-Interview with Roland Perry directed by Vicente Simon.
 
Roland Perry is an electronics engineer Alan Sugar has contacted in late 1983 to achieve the Amstrad computers. It was he who led the design and implementation of micro-computers of the mark for most of this epic.


The beginning
 
Vnom: How did you start the development of computers? And why?

Perry: When the first microprocessor appeared around 1974, his goal was to concentrate logical operations, such as with traffic lights. But the selling price of these processors was high, which led to a more profitable emulation minicomputer. I developed the minis at school and university. The realization of minis that fit in a suitcase was part of the curriculum.

This corresponded well with my business at the time, the design of electronic circuits, which used more and more logic TTL.


Roland and Amstrad
 
Vnom: Amstrad Which projects have you worked?

Perry: All of the CPC to PC 3000 series. My last laptop was a type of Laptop.

Vnom: When did you leave Amstrad?

Perry: In 1990

Vnom: Why have you left Amstrad?

Perry: At first I was solely responsible for the design of computers. Over time, design has become increasingly complex. A growing number of people were involved, I could not bring "more".
  

The original CPC

Vnom: I heard that the original draft of the CPC, which you do not participate using 2 processors 6502. Is this true? What is the true story of the prototype? What were the specifications?

Perry used a 6502 CPU, the other was his turn and the cassette port. This machine was very simplistic.

 

Questions CPC
 
Vnom: Why do computers Amstrad connection they simply not on television, like any other 8 bits of the time?

Perry Alan Sugar thought that people would not see their TV monopolized by the computer and games. The idea was that the computer game should be autonomous and one block.

Vnom: This was an advantage?

Perry: We believe we have sold more than machine through it.

Vnom: Amstrad thought that the disk format 3''was an advantage? that other companies would have chosen then?

Perry: No, not really, although other British firms microcomputers had chosen. We have also taken care to choose a format and standard disk controller to be compatible with other sizes. In fact, many prototypes were a player 5''1 / 4. This allowed to easily transfer data from the engine of development, IBM PC.

  

Projects
 

Vnom: I heard of a color version of PCW / Joyce would have been completely compatible with the CPC. What developments took this project?

Perry: We have about half of the design work, and nothing in production engineering, although many were from the components PCW monochrome. A compatibility mode CPC was expected, with more colors, sprite. Ideas that have been included in the console game
 
Vnom: What project you participated you the most?

Perry: The PCW8256


Vnom: What project has been most difficult?

Perry: The most stressful was the PPC to get the system ready in time.

 
Vnom: What project would you like to see done?

Perry Joyce the color was the only project that we did not finish. There were several that we have not started. The feature I loved most is establish a voice synthesizer. Genre Hindsight, an addition to the PCW.

Vnom: Amstrad she had a plan for a 16bit computer, type Commodore Amiga or Atari ST? If yes, do you have information about its development?

Perry: Yes. There were plans to create a compatible PC oriented game, but production costs were too high.
 
Vnom: This development was it suggested? Was it some kind of Microsoft Xbox?

Perry: No, it was very close to a desktop PC, there were adding a CD player long before it is widespread.

Z80 ?" onMouseOver="this.style.backgroundColor='#ebeff9'" onMouseOut="this.style.backgroundColor='#fff'">Vnom: Why out to Amstrad CPC 8bit + instead of a 16bit based e Z80?

Perry: To ensure compatibility.

 

 

Units sold
 
Vnom: What is the Amstrad machine has not met its sales targets?

Perry: It's a 8bits, the PCW9000 who did not sell as we hoped. The only real success is the PC-1512, which continued to sell even after the 1640 has been withdrawn.

Vnom: How many PC-1512 and PC-1640 have been sold?

Perry: I'm not sure, perhaps 2 million.
 
Vnom: You still there development machines? Could you please submit them?

Perry: No

 
 

The end of an era for Amstrad computer

Vnom: Why Amstrad has abandoned the market for personal computers?

Perry: Amstrad bought Viglen, they then transferred the business computing.

Vnom: What do you think the fact qu'Amstrad with Apple are the only companies that have created the 8-bit and have survived?

Perry: These two companies were producing something that others did not. Their machines suitable for the family, enthusiasts and professionals. It is very difficult to succeed in all three categories simultaneously. People could buy them at almost traditional suppliers. Amstrad was still an activity of Hi-Fi and satellite, which was offset when the micro-computer has gone downhill.

 

Collectors

Vnom: What do you think people who continue to use CPC and collect the computers?

Perry: I am pleased that so many people use and collect the CPC. This means they have become classics, as well as old cars!
 
 

CPC 472

Vnom: The Amstrad CPC 472 model was sold in Spain. Have you participated in its development? Do you know something about him?

Perry: I do not remember, but I did all the CPC. I have been rumors about the existence of clones. In Spain, there may be a clone? On what date was available?
 
Vnom: The CPC472 was not a clone. It was released in Spain through the official distributor Indescomp late 1985. Do you have information on this?

Perry: I've never heard of.

Vnom: A view of the motherboard of the CPC472 and although you did not developed, can you tell me what changes were made to include 464 in the 8K of RAM.

Perry: The amendment (which was not designed by my team of Brentwood) is probably an 8K version of the amendments that has added the 64K to the 6128. Z80 ne peut voir que 64Ko de mémoire à la fois, toutes les extension mémoire se font par de la commutation de pages." onMouseOut="this.style.backgroundColor='#fff'">The Z80 CPU can see only 64K of memory at once, all expansion memory is done by switching pages.

 

 
Anecdotes
 
Vnom: Do you have comments of any kind on the history of Amstrad could be interesting?

Perry: Every project we've done was done in a very short time. So, the production of textbooks should be prepared before the software is not finished. I remember that the instructions to unpacking the PCW8526 were difficult to prepare because the packaging was not even ready. Many people criticized the textbooks and they said they could do better.

But each time we asked these people to write books, they exclaimed "Are you crazy, give us a computer finalized and we know how long it takes to produce this manual. "

Vnom: Do you have any anecdotes about the development of Amstrad computers?

Perry: A is still valid today. When we started, there was a ranking of the best microphones. In the UK, there were Commodore, Sinclair, Acorn, Atari, Apple and Tandy. We wondered how we were able to dethrone him. It was inconceivable that all these flow marks. And the firm has not won any of them, it's Nintendo!  

Vnom: What are you working now? Is it related to computers?

Perry: I am a consultant with the Internet service provider (ISP) at the legislative level.

 
Vnom: Thanks Roland.

Perry was a real pleasure! Congratulations to the team of Silicon guys who are too cool.