Specifications

CHALLENGER:
DSE's answer to IBM
Dick Smith Electronics has entered the market
for "IBM standard" personal computers with the
aptly named "Challenger" PC manufactured in
the UK by Ferranti Ltd. The Challenger is one
of the least expensive personal computers to
claim compatibility with the IBM PC, with the
bonus that it can be purchased in two parts.
PETER VERNON
A Challenger computer consists a
two units. Part A, the system unit
contains the 8086 microprocessor, 128E
bytes of programmable memory and
ROM version of BASIC. It also provide!
a parallel printer port, three vide(
outputs (RGB, composite video am
modulated UHF) and a cassett(
interface. The system unit is big
measuring 53cm x 41cm x 10.5cm (W )
D x H), and has a smoked perspex fron
panel which hinges down to reveal
space for stowing the keyboard
Normally the keyboard is plugged int(
the front of the system unit, just belov
the illuminated on/off switch at the right
The keyboard is an attractive, by
profile unit, with the keys it
conventional typewriter locations excep
for the unusual provision of tw(
RETURN keys, one just below the righ
hand SHIFT key and the othe
PC. The Num Lock key must be used to
switch between cursor movement and
entry of numbers, a particularly
annoying necessity when using
spreadsheet programs. IBM's non-
standard placement of the RETURN
key and the left-hand SHIFT key has not
been copied however.
Overall the keyboard is usable but it is
not the best feature of the Challenger.
The light touch and long key travel
combine to create a feeling of
unsteadiness even though there were no
problems of key bounce or miskeying.
The space-bar on the review machine
was also a little stiff, although a cure
could be just a matter of use.
In itself the system unit is a powerful
16-bit computer with adequate memory
and colour graphics capabilities. With a
cassette recorder it can be used alone to
learn programming, althought no pre-
packaged software is likely to be
available on cassettes. It is with the
addition of the expansion unit, part B,
that the Challenger achieves its full
potential and becomes a serious
contender in the top end personal
computer market.
Part B provides two double-sided
13cm disk drives, for 320K of storage
each, three IBM hardware compatible
expansion slots and two full 16-bit data
bus expansion slots for specialised
Challenger boards. Since the Challenger
also has an RS-232C serial port built in
immediately adjacent. Accidentally
pressing the RETURN key instead of
SHIFT can cause problems. Ten
function keys are grouped on the left side
and the numeric pad and' cursor
control keys at the right, as on the IBM