| The ABC 80 (Advanced BASIC Computer 80) was introduced by Dataindustrier AB (DIAB) in August 1978 and manufactured by Luxor in Motala, Sweden. It featured a Zilog Z80 CPU clocked at 3 MHz, 16 KB of RAM (expandable to 32 KB), and 16 KB of ROM containing a fast semi-compiling BASIC interpreter. The system included a modified 12-inch monochrome TV for display, offering 40×24 text characters or block graphics equivalent to about 312×287 resolution, and it used the SN76477 chip for basic audio. Connectivity consisted of a cassette port for data storage, a 16‑bit expansion bus (4680), and an RS-232 serial port. ABC 80 was highly successful in Sweden, becoming the market leader in the domestic personal computer space—outperforming Commodore PET, Apple II, and Tandy TRS-80 during its early years—thanks to robust design, fast BASIC, and local software support. It was widely used in schools, offices, industrial installations, and as a foundation for scientific and automation projects. The platform was also produced under license in Hungary as the BRG ABC 80. Despite its strong performance, the ABC 80’s lack of color and limited sound made it vulnerable to newer gaming-focused systems like the Commodore 64. Luxor later focused on the ABC 800 series, and production of the ABC 80 ceased in the mid-1980s. |
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