New micro from Amstrad

AMSTRAD, the British hi-fl manufacturer, is to launch a microcomputer.

The machine will sell for around £200 and be a direct competitor for the new Elan. Both are scheduled to arrive in late Spring.

The Amstrad machine features a built-in colour monitor and cassette deck. It is Z80 based, has 64K Ram expandable to 4M and includes a full-size full-travel keyboard with separate numeric pad. The computer will have similar graphics to the BBC machine and a 3-channel six-octave sound capacity. The micro has a Centronics interface, provision for an add-on disc interface, but no RS232.

The machine is currently being manufactured in Japan and will be sold through high street stores, and discount electronics shops.

One of the stores evaluating the micro is Comet which already sells other Amstrad lines.

Said Comet’s Nick Leightowler, “We have yet to see a preproduction version but we will decide whether to take it when we do.