EACA/Genie Advert - September 1981
From Computing Today
Versatility is the Key - The Video Genie System
The EG 3003 Video Genie System was a sort-of TRS-80 Model 1 clone, made by enigmatic Hong Kong electronics company EACA and distributed in the UK by Lowe Electronics.
Lowe, an established company that was also known for its amateur radio equipment[1], had wanted to secure the VIC-20 franchise when Commodore's new machine was announced at around the same time as this advert, but it insisted on being the sole distributor - a demand which cut no ice with Commodore.
Instead, it went with the Colour Genie franchise - the micro which replaced the EG 3003 - which it had the exclusive on[2]. Besides, it had already been distributing Genie systems since at least April 1980[3].
A Lowe Electronics advert for the EG 3003, which appeared in Personal Computer World, April 1980. The price then was £425 including VAT, so about £2,410 in 2024
The EG 3003 also stands out as possibly the largest console around - looking more like a 1970s synthesizer than a computer, especially, as seen in this advert, when coupled up to a rather large veneered television.
For the specification, which was unusually (for a home computer) based on the older S-100 bus, it was reasonably cheap - £370 is about £1,780 in 2024.
Date created: 01 July 2012
Sources
Text and otherwise-uncredited photos © nosher.net 2024. Dollar/GBP conversions, where used, assume $1.50 to £1. "Now" prices are calculated dynamically using average RPI per year.
