Matra Alice

 ( Home Computers ) 

• CPU: Motorola 6803 at 0.89 MHz
• RAM: 4 kilobytes on-board, expandable to 20 KiB with a plug-in memory module
• ROM: 8 KiB (Microsoft BASIC)
• I/O Ports:
• RS-232C serial interface
• Cassette interface
• Péritel video output
• Expansion interface
• AZERTY keyboard layout
• Display: Motorola 6847, 32 × 16 or 64 × 32 with 8 colors, 160 × 125 with 4 colors (with expanded RAM)
• Sound: 1 channel, 5 octaves

• The Matra Alice 32 released in 1983 shared the case style of the original, but was a different computer inside, due to using the EF9345 video chip. The Alice 32 had 8 of main RAM, 8 kilobytes of dedicated video RAM, and 16 kilobytes Read-only memory (the ROM incorporated an assembler). The CPU was clocked at 1 MHz. Higher resolution graphic modes included 320 × 192 with 16 colors from a 256 color palette.
• The Matra Alice 90 released in late 1984 was an upgrade to the Alice 32, which featured 32 kilobytes of RAM and a full-size case and keyboard. Its video cable included video-in, so EF9345 graphics could be overlaid onto the input video.
• The Matra Alice 8000 released in 1985 was a more powerful machine with two CPUs, a 6803 at 4,9152MHz and a Intel 8088. It had 64 × of RAM.

The Thomson EF9345 video chip in the Matra Alice 32/90 was capable of displaying 8 colors, 128 alphanumeric characters, and 128 semi-graphic characters with a Semigraphics mode and 40- and 80-column text modes. It could address up to 16 KiB of dedicated VRAM although the Alice 32 and 90 only included 8 KiB. The 32x16 semigraphic mode of the original Alice was simulated in software by the Alice 32/90 system ROM.

• Le wiki d'Alice – Everything about Alice
• Matra Alice — information from The Machine Room
• Matra Alice32 — Alice 32 information complete
• DCAlice — Alice 32 emulator and information site
• My First Alice32 — Alice 32 emulator
• FAQ on Alice32 — comprehensive FAQ regarding Alice