Quantum Advert - May 1983

This is another seemingly one-off advert from Leed's-based Quantum Computer Systems Limited, for its new all-British Quantum 2000 microcomputer, where the definition of "all British" is somewhat flexible, given that it contains Z80 processors from either the US or the Far East, with the rest of its chip compliment probably coming from somewhere in Asia too.

It was actually an OEM re-badged version of Gemini Microcomputer's Quantum 2000, hence the shared "A Multiboard Computer" logo in the bottom right. Gemini was a company that had been created by John Marshall after his previous company - Nascom - had collapsed in the early summer of 1980.

Nascom itself was briefly rescued by Manas Heghoyan - who would later go on to found British Micro (also with John Marshall) - before it was sold on again to car-parts conglomerate Lucas Logic.

According to Gemini's January 1985 product catalogue^[1], the Quantum QM 2000 was aimed at specialist vertical markets including as a CAD/CAM system, an interactive video-based training system, or as a machine for General Practitioners with the addition of the GENISYST twin-Winchester hard disk system.

A variant of the Quantum 2000 could even support the high-end Pluto Graphics Pluto II board, which differed from the usual Nascom/80-Bus cards - which were all 8" square - by having a 12" x 8" form factor.

Another advert for the OEM Gemini Quantum 2000 showing the basic system retailing from £2,250, or about £9,560 in 2025. From Practical Computing, May 1983

Apart from the fact that it actually contained two Z80 CPUs^[2] - one for the operating system and another for graphics processing - the system was a relatively standard Z80 with CP/M and 64K memory system.

All models in the Quantum range were based on the company's GM813 Z80A CPU board, the GM832 Super Video Controller (SVC) board and a GM829 Floppy disk and SASI interface board, which totalled around £565, or about £2,400 in 2025 money.

Added to that would be a keyboard (£135/£570), a couple of floppy disk drives (£745/£3,160) and a motherboard for £50 (£210).

Including a 10MB Winchester would lob on a hefty £1,350 - about £5,740 now - giving a total system price, with a bit extra for a case, operating system and so on, of around £3,000, or £12,700 in 2025.