NAME  

POLY 88

MANUFACTURER  

Polymorphic

TYPE  

Professional Computer

ORIGIN  

U.S.A.

YEAR  

1976

BUILT IN LANGUAGE 

None

KEYBOARD  

Full-stroke 54 keys (made by Cherry)

CPU  

8080A

SPEED  

2 MHz 8080A, running at 1.8432 MHz (so that it could be easily divided to produce standard baud rate clocks)

RAM  

512 bytes to 32 KB.

VRAM  

1 KB

ROM  

Monitor 1 KB (2 KB optional)

TEXT MODES 

40 chars x 25 lines

GRAPHIC MODES 

Semi-graphic mode (128 x 48)

COLORS  

Monochrome

SOUND  

None standard (available through S100 boards)

SIZE / WEIGHT 

11(W) x 17.5(H) x 43 (D) cm.

I/O PORTS 

Keyboard, tape recorder, printer, video composite

BUILT IN MEDIA 

None

POWER SUPPLY 

Built-in PSU

PERIPHERALS  

Video, keyboard, cassette, serial interfaces.
Some Altair S-100 cards

PRICE  

From $595 to $1350

 

Polymorphic 88

Polymorphic 88

 The POLY 88 was a S-100 additional S-100 cards. Daughter boards were provided by Polymorphic to expand system capacities: video, keyboard, serial, and cassette interfaces.

The system was also compatible with Altair peripherals. Originally, the computer was sold with the name "Micro-Altair", but MITS (the Altair manufacturer) required to change it quickly. So the company name became Polymorphic and its first computer, the POLY 88.


In 1976, five versions were proposed:
- System 1 Kit version including 512 bytes RAM, 1 Kb. ROM monitor, 16 lines x 32 chars. video interface, keyboard input port and power supply. ($595)
- System 2, which is System 1 with upgraded screen resolution (64 chars. per line) and cassette interface kit. ($690)
- System 3, which is System 2 with additional 8 Kb. of RAM, Basic and Assembler programs on cassette tape ($990).
- System 4 kit included System 3 with TV monitor, keyboard and cassette recorder ($1350)
- System 7 was the same System 4 but fully assembled and ready to use. ($1350)

The POLY 88 in my collectio was built by Richard E. Rich. It had been acquired thanks to his son Charles Rich.