Amstrad CPC 464

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The Amstrad CPC was a series of 8-bit home computers produced by Amstrad during the 1980s and early 1990s. CPC stood for 'Colour Personal Computer', although it was possible to purchase a CPC with a green screen (GT65/66) as well as with the standard colour screen (CTM640).

The first machine, the CPC 464 was introduced in 1984. It was designed to be a direct competitor to the Commodore 64 and Sinclair ZX Spectrum systems. The CPC range was very successful, and over 3 million were sold during the machine's lifespan.

Amstrad's were matt black console case's with sharp corners and narrowly rectangular form factor (the latter due to the built-in cassette tape deck (CPC 464) or floppy disk drive (CPC 664 and CPC 6128), the keyboard's distinctly coloured special keys, and the unique power supply hookup with one lead going from the monitor to the computer and, on disc-based machines, one lead going the other way.

Like most home computers at the time, the CPC had its OS and a BASIC interpreter built in as ROM. It used Locomotive BASIC. This was faster, more comfortable and more powerful than the generic but common Microsoft BASIC used by the Commodore 64 and MSX amongst others. It was particularly notable for providing easy access to the machine's video and audio resources in contrast to the arcane POKE commands required on generic Microsoft implementations.

With thanks to www.oldcomputers.net for the photographs

Manufacturer: Amstrad
Date: January 1984

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Amstrad CPC 464 Manuals:

Item	Manufacturer	Date
Amstrad DDI-1 Disc Drive & Interface User Instructions	Amstrad	1964
Amstrad CPC464 Micro Computer and CTM640 GT64 Monitor Service Manual	Amstrad	May 1985

Magazines RELATED to Amstrad CPC 464 in our Library

Item	Manufacturer	Date
Personal Computer World - May 1984		May 1984
Personal Computing Today - October 1984		1 Sep 1984

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