After my TI-57 programmable handheld calculator the Superboard II from Ohio Scientific was my first computer. Around 1980 I got this machine, a 6502- based single-board computer with 8K of RAM and BASIC in ROM. The board needed an extra 5V, 3A power supply to run. (everything needed something extra)

The board was a revision B and had from the previous owner some enhancements in the VDU section to display the entire 32x32 characters on a standard TV monitor.

The main board design was quite simple by today's standards but the double sided board had a good quality ideal to do various modifications. The chips were 'normal' TTL and the board contained the keyboard, CPU, ROM, RAM (up to 8K on board), a video section for connection to a monitor or TV via an RF modulator, and cassette I/O.

Upon boot-up, the user was presented with a prompt for 'D/C/W/M ?' which allowed you to boot from disk, cold boot, warm boot or enter the monitor to debug machine-code programs. There was no disk drive and no integrated controller and due to the high market prices far out of reach.

The software was supplied on cassette tapes which loaded at 300 baud, with some enhancements up to 600 baud.

Later the "naked" board became a nice self made wodden case. I have seen, that such a case was typical for many Superboard or Compukit user to compete with Apple or Atari machines.

Machine details found on http://its.svensson.org about the OSI C2-4P, C2-8P, C4P, C8P, C1P & Superboard (SBII)

General: The C2-4P is 15"x18"x4.5".  The general appearance is similar
        to the SOL-20, but it doesn't have the stained wood sides.  It
        is discontinued, but is still available on retail. The C2-8P is
        17"x15"x10". It resembles pictures of the SWTP 6800 system.
        All jacks are on the back panel and the front panel has a
        shiny silver panel on a blue background.  It has a MONSTER of
        a power supply.  The C4 and C8 are OSI's new versions of the
        C2-4P and C2-8P. The SBII is a single board computer, just
        plug in a CRT and +5 volts and you're up.  The C1P is the SBII
        with a case and power supply.


Prices: C2-4P is $500 with mini-floppies $600 extra. C2-8P is $700
        plus $1000 for 8" floppies.  C4 is $700, $1700 with
        mini floppies, and the C8 is $900, $2600 with 8" floppies (2).
        The SBII is $280, C1P is $400, $1000 with 20K RAM and 5.25"
        disk drive.

Bus:    The OSI C2, C4 & C8 all use OSI's 48 pin bus. This is an
        extremely noise free bus, but has drawbacks that should be
        noted. It is not S100 and in the C2-4P and C4P, there is only
        a 4 slot backplane, and two slots are used in the basic
        configuration. The C2-8P has 8 backplane slots.  OSI supplies
        numerous boards for the 48 pin bus, notable are the Votrax (R)
        unit, the universal telephone interface <phone-freaks
        ultimate!>, AC remote control, home security system, and many
        static & dynamic memory boards.

CPU:    The C1, C2s, C4 & C8 are controlled by a 6502 micro-processor.
        Therefore, they cannot run CP/M 8080, Z80, or 6800 code; but this is no
        drawback for there are millions of programs written in 6502 code.

Ports:  Three RCA phono jacks on the rear panel take care of the video
        out <yes, RCA jack, Virginia>, tape in, tape out.  I have
        changed these jacks on my computer to BNC, and phone,
        respectively. For the video interface, simply connect the RCA
        jack to the input of any CRT monitor.  If you prefer to avoid
        that expense, use any low cost RF modulator to hook it up to
        your TV set's antenna terminals.  The floppies for the C4 and
        C8 have extended ports (e.g. RTC, home security, DA/AD
        converters and much more.)

Display: C1 and SBII have a 24x24 screen. The C2, C4 and C8 have a
        64x27 screen, (software selectable 32x27).  The C4 and C8 have
        color graphics (the others are Black&White).

Keyboard: The C2-4P has a self contained keyboard which is a dream to
        operate.  It is a real typewriter style keyboard with
        capacitive contacts and the "feel" to a touch typist is almost
        indistinguishable from an office typewriter. The C2-8P has a
        detached keyboard.

Mass Storage: The C2-4P and C4 are available with mini floppies and
        the C2-8P and C8 with 8" floppies.  OSI produces only
        mini-floppy upgrades for the C2-4P and C2, and only 8" floppy
        upgrades for the C2-8P and C8.  This is no problem though, all
        one needs to do is order whichever upgrade he wants, and
        simply plug it in himself.  The 630 board is available for
        adding disk(s) to the SBII.  The C1P is available with 5.25" floppies.
       Operating System:

 All the computers support Microsoft 8k basic <made
        by the same people that designed Applesoft, RS L2, PET, and I
        believe Atari basics> in ROM.  There is also a system
        mini-monitor.  On power-up, the screen displays "D/C/W/M"; D
        stands for "disk boot"; C stands for "Coldstart ROM Basic"; W
        for warmstart <either disk or ROM basic>; and M is for
        monitor.

Software: OSI has a large line of educational, business, personal and
        game programs, and Aardvark Electronics has a large catalog
        devoted to OSI hard/software; also Kilobaud magazine has
        started publishing many OSI articles lately. OSI's public
        relations have improved greatly too. Problems in finding
        support for OSI computers is definitely a thing of the past.

 

For Emulator related questions and comments: Superboard
©Th.Buescher May-2009