Pravetz computers

Pravetz (Правец in the original Cyrillic, series 8 and series 16) were Bulgarian computers, manufactured mainly in the town of Pravetz. Some components and software were produced in Stara Zagora, Plovdiv, and other Bulgarian cities.

History

The first Bulgarian-made personal computer, IMKO-1, was a prototype of the Pravetz computers that were developed by Ivan Vassilev Marangozov,^[1] who was often accused of cloning the Apple II. A few early models were produced at the ITKR (pronounced ee-teh-kah-reh, Institute of Technical Cybernetics and Robotics), a section of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Industrial production in Pravetz started shortly after.^[2]

Pravetz computers were of major importance in the economy of the Comecon.

In October 2013, a privately held Bulgarian company claimed in their website to have the rights on the trademark and misleadingly announced that "Pravetz Computers are returning to market". In fact, the company has no link to the original "Pravetz" computers known during the Soviet Era.

Model line

8-bit architecture

Except for the Oric-derived 8D (and possibly the IMKO-1), all the Pravetz 8-bit systems are largely compatible with the popular Apple II and its successors, with the exception that they offer Cyrillic fonts and some other improvements compared to Apple.

Pravetz 82 computer in school class in Russia

• IMKO-1 — First Bulgarian personal computer. Used a clone of the 6502 CPU 1 MHz CPU, and 16/4 KB RAM/ROM. The storage media is a cassette recorder.
• Pravetz 82 (IMKO-2) - 82 is model year. BASIC interpreter, RAM/ROM - 48/12 KB; CPU Synertek 6502 /1 MHz. The storage is improved due to one or (optional) two 5.25" floppy disk drive(s). They had yellow and black keyboards.
• Pravetz 8М - Integrated second CPU Zilog Z80A at 4 MHz to be able to run CP/M and its software. The military version features integrated terminal design.
• Pravetz 8E - Industrial model based on the original Pravetz 82 architecture plus some memory extensions
• Pravetz 8А - Uses Bulgarian-made chipset СМ 630, memory could be expanded up to 1 Mb, accessible in 64Kb windows.
• Pravetz 8D - 8 bit home computer, uses TV instead of computer monitor. Not compatible with Pravetz 82 but inherits its architecture from the Oric home computers and compatible with their software
• Pravetz 8С - cut down 8А, 128 KB RAM integrated, but not expandable. Less number of slots, but integrated Centronics, FDD controllers, Joystick and sometimes with RS-232. A version of 8C is the Pravetz 8VC, which features terminal like design.
• Pravetz 8S - The most advanced from the series, 128 KB RAM integrated, exapandable to 1080 KB. Fewer slots, but integrated Centronics, FDD controllers, Joystick and sometimes with RS-232. Could control 3.5" floppy disk drive and a 5 MB HDD. Improved motherboard design with higher integration and support for various character sets.

16-bit architecture

Display of Pravetz 16

Pravetz-16 were IBM PC compatible:

• Pravetz-16 (IMKO-4) - Featured Intel 8088 at 4 MHz. Simple motherboard design with Bulgarian chipset. Standard RAM 256KB or 512KB expandable to 640KB.
• Pravetz-16E
• Pravetz-16ES (variations as a desktop or tower box) - Featured the 80186 processor at 8Mhz.
• Pravetz-16A
• Pravetz-16T - Turbo version
• Pravetz-286

32-bit architecture

• Pravetz-386
• Pravetz-486

Pravetz 64M

In October 2013, a private company announced that it will use the Pravetz logo to brand its new computers in 2014.

See also

• Bulgarian computers

References

External links

• Pravetz computers (new official website)
• Website about Pravetz computers (historical)