SEED Microcomputer Products: System One

It seemed almost inevitable for companies that started out as importers of mostly-American microcomputers or components that they would end up building their "own" micro.

And so, along with companies like [@Comart], [=equinox_wordproc_percw_jan81|Equinox UK] or [=personal_comp_world_1982-07_001|Almarc], comes Strumtech Engineering Electronics Developments Limited, or SEED, with its own branded version of what is essentially the system it had been selling for a couple of years - [=pcw_1980-06-00_002_msi|MSI's 6800].

Unlike many such companies, which started out as component suppliers or at least had some sort of electronics background, Strumtech Engineering was exactly what it said: an engineering company. 

It was perhaps most famous for its Versatower "tilt over" tower system intended for lighting rigs and for radio communications - such as Radio Ham antennae - which was first launched in 1967[source: https://www.bbtowers.com/files/bijlagen/Versatower%20System%20-%20compressed%20-%20volledig.pdf].

Launched some twelve years later in the early summer of 1979, SEED's System One ran Motorola's [!6800] processor via MSI's CP-1 CPU board, which in turn was plugged into a motherboard based upon [@SWTPC]'s unusual SS-50 standard. 

The 8-bit 6800 was never hugely popular, with SWTPC itself being its most ardent supporter, although the follow-up [!6809] also appeared in [@Dragon Data]'s home micros. This updated processor was also on SEED's roadmap, with the advert mentioning a "shortly to be announced 6809 system".

Prices for the System One started from £595 plus VAT, which is around [[610|1981]] in [[now]], although it's not clear whether that includes the case. 

Also available were entire systems priced "from £20,000+", which is a not-inconsiderable [[21600|1981]] in today's money. 

This top-of-the-range set-up was known as the System 12 and apparently came with 40MB of hard disk storage, four terminals and two printers.