RCA CDP18S711 manual Getting Started, What This Manual Covers

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1. Getting Started

COSMAC VIP (Video Interface Processor) CDP18S711 is a complete computer on a single printed-circuit card. It includes the following:

*RCA CDP1802 Microprocessor (91 instructions) *2048-byte RAM

*Built-in hex keyboard (modern reliable touchpad type)

*Graphic video display interface (standard video output)

*100-byte-per-second audio cassette interface *Regulated power supply (wall-pack type) *Crystal clock

*Sound circuits (for signal tones and games)

*512-byte ROM operating system *Comprehensive documentation

*20 ready-to-use video game programs

*Unique CHIP-8 language (31 easy-to-use in- structions)

*On-card RAM expansion up to 40% bytes *On-card parallel 1/0 port

*Connector for extensive external expansion capability

COSMAC VIP was designed for home hobby use. Just add an inexpensive video display and an audio cassette recorder for program storage. You don't need expensive, hidden extras such as power supply, computer terminal, external keyboard, or additional RAM. COSMAC VIP provides everything needed for years of creative computer fun for the whole family. With COSMAC VIP you're immediately ready to play video games, experiment with computer art or animation, write your own programs with a new language called CHIP-8, or get hands-on experience using machine language.

With COSMAC VIP you can easily create pictures on the display screen and move them around. This feature is invaluable for video games and not usually available with computers costing several times as much. The software you need to use your computer is provided free instead of at added cost or not at all. Simplified operation was a primary design goal so that you don't have to waste a lot of time learning and remembering complex operating procedures. COSMAC VIP uses state-of-the-art devices coupled with an efficient design. Full expansion capability allows you to inexpensively tailor COSMAC VIP to specific applications such as model railroad control, music synthesis, or color graphics. You will soon.dis cover that COSMAC VIP provides a refreshingly new, lower-cost alternative to conventional computers which have been aimed more toward mathematics and business than fun.

What This Manual Covers

T'his manual serves several purposes. It lets you get started playing video games with minimum effort. just set up your system as described in this section and learn how to use the operating system and cassette interface as described in the next section. You can immediately use all the video games in Appendix D without going any further.

If you want to learn to write your own programs, Section III describes an easy language to start with called CHIP-8. Most of the programs in Appendix D were designed using this language. CHIP-8 looks somewhat like machine language but is quicker to learn and easier to use than many of the more common high-level languages. It also requires much less RAM, which save8 you a lot of money.