Cifer Advert - January 1983
From Systems International
A Graphic Display of Intelligence
Cifer was established in Melksham, Wiltshire in 1972, as a manufacturer of terminals and - later on - microcomputers[1].
According to its advert it became a major supplier in the European OEM market, meaning it sold its products for other companies to re-badge and sell as their own.
This particular advert is for a range of high-end high-resolution graphics terminals and desktop micros, starting from the amber-screened "low cost" 2841 terminal, available from around £1,000 - about £4,250 in 2024.
The 2841 emulated the popular Tektronix 4010 standard, and came with an impressive 1024x300 pixel display. This was managed by an extra Z80A processor with its own 64K RAM.
The top-of-the-range terminal was the 2684, which went one better with a total of three Z80A processors, one of which could support 256K of RAM "for users who require greater storage".
Cipher is a rare example of an early British computer company that - as Cifer Data Systems - is still around as of 2024[2]
Date created: 21 November 2024
Last updated: 21 November 2024
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.
