The Commodore KIM-1

When I was a kid, single board computers had real appeal as a low cost way into computing, at least until the VIC-20 and the Sinclair ZX80 appeared in the market.

For one thing if you were into electronics, these things had serious nerd appeal.  You could buy these things as kits to solder together, and you got to see the parts in all their glory.

The Commodore MOS KIM-1 is claimed to be the very first commercially available single board computer.  I think it's amazing that they actually sold a lot of these, but why should I be surprised?  Today people are buying these sorts of things all the time, for example the Arduino and the BASIC Stamp can certainly be compared to the KIM-1, and these are well known.

The KIM-1 inspired a whole range of imitators and evolutionary descendants.  For example, the RCA COSMAC VIP and ELF boards; the 6502 based Synertek SYM-1, and even trainers such as the Radio Shack Science Fair Microprocessor Trainer and the famous Heathkit ET-3400.  Perhaps the Heathkit H-8 also qualifies for this category.

So, let's sing a little praise for the unsung Commodore KIM-1 computer!

Facebook companion group for 6502 Shack

Heads up!  I've also created a 6502 Shack group on Facebook, so if you love the 6502 processor and the computers that use it please join us there!

  6502 Shack group on Facebook

Enter the Clones

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This amazing list of machines (scavenged from Wikipedia) are all 6502 based because they are all clones (or ripoffs) of the Apple II computer design.  

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember any clones being made of the Commodore 64 or the Atari 8-bit line of computers.

Abacus Portable
AES easy3
Agat
Agat-4
Agat-7
Agat-8
Agat-9
Albert[1]
AMI II
Apco
Arrow 1000
Asem AM 64e
Aton II
Ap II
AVT-2[2]
Base 48, Base 64, Base 64A
Basis 108, Basis 208
Bee II
Bimex
BOSS-1
CCE Exato Pró
Citron II
CSC Euro Super
Cubic 88
CB-777[3]
Elppa II
Energy Control
Formosa Microcomputer
Formula II kit ("Fully compatible with Apple II+")[4]
Franklin Ace
Fugu Elite 5
General 64
Golden II
Iris 8
IMKO 2
InterTek System IV
ITT 2020 (Europlus)
Ivel Z3
Laser 128
Laser 3000
Marta kompjuteri
Mackintosh
MCP
MC 4000
Mango II
Medfly
Microcraft Craft II Plus
Microdigital TK-2000 Color (not 100% binary-compatible)
Microdigital TK-2000 II Color (not 100% binary-compatible)
Microdigital TK-3000 IIe - Page in Portuguese
Microdigital TK-3000 //e Compact
Microengenho
Multitech
Microprofessor II (MPF II)
Microprofessor III (MPF III)
MicroSCI Havac
Microcom IIe
Mind II
Multi-system computer
O. S. Micro Systems
Orange
Panasia
Peach
Pearcom
Pravetz series 8
Pravetz 8A
Pravetz 8M
Pravetz 8E
Pravetz 8C
Precision Echo Phase II
Pineapple[5]
RX-8800
Sekon (computer)
Shuttle (computer)
Space 83
Spiral II (available in Canada)
Spring
Spectrum ED
Syscom 2
TK 8000[3]
TMS Vela (TMS means Troyes Micro Service)
UNITRON AP II
Unitronics Sonic
VECTORIO [6](Japan?)
Wombat[3]
Zeus 2001