Philips VG5000

VG5000μ

Developer	Philips
Manufacturer	Radiotechnique (RTS)
Type	Home computer
Generation	8-bit
Release date	France: 1 October 1984; 40 years ago (1984-10-01)
Lifespan	1984-1986
Introductory price	1990 FF
Discontinued	1986
Units sold	300000 in 1984
Operating system	VG5000 BASIC
CPU	Z80 @ 4 MHz
Memory	24 KB RAM, 18KB ROM
Removable storage	Cassette tape
Display	Semigraphics (equivalent resolution of 320x250), 8 colors
Graphics	Thomson EF9345
Sound	1 voice, 5 octave range
Language	Logo

The VG5000μ is a computer created by Philips in 1984.^[1][2][3] It was manufactured in Le Mans by Radiotechnique (RTS)^[4] and marketed under the Philips,^[5][6] Radiola^[7] and Schneider^[8] brands.^[4][9]

Not compatible with any other machines, it offered VG5000 BASIC (derived from Microsoft BASIC-80) as the operating system upon boot, with Logo available on cartridge.^[10][11]

Graphic ability was limited to a semigraphic symbol display, with the equivalent resolution of 320 x 250 pixels in 8 colors.^[12][13]

It had some hardware compatibility with the Philips VG 8000, such as power supply connectors, cassette player interface and cartridges. ^[14]

Aimed at schools,^[15] it was unsuccessful and production ended in 1986.^[16] 300 000 units were sold in 1984 according to an internal Philips report, with 500 000 predicted for 1985.^[13] There are about forty games available for the system.^{[17][18][19][20]}

As of 2022, enthusiasts remain active in developing new homebrew software and emulators for the system.^{[21][22][23][24][25][26]}

Several peripherals were developed to support the VG5000μ operation:^[27]

• VY0030: cassette player^[28]
• VG5200: joystick interface^[29]
• VU0001: joystick (see Magnavox Odyssey 2)^[30]
• VU0011: RF modulator^[31]
• VU0022: power supply^[32]
• VG5216: 16KB RAM memory expansion with joystick and printer ports^[33]
• VU0031: 16KB RAM memory expansion^[34]
• VW0010: 40 column printer^[35]
• VW0020: 80 column printer^[36]
• VW0030: 80 column printer^[37]

• 

  Zilog Z80A^[38] processor running at 4 MHz
• RAM: 24KB, including 16KB of system memory (expandable to 48KB) and 8KB of dedicated memory for the video processor^[13]
• ROM: 18KB,^[13] including 16KB containing the VG5000 BASIC (derived from Microsoft BASIC-80)^[10] and 2KB of character bitmaps built into the video processor
• Video processor: SGS Thomson EF9345P^[39][38]
• Graphics: semigraphics based on 8 × 10 pixel characters (equivalent to 320 × 250 pixels) in 8 colors^[12][13]
• Sound: 1 voice, 5 octave range
• Keyboard: Built-in 63 keys AZERTY keyboard with BASIC keywords^[38]
• Ports: DIN5 cassette player connector (1200/2400 baud),^[3][38] DIN8 SCART connector^[3][38]
• Expansion: 2×25 pins bus connector^[3][38]

There are 33 commercial video games for Philips VG5000.^[40][41]

• Old Computers:
• le greniers informatique
• French VG5000μ fan site
• Logiciels et développement 2017 (VG5000μ)
• My VG5000 - site dedicated to the VG5000 micro
• Emulation of VG5000
• The VG5000 shop
• pages dedicated to programming the VG5000