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Video Genie

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Video Genie

Video Genie (or simply Genie) is a discontinued series of computers produced by Hong Kong–based manufacturer EACA during the early 1980s. Computers from the Video Genie line are mostly compatible with the Tandy TRS-80 Model I computers and can be considered a clone, although there are hardware and software differences.

There are five machines in this series: Video Genie System (first version and second version), Genie I, II and III.

Although the Video Genie name was used in Western Europe, the machines were sold under different names in other countries. The Video Genie System was sold as the Dick Smith System 80 MK I in Australia and New Zealand. Likewise, the Genie II was sold as the Dick Smith System 80 MK II. In North America, the Video Genie System was sold as the Personal Microcomputers, Inc PMC-80 and the Genie II as the PMC-81. In South Africa, the Video Genie System was sold as the TRZ-80, a name similar to its rival.

In early 1983, the related Colour Genie machine was released by EACA.

This is the first version of the machine, released in early/mid 1980. It has only a 51-key keyboard and is missing the CLEAR and Tab ↹ keys, as compared to the Tandy TRS-80 Model I.

The second version of the machine was released in late 1980 and has a corrected keyboard, but sacrifices the right ⇧ Shift key. This version also includes a cassette-player VU-meter and volume control, a very helpful feature in loading software from cassettes.

The third version, introduced in late 1981 was named Genie I, and features inbuilt lowercase with drivers in the ROM extension. This ROM also contains an improved keyboard driver and a machine language monitor.

The Genie II, also introduced in late 1981, has a 19-key keypad instead of the internal cassette deck. Also the keyboard was updated, adding the missing right shift key, making the keyboard 53+19 keys. It was intended for use with floppy drives, in conjunction with the EG3014 Expander.

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