This is a VT78 computer which is a microprocessor based PDP-8 in a VT52 terminal. The VT52 terminal had a loud keyclick for people who missed their teletypes. From the PDP8 Faq:
Subject: What is a VT78?

Date of introduction:  1978
Date of withdrawal:    1980 (Displaced by the DECmate)
Also known as:
        DECstation
        DECstation 78
Price: $7,995 ($5,436 in lots of 100)

Technology:  Based on the Intersil/Harris 6100 microprocessor, packaged
        in a VT52 case.  The 6100 processor was able to run at 4 MHz, but
        in the VT78, it was only clocked at 2.2 MHz because of the speed
        of the DRAM used and the deliberate use of graded out chips.

Reason for introduction:  Using TTL MSI and LSI components, DEC could
        pack a system into the vacant space in a standard terminal case,
        allowing PDP-8 systems to compete with personal computers in the
        small business and office automation market.  This was a natural
        follow-on to the desk-mounted workstation configurations in which
        the PDP-8/A was already being sold.

Compatability:  The Group I OPR combinations RAL RAR and RTL RTR are
        no-ops.  Unlike all earlier PDP-8 models, autoindex locations
        10 to 17 (octal) only work in page zero mode; these operate like
        all other memory locations when addressed in current page mode
        from code running on page zero.  Other than this, it is fully
        PDP-8/E compatable, even at the level of I/O instructions for
        the standard periperals; this was the last PDP-8 to offer this
        level of compatability.

        It was not possible to continue from a halt without restarting
        the machine.  In addition, none of the peripherals available on
        this machine needed DMA (data break) transfers.

Standard configuration:  The VT78 was sold with 16k words of DRAM with
        the keyboard and display of the VT52 terminal.  An RX01 dual 8"
        diskette drive was included, packaged in a teacart pedestal under
        the terminal.  The console (device 03/04) and the serial ports
        (devices 30/31 and 32/33) are compatible with the M8650 KL8E,
        with the latter extended to allow software controlled baud rate
        selection.  There are two parallel ports; device 66 (compatible
        with the M8365 printer controller) and device 47, compatible with
        the nonstandard port on the M8316 DKC8AA.  There is also a 100Hz
        clock compatible with the clock on the M8316 DKC8AA.

        The standard ROM boots the system from the RX01 after setting the
        baud rates to match that selected by the switches on the bottom
        of the VT52 case.

Expandability:  This was a closed system, with few options.  The base
        configuration was able to support two RX01 drives (later RX02),
        for a total of 4 transports.  Various boot ROM's were available,
        including a paper-tape RIM loader ROM for loading diagnostics
        from tape.  Another ROM boots the system from a PDP-11 server in
        the client/server configuration used by WPS-11.

Survival:  There are probably many VT78 systems still in use.

Documents related to VT78

Thumbnails

Current size large. Select Picture size for links below   Small  Medium  Large

Front View (WPS running) (123K)
Keyboard ( 76K)



Feel free to contact me, David Gesswein djg@pdp8online.com with any questions, comments on the web site, or if you have related equipment, documentation, software etc. you are willing to part with.  I am interested in anything PDP-8 related, computers, peripherals used with them, DEC or third party, or documentation. 

PDP-8 Home Page   PDP-8 Site Map   PDP-8 Site Search