The Mindset is an Intel 80186-based MS-DOS personal computer. allowing it to update the screen 50 times as fast as an IBM standard color graphics adapter. The basic unit was priced at . As president of Mindset Corporation, he brought a number of Atari engineers with him.

Design

In most computer systems of the era, the CPU is used to create graphics by drawing bit patterns directly into memory. Separate hardware then reads these patterns and produces the actual video signal for the display. The Mindset added a new custom-designed VLSI vector processor to handle many common drawing tasks, like lines or filling areas. Instead of the CPU doing all of this work by changing memory directly, in the Mindset the CPU sets up those instructions and then hands off the actual bit fiddling to the separate processor.

Badertscher compared the chipset to the Intel 8087 floating-point processor,

As development continued and it became clear that the machine would be ready before the MS-DOS-based Microsoft Windows 1.0 was, Bill Gates became personally involved in the project to assist Mindset in emulating IBM character graphics without losing performance. Once Mindset officials determined that most of the desirable software was compatible, development was frozen and the OS burned to ROM in late 1983. The ROM does not run about 20% of the PC software base, including Microsoft Flight Simulator. WordStar is one of the PC applications reported to run, and Mindset publicized a list of 60 applications that run unmodified. The software base was expected to increase dramatically once a final version of Windows was released. before ultimately buying Atari and designing a new machine from off-the-shelf parts, the Atari ST.

Release

thumb|right|Advertisement from the August 1984 issue of Byte magazine

The Mindset was released on 2 May 1984. The base model with 64 KB RAM (32 KB user RAM, 32 KB VRAM) and no floppy-disk drive sold for US$1,099, a 128 KB (user RAM) model with single disk was available for $1,798, and a 256 KB (user RAM) dual-disk version cost $2,398. The disk-less version of the machine was still usable, as the system also included two ROM cartridge ports on the front of the machine that could be used for the operating system and another program. The canonical cartridge is an extended version of GW-BASIC. The machine is packaged in a unique enclosure designed by GVO of Menlo Park, visually separated into two sections with the ROM slots in the lower half and the optional diskettes on the upper half. It was sold complete with a custom nylon carrying case.

Mindset's president said its graphics capabilities were unmatched except on US$50,000 workstations. At the time it garnered critical acclaim, with reviewers universally praising its graphics and overall performance which was much faster than contemporary PCs. although in many cases with the caveat that the market was rapidly standardizing.

Disappearance

By the summer of 1984, it was clear the system was not selling as expected, and the company re-purposed it for the video production and graphics design markets. That was followed in August by a round of layoffs, and another in January 1985, this time half the employees were let go. The company filed for Chapter 11 protection on 28 August 1985, and never emerged.

By 1985, when it was clear the system was not living up to its promise and Windows 1.0 was a flop in general, John J. Anderson published a review of the system decrying that the personal computer market was beginning to value compatibility over technology. He wrote:

Mindset II

The Base System Unit is referred to as Model M1001; later a "Mindset II" computer was released, a badge engineered version of the M1001, with an adhesive label designating "II" under the embossed name. Internally the Video Processor Board is a separate mini-daughterboard. Its enhanced functionality is not totally understood – but from the "Mindset II Advanced Professional Videographics System" user's guide it makes mention of "Chaining" two Mindset's:

The Mindset II is referred to on the front of the user guide as Model# M1500, however other internal pages reference is an M1000-II and also make mention of Mindset Video Production Module Model# M1011. The system included 512 KB system RAM, 128 KB VRAM, and 40 KB ROM. The primary resolution was 640x400, 4-color, double-buffered. Bill Gates became involved with development, assisting Mindset in emulating IBM character graphics without losing performance. Once Mindset officials determined that most of the desirable software was compatible, development was frozen and the operating system burned to ROM, which locked out 20% of the IBM PC software base, including Microsoft Flight Simulator. WordStar is one of the applications reported to run, and Mindset publicized a list of 60 applications that run unmodified. The software base was expected to increase dramatically once a final version of Windows was released.

While released in 1984, models of the M1001 Mindset computer with BIOS ROM code 1.07 and earlier show a copyright notice of (c) 1983 Mindset Computer Corp.

Sound processor

Mindset has a custom sound-processor (CSP). The optional Sound Module adds a second CSP, along with a right channel audio output jack. There are four operating modes:

{| class="wikitable"

|-

! Mode

! Name

! Description

|-

| 1

| Music

| Four musical voices with limited effects, wavetable lookup

|-

| 2

| Sound Effects/Music

| Three voices with sound effects, modified wavetable lookup

|-

| 3

| Max Voice

| Six voices with limited controls, all voices same volume, ramped waveform

|-

| 4

| See-Through

| Direct access to DAC

|}

Rear ports

The rear of the computer is equipped with the following ports:

  • Mono audio out
  • Composite out
  • TV/RF
  • Channel 3/4 select switch
  • RGB video output
  • EXT sync
  • Aux in
  • Aux out

The rear of the main computer module also has 3× 36-pin Expansion bus slots.

The Dual Disk/Memory Expansion Unit adds an additional three 36-pin Expansion bus slots to the system.

Expansion modules

  • Dual Disk Drive / Memory Expansion Module. Some are marked Model # M1003 and others M1004, despite there being no internal or external differences.
  • Printer Module – parallel
  • RS-232-C Module – serial
  • Modem Module 300
  • Modem Module 1200
  • 128 KB memory "Cartridge Module"
  • Hard Drive System, consisting of an Interface "Cartridge Module" and HD loader on NVRAM cartridge
  • Stereo Module – adds right channel output jack and second sound processor

Peripherals

thumb|Mindset mouse

  • Mouse
  • Analog joystick
  • Touch Tablet
  • Video Production Module – video fader

Video game

Only one video game has been released for the Mindset:

  • Vyper (Synapse Software, 1984)

References

Citations

Bibliography

  • Specs, photos, and commentary regarding the Mindset Computer
  • DigiBarn Computer Museum photos and commentary regarding the Mindset Computer