Portable micros - taking the computer a step further

This is one of a few adverts that appeared around about the same time which could be read as something of a sad coda on the life of Transam Microsystems Limited.

Transam had started out as Transam Components, a.k.a Transco, and had launched its first one-board computer - <a href="pcw_1978-10_001">the Triton</a> - in a "we supply the parts, you build it" collaboration with Electronics Today, which provided the instructions, back in October 1978. 

In 1980 Transam launched its Tuscan model, which was sold until 1982, but by the time of this advert it appears to have become more-or-less a retailer. 

However, it was clearly still building micros somewhere (it would design Wren's Executive the following year) as it had been in the frame to build an ITV competitor to the BBC's successful BBC Micro, as built by Acorn. 

Talks had been in progress for some time as ITV was interested in its own micro for use in new micro-computer programmes it was developing.

However, a meeting of representatives of the various ITV companies on Monday 12th December voted against the plan, citing provisions of the Broadcasting Act.

This prevented any form of sponsorship, plus there were worries about a conflict of interest with ITV's own advertisers, should ITV produce its own micro. 

[picture: transam_shop_percw_may84.webp|An artist's impression of Transam's retail outlet on Theobalds Road in London. The advert also mentions the ill-fated Wren Executive micro which Transam designed in collaboration with Prism Microproducts in 1984. From PCW, May 1984]

There remained some concern that a few of the ITV companies might go it alone, however secretary of the Independent Television Companies Association, Ivro Stolliday, suggested that "The debate has taken place at the most senior level and every company has come around - I think the decision will stick"[source: "ITV says 'no' to micro, POCW, 22nd December 1983, p. 5] - unfortunately for Transam. 

However, the company was still determined to launch the machine - a Z80-based micro with 64K RAM and expected to sell for the same £399 as the BBC - at the Which Computer? Show in Birmingham in February 1984, as it had already been in development before ITV's interest.  It would have been a useful low-end complement to Transam's £1,700 Tuscan[source: "New ITV venture to rival BBC?", POCW, 8th December 1983, p. 1, 5].

If nothing else, apart from the grievous use of a Grocer's Apostrophe in the title, this particular advert provides a nice "zeitgeist" of the portable micro industry of the day.

It featured the Epson HX20 - generally considered as the first proper portable computer; the NewBrain - the machine which was originally chosen as the BBC Micro until delays and inability to match the spec caused the BBC to switch to Acorn; The Hewlett-Packard HP75C; and finally the Sharp PC1500. 

The HP retailed for £728.40, or around [[730|1983]] in [[now]], had a fairly impressive 48K ROM and could take up to 24K RAM, however that was trumped by the NewBrain which could take up to 2MB and only cost £229 ([[229|1983]]) for the Model AD shown (with the "D" meaning built-in display).

