Dragon 32 was my first home computer. I learned to program in BASIC when i was 7 years old! I still have that machine, and i still sometimes use Visual Basic in my day job! Safe to say the Dragon started my interest in computer that resulted in my professional software development career.

My first computer and Bonka! my first game, lots of fond memorys programming games from 'Input' magazine with my buddy :)

Great video. Dragon 32 was Xmas present in 1982

The absolute BALLS from Dragon Data for not only stealing the COCOS design and then trying to make a hit in more markets across the world but then too say "nah" to Tandy once they tried to invest in the company LOL Wonderful video! Love seeing these less than known computers get some highlights

@TheLairdsLair

2 жыл бұрын

Indeed, that was one of my favourite parts of the story. Really glad you enjoyed the video!

@michaelturner4457

2 жыл бұрын

May not have been "absolute BALLS", because from what I've read about the Radio Shack TRS-80 Color Computer, it was actually derived from a Motorola reference design. Same with the Dragon 32. Of course Dragon couldn't just copy the TRS-80 CoCo ROMs.

@another3997

10 ай бұрын

Actually, both machines were based on the reference design from Motorola, so Tandy had no real say in the matter. The machines were incompatible. You could apply your argument to Compaq and all the other PC clones that were based on IBMs original design. Only the BIOS code was proprietary, and that was soon reversed engineered. Everything else was made up from standard logic chips... hence why we had a million and one PC manufacturers. Nobody bothers about PCs being rip-offs. 😂

@absinthedude

2 ай бұрын

It wasn't Dragon Data who said "no" to Tandy, it was the receiver. Dragon Data probably had no say in the matter, the receiver determined that the Spanish offer was more likely to secure the business. Perhaps they were wrong, but that's not Dragon's say. The issue of whether Dragon Data copied any Tandy IP is tricky because while the Dragon 32 was undoubtedly similar to and shared architecture with the Tandy CoCo, both could have stemmed from Motorola's reference specifications.

It my belief that both Tandy and Dragon based their designs on Motorola's original reference schematic, and so the Dragon was not based on anything Tandy owned. So the Dragon was not based on the Coco. Both the Dragon and Coco were based on Motorola's designs.

Has two a to d converters and centronics as standard. A Tandy four colour 40 column pen plotter printer was also available.

When i was ein kinder in the eighties my dad's workplace here in west wales used dragon 32 in the office

Probably the most amazing fact about the Dragon 32 is that is was NOT designed in Wales but in a village on the Herts/Cambs border

@TheLairdsLair

Жыл бұрын

I didn't know that! Very interesting to me too as I am from Hertfordshire.

@ruffrecords

Жыл бұрын

@@TheLairdsLair The reason I know is that I was the project leader for the Dragon electronics design which was carried out at Patscentre in Melbourne just outside Royston

@TheLairdsLair

Жыл бұрын

That's awesome! Not far from where I am either. You learn something new everyday! I hope you enjoyed the video and it brought back some happy memories for you.

I've heard that DD had less balls than some alude to, in terms of "licensing" the design from Tandy. Apparently the CoCo was built around a Motorola reference design for their new CPU. To get it into a working machine pronto, so they could sell some. Which Tandy then did with the CoCo, sticking basically to that design. After all Motorola knew their own architecture. Later, Dragon Data, realised they could maybe do the same. So I am guessing they approached Motorola and were told, there was no reason why they could not use the same design. Hence, the Dragon 32 and Coco are brothers from another mother, rather than the Dragon 32 being the illegitimate bastard it is sometimes made out to be. So, DD made a computer, problem was, by the time THEY built their version, the 6502 based machines were getting into a swing. The Apple II, then the Atari 8bit machines, and then the C64 all used the same CPU. So if you wrote a game for an Apple II or Atari you could easily enough port it to the other two. That's a BIG user base. And so the Dragon, and I guess Coco languished and withered on the vine. And of course the Dragon was up against the cheaper Spectrum, which was on a par with it, though the Dragon is actually worth its price as the case, keyboard etc were far superior. Still, I loved my Dragon 32 and Im still thankful to Dragon Data they gave me my refund of £200 when my power switch broke. Next weekend and I was trotting home with a Commodore 64 (from Swansea), knowing full well that Dragon were going bust. It was sad, but those days were super tough.

I too am intrigued by the Dragon 32. Have been since seeing one, way back, in Boots. A mixture of respecting the underdog, its quirkiness and its reflection of the exciting times it was born in. Excellent.

The Dragon32 was my first home computer. Later I got the C64, which had much more going for it, especially the bigger selection of software. Nevertheless, the BASIC of the Dragon32 had a bigger instruction set enabling easier programming. Also it came with analog controllers, as the C64 only had digital ones. Meaning with the D32 you could go also a little bit in one direction, with C64 only go into a direction or not. I believe the main issue was, that the C64 became more popular with more colors and resolution. This plus much more games coded in assembler for fast gameplay made the C64 practically unbeatable at its golden age.

Never knew much bout this system, do now!

Just a couple of things here, the character set is not in the rom, it built into the 6847 video chip. The 6847 as standard did not support lower case. The dragon 64 differed in that it had a further 32k of ram, a serial port, and an enhance 64k mode. The display was a tad more refined, but still had no lower case and also did not have an 80 column mode either. The dragon 64’s serial port was a proper hardware rs232 part, rather than the coco’s part software “bit banger”

The Dragon 32 was my first computer, back in 1982, and after learning to use it for two weeks decided that this was what I was going to do when I grew up. I was 13 years old at the time and sure enough, I spent about 25 years in the IT sector before changing career and becoming a teacher. The pedant in me needs to point out that the photo of the 6809 is the wrong chip. You're showing a 6809P but the Dragon used the 6809E.

This was my first computer.

Very very informative video, I hope it brings new light to the format.

@TheLairdsLair

2 жыл бұрын

I hope so too!

The Dragon 32 was my first computer, way back in 1982, and started my love affair with videogaming. As you say, there were lots of excellent clones available (many imported from the CoCo in USA) and it also came with MS extended basic. I spent many hours trying to replicate arcade machines I had scene on holiday back at home and became highly proficient with MS basic, which has stood me in good stead later in my career (VBA isn't that different). Now I relive my youth a little with the xRoar emulator...

@wayland7150

Жыл бұрын

It was a Motorola reference design but yes they did steal things like the layout of the cartridge slot, Motorola did not design that.

@telemedic5142

Жыл бұрын

And the keyboard layout too! That layout dates back the the original trs80

@another3997

10 ай бұрын

​@@telemedic5142I'm not sure Tandy or anyone else can claim a specific keyboard layout as proprietary, at least not if it's based on one of the international "standards" such as QWERTY etc, and isn't based on a patented design.

Thanks lad. Quality content.

I remember one friend had one, among everyone else who either had a Spectrum or C64 (and a couple of BBC owning friends). For a games machine, the graphics modes just weren't up to it. The mid-resolution 4 colour was behind the Spectrum, C64, Oric and even the VIC 20 in some respects. But I do recall it having some decent enough games. I am sure I played that Frogger game.

Cool video. Thanks for sharing

Fantastic Video. Great to see the Dragon getting some love. We had a Dragon as the family computer back in the day and I didn't appreciate it ('cos it wasn't a speccy) as much as I do now. Another Amazing Fact for you is that the Dragon version of Jet Set Willy actually has more rooms than any other port......including a completely empty room titled "Matthew Smith's next game" .

@TheLairdsLair

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it! I do remember reading that about JSW in Retro Gamer magazine, but I had totally forgotten so thanks for reminding me and adding it here :-)

As a Welshman it is nice to see a Welsh company produce a computer. I can't remember if I used one, I certainly didn't own one.

It wasn't born in the Valleys :) It was made in Port Talbot and Swansea. The valleys are further North.

Best video so far

@TheLairdsLair

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much, it was a lot of work and I wasn't sure people would like it!

60 programs for the dragon 32 book has some errors too - its two different books i think (the pdf is different from the real book) thanks...................

The crucial difference between the Dragon and the Amstrad CPC 464 was the Amstrad used the 6845 video chip that was better suited to business because of more text characters on the screen including lower case. The one thing Dragon data should have done better technically was make a machine with a better video chip. A dedicated sound chip would have helped. Tandy went on to make the CoCo3 which is what the Dragon needed to have been from the beginning. It's still the same as the Dragon only with the necessary improvements. If that had come out in 1982 by Dragon Data it would have blown every other home computer away but the CoCo3 came out in 1986 and things had move so far by then.

@another3997

10 ай бұрын

If it had come out in 1982, even with those improvements, it would still have been crushed by the Atari 800 and the C64. Both of which had great custom graphics and audio hardware. It wouldn't have ousted the BBC Micro or the Amstrad machines in the UK, and Amstrad were very successful in Europe too. Dragon, like so many other companies, didn't really understand the home computer markets when they dived in.

Really great video. My personal connection to the Dragon 32 is three fold. One, my gran worked at Mettoy in Swansea. Two, I saw a Dragon 32 at a vegetable fair (I was with grand father) and I sold my Atari 2600 + carts and bought one a few months later. Three I grew up in Port Talbot, so the Dragaon Data factory was only 2 miles down the road. My friend had a Vic 20 at the time, so the Dragon looked to be a good improvement on it, with 32KB and a really decent keyboard. I loved that machine, and the Cuthbert games for (read arcade rippoffs) actually meant it was a better gaming machine than my friends Vic. The Analogue joysticks were a bit crappy on arcade games, but I had some other games where the analogue aspect was cool. I had my Dragon for about a year, and during this time the Commodore 64 became available, I was aware of this as an upgrade on the Vic 20. Then, things shifted quickly.... I heard on the local news that Dragon Data was going bust. My Dragon coincidentally developed a fault on its power button, meaning I had to push it against a wall to keep it on. So I sent a letter to Dragon Data asking for a refund, or replacement. They (very kindly) offered a refund if I sent my machine back (very unusual in a bankcruptcy). So I did. A week or so later a cheque for £170 came through the post, and I popped to Swansea and came back with a Commodore 64. Still, the Dragon 32 holds a special place in my heart. My FIRST computer. And.. I have just bought one, which I hope to be Retro Brighting and renovating very soon! I honestly think (sadly) nationalism comes into play when people look back at this computer. People (English) tend to refer to it as the Welsh computer. And I have seen English KZreadrs (You know who you are) refer to it as being WEIRD. Whilst Australians and Americans give it more love. I dont think it was weird, well, it was no more weird than any other machine of that time. Also, people talk like the failure of the Dragon was kind of inevitable, but in truth the early 80s was a total crossfire hurricane naval battle, with new machines appearing weekly, and constant upmanship making an incredibly competitive market. In the end, it appears price was king in the UK. So a Dragon at £178 would of course have struggled vs the Spectrum at less than £100. And it appears that in the end it was Mettoy's sinking that actually pulled Dragon Data down with them.

@TheLairdsLair

2 жыл бұрын

Great story, thanks for sharing!

@wayland7150

Жыл бұрын

As an Englishman I was very proud of my Welsh computer. I still have it. Others were playing games on their computers but I bought an assembler cartridge and wrote amazing things in 6809 assembler. I even wrote a light pen driver for DataPen and got paid. PS, I had been saving for a £400 BBC B but I got to £200 and bought the Dragon, it had most of what I wanted.

Hehe Michael Douglas getting old

I’ve actually got one up for sale seems a shame to have it say gathering dust if someone could make use of it

@TheLairdsLair

Жыл бұрын

Where is it listed? Might be interested!

does any 1 know how to remap xroar keys to spacebar + cursor keys??? instead of the usual alt key?? thanks................

I have 2 dragon 32"s and games

I got one for u all - how do u transfer a vdk file into a cas file? using xroar? thanks.................. or another similar transfer program?? thanks...........

@TheLairdsLair

7 ай бұрын

No idea sorry!

it has fs error on xroar and sn error on the real Dragon 32 or 64 using a Dragon 32 word processor i typed in from a magazine listing (machine language) thanks...................

I've got a Dragon now and it's your fault T.L.L with all these videos showcasing hardware. 😝

@TheLairdsLair

2 ай бұрын

Well done! I've been after one for a while with no success.

@captaincorleone7088

2 ай бұрын

@@TheLairdsLair Thanks! I saw one on Gumtree a few months ago for £10. I missed out on it but some lucky beggar wound up with a steal.

@TheLairdsLair

2 ай бұрын

Not a Dragon but I once saw a TI99 for £20 and a ColecoVision for £25 - both times they ignored all my messages.

This was my first computer and if I look back other than the keyboard it was terrible, almost all games played on a green background, if you wanted a black background you were limited to monochrome. Most games were shite so it intrigued me to learn to program and develop my own, Initially in basic followed by assembly in the later years. I have been reasonably succesful in life and alot has been down to this beige box green screen peice of crap. Thank you Dragon.

If your name is Mark, you lived in Lostock Hall in the 80s and had a Dragon 32 and wrote a Tie-fighter game for it. Can I just say ... it sucked !

@TheLairdsLair

2 жыл бұрын

Hahahahahaha! Brilliant!!!!

@davedogge2280

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLairdsLair this really did happen !

@wayland7150

Жыл бұрын

I remember typing in a Tie-Fighter basic program from a magazine. It was terrible and slow.

Dragon 32 in North America was stupid considering it was a clone of their machine. Dragon 32 should of had better colour palette and full graphics from the start and upper case, what idiot thought upper case only was a good idea cost the company

@ChrisThomas-lt8jd

2 жыл бұрын

Possibly the same idiot who thought is was a good idea to make the Apple II in America (which cost $2800+) only have upper case (Steve Wozniak!). The simple answer is, ALL the machines of this era had compromises. The speccy, people might remember had a god awful keyboard, and a cartridge port that reset the machine if you had a cartridge in it and looked at the machine, it had NO joysticks ports, etc. The early eighties was a crossfire of new computers, each with different strengths and weaknesses. The Dragon, for instance went for Analogue joysticks rather than Digital. Analogue are (in some cases) far superior to digital joys, BUT for early 80s gaming, digital joys would have been better to lead with. It had a great keyboard, not just of type, but size. It had 32k, which was quite decent for the era. For instance, I had a Dragon 32, my friend had a Vic 20, which had 5KB of ram, which really was not idea, whilst 32kb could do decent things. It was all compromises and constant one upmanship. It was a great time!

@wayland7150

Жыл бұрын

@@ChrisThomas-lt8jd The BBC B was pretty near perfect for an 8-bit computer. Only problem was £400 compared to Dragon £200. In 1982 it was not possible to make a decent computer that you could use for something serious for less than £400. The home computer needed to be that cheap so it lacked important things that any computer should have like a proper computer monitor and proper file storage. The BBC micro did something very smart though, one of it's video modes came from the Mallard Teletext chip. This cunning chip could put colourful text and block graphics on a TV in a very readable form. This means text actually looked good on a telly rather than terrible like all the other home computers. Thankfully Moore's Law saved computers by doubling performance very 2 years.

@another3997

10 ай бұрын

​@@wayland7150The BBC was a great micro, very innovative in many ways... but nowhere near the perfect 8 bit. It was expensive and overly complicated for most home users, who would never use most of it's advanced features. But it didn't have the greatest video and sound capabilities, and a relatively poor selection of games. The Electron was a partial solution, but sadly it failed due to it's delayed release.

My first computer, and put simply a total pile of SHITE.