Terry Stewart's (Tezza's) Classic Computer Collection

Spectravideo 318 (SV-318)

Whee!  Play with me.  Tweak my joystick!  Go on, I know you want to!(Note: Click on the image for a larger view. I also describe this machine in a YouTube video)

If flamboyance and kitsch is what you’re after, there is no going past the Spectravideo 318.

Let loose on the home market in 1983, and with reasonable credentials (32 KB RAM, Z80A chip at 3.6Mhz, good version of BASIC), the tape-based 318 never made much of a splash. The market was just too crowded and the chiclet keyboard probably didn't help either.

I enjoy the appearance of this computer, and always drag it out to show friends. It looks like it belongs on the 1960s in a toybox somewhere! It's a lot more interesting that it's bigger brother, the 328, which is really just a platter of boring keys.

The little red joystick is eyecatching. More for appearance than actually being useful, but there are ports for plugging external joysticks into.

This unit arrived in early 2008 complete with tape drive, a plethora of manuals and some (but not much) software. The latter issue has now been remedied. No repairs were needed other than a good clean. The past owners seem to have been caring types.

A neat little number I'm happy to call my own.

Update: Cute though it is, the SV-318 found a new owner in July, 2021 so is no longer with me.

Want to know more about this micro? Google is your friend.

This page last edited 18th July, 2021

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