Nascom

Nascom was a British manufacturer of early microcomputer kits and complete systems in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The company's name stood for "National Semiconductor Company," reflecting the initial use of National Semiconductor components in its products, although later models shifted to using Zilog microprocessors.

The Nascom 1, launched in 1977, was one of the first readily available and affordable microcomputers for hobbyists in the UK. It was based on the Zilog Z80 microprocessor and came as a kit that required assembly. Its simplicity and affordability made it popular among electronics enthusiasts and computer programmers. The Nascom 1 typically came with 1KB of RAM, expandable to 16KB, and used a keyboard matrix connected directly to the CPU. Display output was typically to a television via a UHF modulator.

The Nascom 2, released later, offered improvements over the Nascom 1, including increased RAM capacity and a more robust design. It retained the Z80 processor and was also aimed at the hobbyist and educational markets. A range of peripherals and software were developed for both the Nascom 1 and Nascom 2, including assemblers, BASIC interpreters, and simple games.

The Nascom product line eventually included other models and peripherals, aiming for a broader audience. However, the company eventually ceased operations in the early 1980s due to increasing competition from other microcomputer manufacturers, such as Sinclair Research and Acorn Computers, who offered more polished and user-friendly machines at competitive prices. Despite its relatively short lifespan, Nascom played a significant role in the early development of the home computer market in the UK.