Enterprise (computer)

The Enterprise is a <a href="/facts/Zilog_Z80/Jeqe2h55">Zilog Z80</a>-based <a href="/facts/Home_computer/CDEPVd1T">home computer</a> announced in 1983, but due to a series of delays, was not commercially available until 1985. It was developed by British company Intelligent Software and marketed by Enterprise Computers.
The specification as released was powerful and one of the higher end in its class (though not by the margin envisaged in 1983). This was due to the use of custom <a href="/facts/Application-specific_integrated_circuit/YGUXpX50">ASICs</a> for graphics and sound which took workload away from the CPU, an extensive implementation of <a href="/facts/ANSI_BASIC/VYMl5TmA">ANSI BASIC</a> and a <a href="/facts/Bank_switching/9y09qE2k">bank switching</a> system to allow for larger amounts of <a href="/facts/Random-access_memory/DuD4bxh6">RAM</a> than the <a href="/facts/Zilog_Z80/Jeqe2h55">Z80</a> natively supported. It also featured a distinctive and colourful case design, and promise of multiple expansion options. Its two variants are the Enterprise 64, with 64 <a href="/facts/Kilobyte/jIe6t4yv">KB</a> of RAM, and the Enterprise 128, with 128 KB of RAM.
The machine was renamed several times during development, being known variously as <a href="/facts/Samurai/5NSPbSuI">Samurai</a>, Oscar and Elan. Versions can sometimes been found in magazine articles referred to by the preceding monikers. Ultimately, not assisted by release delays and a changing market place, the Enterprise was not commercially successful. The manufacturer called in the receivers in 1986 with significant debt, although old stock continued to be sold through a <a href="/facts/Germany/paluuWBX">German</a> partner until well into the 1990s.

Enterprise (computer) open-in-new

Enterprise (computer)