Ohio Scientific Challenger 1P, Apple II+, TRS-80 Model 1, Atari 400, Osborne 1a, System-80/Video Genie/PMC-80, IBM-5150 (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, Atari 130XE, Apple IIe Platinum, IBM PS/2 30-286, Compaq SLT/286, Amiga 500, Atari 1040ST, Mac SE/30, Mac Classic II, Mac Powerbook 145B, Generic 386DX-40

Spectravideo 318 (SV-318)

If flamboyance and kitsch is what you’re after, there is no going past the Spectravideo 318.

Let loose on the home market in 1983, and with reasonable credentials (32 KB RAM, Z80A chip at 3.6Mhz, good version of BASIC), the tape-based 318 never made much of a splash. The market was just too crowded and the chiclet keyboard probably didn't help either.

I enjoy the appearance of this computer, and always drag it out to show friends. It looks like it belongs on the 1960s in a toybox somewhere! It's a lot more interesting that it's bigger brother, the 328, which is really just a platter of boring keys.

I love the little red joystick. More for appearance than actually being useful, but there are ports for plugging external joysticks into.

This unit arrived in early 2008, complete with tape drive, a plethora of manuals and some (but not much) software. No repairs were needed other than a good clean. His past owners seem to have been caring types.

A neat little number I'm happy to call my own.

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

This page last edited 10th August, 2008

Comments welcome...

Comments by Haloscan