's quite high on my list of systems to review in the near future :)
SteveBenway 1 year ago
I had a memotech 16k ram pack for my zx81.It was really wobbly.Do not know if it was better than the sinclair one.I do not get the BS key joke.Please explain.If they wanted to build a superior machine why didn't they use a 6502 chip.Remember when it first came out. I never thought it had a Z80 cpu ,for its' high retail price.What is better the 6502 or the Z80 CPU?
edwardszzz 1 year ago
@edwardszzz
BS by todays mentality is BULLSHIT. ^_^
that was the joke.
BigDaddyDarth 1 year ago
@edwardszzz There's always been an argument over which was better, Z80 or 6502. The answer is not simple, as each is better at different things. The Z80A in this MTX512 is way ahead of the 6502 that appeared in many of its contemporaries, but is still beaten by the cpu in the BBC B, even though that one sports a lower clock speed.
The BS key joke... BS is a common abbreviation for bullshit.
SteveBenway 1 year ago
No matter how more advance new computers can be and get I find older computers much more interesting. Even though I would use a modern day computer for everyday usage. But a classic computer is great for fun.
MrPowertorque 1 year ago
@MrPowertorque I totally agree. To me at least, computers stopped being interesting with the death of the Amiga. Modern PCs and Macs, to me, they're all just tools to perform a function.
SteveBenway 1 year ago
Oh shit I love the way you say aluminum over there it amuses the shit out of me every time I hear it. :D I also love seeing all the videos about the vintage Computers...it's interesting as I'm more of a console guy so all of this is new to me which is very refreshing.
JerryTerrifying 1 year ago
@JerryTerrifying Apparently, aluminium is one of the few words where the English fucked up what was originally an American word, instead of the other way around :D
SteveBenway 1 year ago
@SteveBenway Score one for the Colonials!
JerryTerrifying 1 year ago
@UKRetroGames Is the Bra thing something to do with Weird Science? Believe it or not, I've never actually seen the film :O
SteveBenway 1 year ago
Love your system reviews on consoles and computers. Im not a huge computer guy but you make the review very intresting. I remember back when I was in grade 6 having to learn DOS, these reviews just remind me of that.
gabbogabbo 1 year ago
@gabbogabbo I never did learn DOS myself as I didn't use PCs back in the day. Had a look at Amiga DOS, but just stuck with Workbench in the end. :)
SteveBenway 1 year ago
I wouldn't say they ripped of the MSX at all looks wise, it looks like a C16 with black keys. IM KIDDING JOKE JOKE :D Although it does look Commodore'ish. It's true, I once used one of these to hack the pentagon, I can't show you my MTX as evidence, my BS button has worn down to the hilt :)
atombat 1 year ago
@atombat It was the MSX that ripped off this, in terms of hardware.
lol @ your BS button induced daftness :D
SteveBenway 1 year ago
i've been looking forward to actually seeing this thing (didnt want to look on google and spoil it lol) and i've got to say its not what i expected, it really is a good looking piece of kit. I expecting some kinda cheap looking thing but it has a really premium look to it and it doesn't look old either really.
Great video as usual, and a really cool machine
ReplayRetro 1 year ago
@ReplayRetro The games do make it seem like it'd be a bit ropey, but I think that may be down to a lack of top flight developers working on it. Reading the specs, the internal hardware seems to be very impressive, while the outside is definitely very pretty.
SteveBenway 1 year ago
When I first saw Weird Science I thought it was an american computer, maybe I thought of Memorex and got confused. But it sure is a nice looking machine. Thx for the review.
THOMASSU63 1 year ago
@THOMASSU63 I've still never seen that film yet. Weird, coz would probably be, or at least would have been, right up my street.
SteveBenway 1 year ago
@TheEpicZelda1 i know. Im a lemon.
CBETelevisionNetwork 1 year ago
Interesting history behind that one for sure. All the government backing and Russian interest...just to be told sorry we don't want it now. Wow.
Sweet looking machine.
BigDaddyDarth 1 year ago
@BigDaddyDarth Makes me wonder if the Russians knew that pulling out would effectively scupper the British computer industry.
SteveBenway 1 year ago
Could you review the ZX spectrum?
Flodder450 1 year ago
@Flodder450 I will at some point, but am concentrating on the less common systems at the moment.
SteveBenway 1 year ago
This looks like a really interesting piece of hardware.
Mahortz 1 year ago
Jiggery Pokery
Aeduo 1 year ago
intresting vid , thanks for the upoad!! Paul
paulspydar 1 year ago
System reviews FTW. Was looking forward to this one and was not disappointed. Thanks for the fun vid! That's a pretty sharp-looking machine, I love black aluminum. Seems like with all the technical capabilities it could have been a quite capable machine, though it seems like it never reached its full potential.
phreakindee 1 year ago
@phreakindee It's hard to say what it was really capable of. Plenty of hardware sprites, fast CPU, reasonable amount of RAM. I suspect if top flight programmers had got hold of it, it could have been extremely impressive. At the end of the day though, it was too expensive for the home market, and beaten to the education market by the Acorn BBC Micro.
SteveBenway 1 year ago
Interesting stuff as always Steve! Never heard of this one. It does look really slick. Sad history attached to it though, a shame it went this way, there was quite an innovative boom going on and it would've been nice if that lasted longer.
HalfBlindGamer 1 year ago
@HalfBlindGamer For about 5 years, the UK was leading the world in the development and production of home computers. Then it all went to hell. Such a shame.
SteveBenway 1 year ago
First comment!
CBETelevisionNetwork 1 year ago
@CBETelevisionNetwork And, of corse, no-one cares...at all.
TheEpicZelda1 1 year ago