DECmate II
Inventory No: 0013
The DECmate II used the 6120 CMOS PDP8 on a chip and was quoted as having 64K word (12 bit) of memory. In fact 32KW of this was used to emulate missing PDP8 hardware.
In the basic machine storage was a dual RX50 5¼ inch diskette drive. A hard drive of (usually) 10MB was available as an option. Other options included an RX01/RX02 8 inch diskette drive interface and a Z80 processor with 64K bytes of memory, this was needed to run CP/M and also some of the more advanced software options (such as spell checking).
The DECmate II was promoted as a word processing system, running WPS, but it could also be used with other operating systems, notably OS278, which gives some of the feel of a PDP8 running OS8.
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| Option | Product | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Word Processing | DECmate II/WPS | |
| Operating Systems | COS-310 Commercial Operating System | Includes DIBOL-8 Language |
| CP/M 2.2 | Requires Z80 Option Board | |
| Languages | MBASIC | Runs under CP/M |
| R/M COBOL | Runs under CP/M |
DECmate III
Inventory No: 0079
The DECmate III was the last of the PDP-8 line and along with the closely related III+, was discontinued in 1990. It uses the 6120 CMOS PDP8 on a chip and the same memory arrangement as the DECmate II.
While similar in many respects to the II, it is a more basic machine, lacking the II's expandability. Storage is limited to a dual RK50 5¼ inch floppy disk drive. There is a configurable serial communication port and a serial printer port fixed at 4800 Baud. For all its shortcomings, the DECmate III is a very pleasing and well proportioned design.
(The DECmate III+ had a single RX33 5¼ inch floppy disk drive and a 20MB hard disk)
DECmate III - The Main Circuit Board.
The DECmate III processor and memory, all on the same PCB, approximately the same size as a quad omnibus board.
DECmate III Plus
Inventory No: 0190
The end of the line, the last of the PDP8 family, the DECmate III Plus with its single RX33 5¼ inch floppy disk and hard disk drive. In this particular example, the 'DECmate III' inscription is damaged and the blue is worn off the final I, making it appear as 'DECmate II'.
DECmate III Plus opened
The DECmate III with the casing removed showing the siamesed circuit boards and the RX33 drive mounted above the hard disk drive.
DECmate III carrying handle
The DECmate III and the III Plus had a folding carrying handle at the rear of the case. When folded down and locked into position this handle acted as a restrainer for the video and coms cables of the machine.
DECmate III cable restraint
The handle locks into position when folded down and relieves strain on the connectors.
