Didaktik

The Didaktik was a series of home computers based on the Zilog Z80 processor produced in former Czechoslovakia.

Contents

1 Didaktik Alfa 2 Didaktik Beta 3 Didaktik Gama 4 Didaktik M 5 Didaktik Kompakt

Didaktik Alfa

Didaktik Alfa was produced in 1986, as a "more professional" clone of PMD 85. It featured 2MHz Intel 8080A CPU, 48KB RAM, 8KB ROM with built-in BASIC, good keyboard (compared with PMD 85), monitor video output (but not TV output) with 288×256 resolution, 4 colours. Despite some changes in ROM, it was mostly compatible with PMD 85. Didaktik Alfa 1 was a clone of PMD 85-1, Didaktik Alfa 2 of PMD 85-2.

Didaktik Beta

Didaktik Beta was a slightly improved version of previous Didaktik Alfa, having almost identical hardware.

While Didaktik Alfa and Beta were mostly deployed in schools (to replace older PMD 85 computers), there was another production line, meant as home computers. These were Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48 clones.

Didaktik Gama

Didaktik Gama was the first ever clone of the ZX Spectrum with one speciality: 80 kB RAM divided into two switched 48 kB memory banks, while the size of ROM was 16 kB. This computer had become unreachable dream for many children and adults in former socialist Czechoslovakia as the computer was considerably expensive and seldom available to buy. It is said there were waiting lists several years long. Design of the computer was very simple - just a grey or black box the size of A5 with flat plastic keyboard and connectors mounted on the rear side. All games developed for the 48kB version of ZX Spectrum were generally compatible with this computer. There is no need to say that it established massive and flourishing black market with these games country-wide as they were officially unavailable behind the "iron curtain". An audio cassette was used as the data store and classic TV set served for monitor.

Didaktik Gama was produced in two variants: first one, Gama'87 fixed some bugs in original ZX Spectrum ROM, thus breaking compatibility in some percentage of applications (read: games), and introducing its own bugs effectively inhibiting use of second 32KB memory bank from BASIC.

Gama'88 fixed the original ZX Spectrum bugs in a more compatible way and fixed the memory switching bug.

Didaktik M

The next version - Didaktik M - was more advanced in design and reliability. The insides were the same but by its design, Didaktik M resembled more of a professional home computer with arrow keys separated from the rest of the keyboard and more ergonomic shape of the case. Inside there was only 64 kB of total memory (16 kB ROM and 48 kB RAM) which was sort of disappointment in comparison to the Gama. There also were two separated connectors for joysticks and one connector for additional interfaces (such as printer interface). Unlike the previous version of Didaktik, these connectors were typical "socialistic solution" compatible with nothing that was then available in the CSSR. Thus, users were forced to develop and produce various and sometimes funny home-made interfaces to satisfy their needs. Data storing and monitor type was the same as in the case of the Gama.

Didaktik Kompakt

Didaktik Kompakt was basically a Didaktik M with built-in floppy 3.5" 720KB drive and parallel printer port.

These computers were famous for their simplicity allowing people possessed of little technical ability to produce various hardware add-ons such as FDD controllers, AD/DA converters or software (such as Desktop - unique WYSIWYG word processor with functions like proportional text, pictures in text support, block functions, multi-font support etc.). Both version of these computers had been produced in Skalica, Slovakia. Didaktik's glory went out with price fall of 16-bit computers (Atari, Amiga...) around the middle 90's until it was finally steam-rolled by PC soon after.