Ohio Scientific Challenger 1P, Apple II+, PET/CBM 3032, TRS 80 Model 1, Atari 400, Osborne 1a, System 80/Video Genie/PMC 80, IBM PC, ZX 81, TRS-80 Colour Computer 1, Vic 20, Epson HX 20, BBC B, ZX Spectrum, Kaypro II, Eaca Colour Genie, RX 8800, Apple IIe, Atari 800XL, Tandy Model 100, Commodore  64, Commodore 64C, Commodore  SX-64, Spectravideo 318, Mattel  Aquarius, Sinclair QL, IBM AT, Atari 130XE, Apple IIe Platinum, Amiga 500, Atari  1040ST, IBM PS/2 30-286, Compaq SLT/286, IBM PS/2 70, Mac SE/30, Mac  Classic II, Mac Powerbook 145B, Generic 386-DX 40

Ohio Scientific Challenge 1P

This functional-looking micro gained a small but loyal following amongst hobbyist and engineers. Based on the 6502 chip, it came in a sturdy steel case with a full stroke keyboard and included 8K Microsoft BASIC in ROM with Petscii-style graphics. A 22-character/line mono screen was bound to have limited its usefulness to learning BASIC, perhaps some interfacing and "programmable calculator"-type tasks. However for these things, it was an economical computing solution.

Apart from the Dick Smith System 80 you could say this was the first computer in my collection. It was given to me in 1987 or so by a guy whose university department was about to junk it. I think it had been used to teach engineering students BASIC programming.

Although this model was fully clothed (i.e. enclosed in a case with keyboard) when launched in 1979, it is just one step above what could be cobbled together by an enthusiast with a soldering iron. In fact, its predecessors from Ohio Scientific were single-board kits and the unit itself has the appearance of an assembled kit.

When I was given the machine I also got the manuals and a book. To today's eyes the manuals are distinctly amateurish, consisting of typed and annoted pages on photocopy paper. They also assume users are somewhat familiar with electronics and the concepts of digital logic. Much of it is beyond me! For 1979 though, when the electronic hobbyist was the main market for these micros, such documentation was not that unusual.

This particular machine originally had a RAM issue. When first dragged out of the wardrobe it had been languishing in for years and switched on, the available memory showed only 2.5 KB when it should have been 8 KB. It's all good now though. Furthermore, I've found some programs to keep it company !

The Challenger 1P a great little working unit to have. When I fired it up after years of inactivity I was amazed that it actually went at all! Discovering that I actually had more than one working vintage computer got me started on collecting a few more.

Want to know more about this micro? Google is your friend.

This page last edited 26th May, 2009

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