I have three main units.
type computer
country UK
year 1983
os Oric Extended Basic v 1.0
cpu 6502A
speed 1 MHz
ram 16 or 48 KB
rom 16 KB
graphic 240 x 200
colors 8
sound 3 voices, 8 octaves
ports expansion port, RF, printer, RGB, tape
power 9V DC 900mA positive polarity
The Oric-1 — The British ZX Spectrum Rival
Released in January 1983 by Tangerine Computer Systems (later renamed Oric Products International), the Oric-1 was a British home computer that positioned itself directly against the Sinclair ZX Spectrum in terms of specifications and price. Using a 6502A processor at 1 MHz with 16 KB or 48 KB of RAM, and offering colour graphics and three-channel sound through the AY-3-8912 chip, the Oric-1 was technically competitive with the Spectrum while priced aggressively at £99 (16K) and £129 (48K). It sold 160,000 units in its first year — impressive, if ultimately insufficient to seriously threaten Sinclair’s dominance.
Technical Specifications and Sound
The Oric-1’s most significant technical advantage over the ZX Spectrum was its sound hardware. Where the Spectrum used a single-channel buzzer, the Oric-1 included the General Instrument AY-3-8912 — a three-channel programmable sound chip that provided far superior music and sound effects capability. This made the Oric-1 notable for audio-focused games and music applications, and gave it an audio quality that the Spectrum could not match. The colour graphics — 240×200 pixels with 8 colours — were broadly comparable to the Spectrum.
France’s Favourite British Computer
While the Oric-1 failed to displace the Spectrum in the UK, it achieved remarkable success in France — where it outsold everything including the Spectrum. The Oric Atmos (the improved successor) became the dominant home computer in France, a success attributable partly to Oric’s aggressive French distribution deal and partly to French consumers’ preference for something other than the British Sinclair machines. This Franco-British computer story gives the Oric line a unique cross-Channel character.