Lmst

A very clever move

#zxspectrum #commodore64 #bbcmicro #dragon32 #retrogaming #advertising

Richard of http://www.dragondata.co.uk got to spread out across two display tables today, with a collection of unique Dragon prototypes. He was incredibly generous with his time!

I knew the #Dragon32 had a lot in common with the #TandyColorComputer, but I'd always assumed that was thanks to some kind of licencing arrangement. That's not the case! Richard describes the Dragon 32 as an "incompatible clone" of the #CoCo. Yet Tandy chose not to sue, because the CoCo in turn was a copy of the Motorola 6809 reference implementation!

#RetroFest2025

The only working GEC Dragon "The Professional" in the world. There are a handful of other known examples, none of which work.

The machine is a sober mid-grey, with the rear part of the case raised to accommodate two full-height 3½ inch floppy disk drives. It looks very serious and professional. Sadly Dragon Data went bust before the machine came to market.

This machine, along with related marketing photos and graphics, was donated to Richard by the last managing director of Dragon Data.

A very early Dragon 32 prototype in a lighter cream case that the production version. The informational note reads "Pre-production prototype. No serial number. May 1982. Issue 1 mainboard".

Richard flipped it upside down for me yesterday to show me the place where the serial number would go; instead, it bears the initials of the designer, Ian somebody, who remains resolutely uncontactable, despite multiple attempts.

A Dragon 32 with the top cover off. It's a very neat layout. The 6509 is on the right hand side of the board, to the left of the peripheral bus.

Run, Mario, run!!

#Dragon32 #donkeyking #donkeykong #theking

Good ol' Cuthbert (probably) 😎

#Dragon32 #microdeal

Seems my dad has had this for a very long time without making it.

I sense some #Dragon32 maintenance in our near future... 😉

A Dragon 32 replacement power supply kit PCB, unpopulated, with components nearby.

I believe is customary re-post an introduction after moving instances... so here's mine:

Software engineer working in #geophysics. #8bit hacker in the 80s, #16bit hobbyist in the early 90s before finding my home on #unix and finally #linux. Author of a few simple open source utilities with zero users.

tech: #dragon32 #samcoupe #amiga #rust #python #neovim #debian #nixos

non-tech: #cycling #guitar #astronomy

Recently on All the Adventures I featured a game (Hitch-hiker) which adapted some of the locations and puzzles from a totally different commercial game. Danger Island (for Dragon 32) does the same thing (adapting an obscure game for the Acorn Atom).

https://bluerenga.blog/2025/03/29/danger-island-1982/

#retrogaming #adventuregames #videogames #textadventure #interactivefiction #dragon32

Cover of Danger Island tape, with a skull

40 years ago this month:
BIG K magazine’s READERS POLL 1984 RESULTS
#Commodore64 #C64 #ZXSpectrum #Atari #VIC20 #MSX #Dragon32 #BBCmicro #Tandy #Amstrad

40 years ago this month:
BIG K magazine No.12
…now incorporating TV Gamer magazine
And still only 85p.
#Commodore64 #C64 #ZXSpectrum #Atari #VIC20 #MSX #Dragon32 #BBCmicro #Tandy

40 years ago, C&VG magazine produced a listings issue with a selection of games to type into your computer.
#Commodore64 #C64 #ZXSpectrum #VIC20 #Dragon32 #BBCMicro #AcornElectron #TexasTI99A

Retro goodies from England!

#Dragon32 #retrocomputing #motorola6809 #CoCo

Business Card for Dragon Plus Electronics on top of bubble wrap in a parcel box.

Parts for a retro computer electronic kit in a parcel box.

@gerrykelly You could say 'you've gone green'. 😂 Enjoy your new toy. #dragon32

40 years ago this month:
GAME REVIEWS in
COMPUTER & VIDEO GAMES (C&VG)
January 1985
#Commodore64 #C64 #VIC20 #Dragon32 #ZXSpectrum
#BBCmicro #Atari

FREEZE64.com
#PassionForTheCommodore64

Age yourself with your first computer... #Dragon32

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:nddloowgkuonkvh7aaae54zr/post/3lb6dlea74k26

Sad to hear that Geoff Capes passed away last night. Didn't realise that as well as being a champion strongman, he still holds the British men's shot putt record! This is his game on the BBC Electron.

#c64 #commodore64 #c64mini #theC64 #c64games #RETROGAMING #retrogames #retro #tapes #tapuino #c64bestgames #c64maxi #c64music #sidchip #spectrum #amstrad #bbcmicro #dragon32 #electron #8bit #c64reposts

So many thanks to @48kRAM for this machine!

The first computer I ever used was a #Dragon32 - and the CoCo2 I have is essentially the same machine (I even ported a few things over from the Dragon a year or so back to prove it - just ROM calls and a few colo(u)rs differed!)

So I have a lot of nostalgia for the ol' green screen Dragon/Tandy beasts 😊

The CoCo 3 though is like a *super* Dragon 32 to me - I've wanted on for a very long time. And now it is here!