Talk:Enterprise (computer)

Meaning of life

I remember being told that if you switched the machine on and typed in "What is the meaning of life" it returned the answer "42". Also that the name "Elan" had to be dropped for copyright reasons, and they picked "Flan" as they only had to scrape a bit of paint off the cases. Any evidence? Springnuts 22:55, 18 September 2007 (UTC)

I have tried that "meaning of life" thing on one of the emulators but it didn't work. The Elan-Flan thing you wrote about might be true, I also heard about it. --Szipucsu (talk) 15:46, 26 January 2008 (UTC)

A bit late to reply but the Flan was kind of true - as a joke. There is a photo and story about it in a copy of PC world from about 1984. However, there was never any real intention to market it as "Flan". Probably not really notable but if I ever dig out that PC World article I might add a reference. Don't hold your breath :) Sirfurboy (talk) 19:03, 1 September 2019 (UTC)

I have a picture somewhere of an early Enterprise I opened for repairs. The motherboard is screenprinted "1984 FLAN COMPUTERS LTD 3-01" TastyOther (talk) 16:44, 13 June 2024 (UTC)

Page title: Enterprise 128 -> Enterprise 64/128

I think the title of the page should be changed. Both Enterprise 64 and Enterprise 128 computers exist and the page is valid for both of them. I think the best title would be: Enterprise home computer (unless other computer exists with the same name - I don't know about it. --Szipucsu (talk) 21:17, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

Second that. This is similar to Amstrad CPC - no need to name it for a particular model. I'd suggest "Enterprise (home computer)". GregorB (talk) 19:21, 7 June 2008 (UTC)

General Information

Unfortunately I no longer have the extensive archive of Enterprise information I had in the 80s and 90s - however, Private Enterprise magazine revealed some interesting facts, such as who marketed it and so forth.

Specifically, with regards to the launch and the CPC's similarity: The Enterprise 64 was an early bit of vapourware. It was shown in the press long before launch; for Sugar to manufacture the cases to mimic the very long awaited and technically well regarded machine was not necessarily anything more than simply reacting to press shots.

The initial production run of machines was produced in Northumberland. The firm responsible produced about 50,000; the return rate on these was very high - I have one of these machines, sold to an employee in March 1997 (I have the receipt) for a small sum - it has a misaligned power LED that would have required rectification. Not a major problem, but one that would have seen it returned to the retailer.

If I put the information that I have in here, it's going to be hammered with "Citaton needed", so it's not happening. If anyone wants to research those leads, feel free. —Preceding unsigned comment added by TastyOther (talk • contribs) 20:43, 6 November 2008 (UTC)

I don't get that: if that information comes from Private Enterprise magazine, then that's your citation. Pick MLA or whatever standard citation format you prefer, and include the article information. Dementia13 (talk) 00:15, 24 July 2012 (UTC)

I don't think that "Private Enterprise magazine" is enough for a citation. At least the issue number should be given. And that is difficult to know if you do not have the magazines. --PauliKL (talk) 09:23, 26 July 2012 (UTC)

Interfaces

Should RS432 (or indeed the whole RS232/RS432 bit) not read RS423? I haven't changed it as I don't know for sure, but I know a number of micros at the time used RS423 interfaces, e.g. the BBC Micro, but I haven't come across an RS432 before. --194.247.53.233 (talk) 18:28, 5 July 2009 (UTC)

Yes, Enterprise had RS423 interface (which is compatible with RS232, too). There is no such thing as RS432 interface. Fixed. --PauliKL (talk) 12:47, 19 September 2010 (UTC)

Nationality

So it's a British computer by Intelligent Software? This should be stated in the introduction. 2fort5r (talk) 07:07, 6 January 2011 (UTC)

Confusing/contradictory statements

"....The 64 kB address space of the Z80 processor is divided into four 16k sections. Each section can have one of the 256 16k memory pages mapped into it."

Consider that the readers of this article may not be particularly knowledgeable about computers. What 256 pages? Is that a feature of the Z80?

I am afraid computer illiterate readers would not understand the technology no matter how many words were used. But what do you mean "what 256 pages"? Of course the 256 memory pages of Enterprise. Where did you get the idea of it to be feature of the Z80? Z80 is a 8-bit processor which has 64 kB address space. That is exactly why the paging system in the Dave chip is needed, as described in the article. Maybe the order of the paragraphs should be changed so that the ASICS are mentioned before talking about the memory paging?

"The top four pages (64 kB) are used as video RAM, but can be used for storage of program code and data. The system ROM is mapped to the lowest two pages. The next four pages were reserved for a ROM cartridge (max 64 kB)."

The system ROM is mapped to the lowest two pages, and the ROM cartridge is mapped...below the lowest two pages? If that's correct, then it needs further explanation. Or did the "next four pages" go after the video RAM? Dementia13 (talk) 00:38, 24 July 2012 (UTC)

What you say makes no sense. The article says clearly that the ROM cartridge is mapped after the lowest pages, not "below". And the article does not say it would be mapped after video RAM. And since the video ram is mapped to the last pages at the top of memory, it is not even possible to map anything after that. --PauliKL (talk) 11:53, 26 July 2012 (UTC)

Change made to "Development" section

This previously read:

The UK home computer market was launched with the 1982 introduction of the Sinclair ZX Spectrum.

That's clearly incorrect (ZX81, anybody?) and the Your Computer article cited at the end of the paragraph says no such thing. What it does say ([[1]]) is that the Elan (as it then was) story began in 1982, soon after the Spectrum's launch. I've edited that opening sentence to reflect this. Loganberry (Talk) 01:01, 29 October 2015 (UTC)