The NASCOM computer was a microcomputer developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s in the UK. It was primarily targeted at hobbyists, engineers, and educators, offering an affordable and accessible entry point into the world of computing at a time when personal computers were still a rarity.
The NASCOM 1, released in 1979, was one of the first computers to be sold as a kit, requiring users to assemble the components themselves. It was powered by a Zilog Z80 microprocessor, running at a clock speed of 3.25 MHz, and it featured 1KB of RAM (expandable) and 8KB of ROM. The system used a television set as the display, making it even more affordable, and users could programme it using a version of BASIC.
The NASCOM 2, released in 1981, built on the success of the NASCOM 1 with some significant improvements, including increased memory (up to 64KB), a more refined design, and better expandability. It supported both BASIC programming and machine code, which allowed for more sophisticated applications.
Although the NASCOM computers were never as commercially successful as other early personal computers, such as the BBC Micro or the Sinclair ZX80, they played an important role in the early UK microcomputer scene. The NASCOM systems were particularly popular in the burgeoning homebrew computing community and contributed to the growth of personal computing in Britain during the 1980s.