TK-2000

[Steve Mynott]

An odd computer from Brazil. An Apple 2 clone with a rather familiar case!

 

http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1161&st=1

 

Did these actually use atari parts?

[Keatah]

The description says a copy of the parts. So it was not using parts mfg by atari.

[pedgarcia]

The description from this link is wrong. The case is for sure "inspired" by the Atari 1200XL, but the computer is actually a clone of the MPF-II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microprofessor_II) made by Acer (known as Multitech back then). At that time, Brazil had a federal law protecting the local manufacturers, aiming to develop a national computer industry - meaning that it was forbidden by law to legally import any computer that had a similar model made in Brazil. At the end, the closed market was good for the local industry just to *clone* computer without any fear of lawsuits of any kind, for afaik there is no microcomputer develop in Brazil from the ground up (minicomputers are a different story though).

 

The TK-2000 could run Applesoft BASIC programs, but wasn't fully compatible with the Apple II+. As you can see, only the look resembles an Atari computer, but it has nothing to do with it.

 

Although not related to Atari at all, another interesting case of mix-and-match cloning is the CP-400, which is a TRS-80 CoCo II using a case "inspired" by a Timex Sinclair 2068 - this is actually my first computer

 

 

Cheers