Compact Computer 40

<p>The Compact Computer 40, or CC-40, is a <a href="/facts/Notebook_(laptop)/wnaDG46o">notebook-sized</a> computer developed by <a href="/facts/Texas_Instruments/88NUhuHF">Texas Instruments</a>. It started development in 1981, and was released in March 1983 for US$249. The CC-40 has a single-line 31 character <a href="/facts/LCD/8B6xGBEz">LCD</a> display, weighs 600 grams (21 ounces) and is powered by an <a href="/facts/AC_adapter/zyGpmNcX">AC adapter</a> or can operate for 200 hours on four <a href="/facts/AA_battery/BkH5cBuW">AA batteries</a>. Memory is not erased by turning the unit off; it can retain data for several months. The CC-40 lacks a way to store data more permanently. Software was only available on <a href="/facts/ROM_cartridge/mWLcNez7">cartridge</a> or by typing programs into its built-in <a href="/facts/BASIC/VYMl5TmA">BASIC</a> interpreter. The <a href="/facts/BASIC_interpreter/AbVeR56f">BASIC interpreter</a> is similar but not identical to that of the <a href="/facts/TI-99%2f4A/9YWyzBhp">TI-99/4A</a>.
</p><p>The CC-40 uses TI's TMS70C20 CPU, an 8-bit <a href="/facts/Microprocessor/Fx9CaQht">microprocessor</a> that runs at 2.5 MHz. The system has 6 <a href="/facts/Kilobytes/jIe6t4yv">kilobytes</a> of <a href="/facts/Random-access_memory/DuD4bxh6">random-access memory</a> (RAM; expandable to 18 KB), and 34 KB of <a href="/facts/Read-only_memory/P9QMuDLH">read-only memory</a> (ROM). Peripherals can be connected via a <a href="/facts/Hexbus/R6tIhNEn">Hexbus</a> port: an 80 column printer, printer/plotter, <a href="/facts/RS-232/NCpvGuyq">RS-232</a> interface, and modem. A licensed version of the <a href="/facts/Exatron_Stringy_Floppy/0pUvy4fv">Exatron Stringy Floppy</a> as a digital "Wafertape" unit depicted on the computer's box was only released as a prototype, reportedly because it proved too unreliable.
</p>

Compact Computer 40 open-in-new

Compact Computer 40