Welcome to the third of the ongoing series of exclusive photos here at Armchair Arcade from my private collection, the VideoBrain Family Computer Model 101 from 1977. The system pictured has its cartridge door raised up with the Wordwise 1 ED03 cartridge inserted. The next step would be to push the cartridge door down, making it flush with the system. The button just below would raise the lid again, i.e., eject the cartridge. One of the two single button joysticks that doesn't self center is plugged in. The underbelly of the Music Teacher 1 ED01 cartridge is displayed to the left of the system. Everything else pictured should be self explanatory with this delightfully well-maintained example of this particular computer model.

The photo's main page.
The full-size image.

Without further ado, here are some neat facts about this week's photo (feedback welcome!):

This self-named computer from the VideoBrain Computer Company of California utilized the same F8 microprocessor as found in the Fairchild Video Entertainment System (VES, 1976), the first fully programmable cartridge-based videogame console. The VideoBrain came standard with only 1KB of RAM and a highly unusual and awkward compressed 36-key half stroke keyboard, but did output both color and sound. This was also one of the very first computers to utilize software on cartridge like the Exidy Sorcerer (1978) and come with joysticks like Interact's The Home Computer System (1978). Four joystick ports were standard, a full year before Atari's 400 and 800 (1979) computer systems. Despite these early technical innovations, limited availability in Macy's department stores and competitively priced bundles, the VideoBrain never caught on and was quickly forgotten.

As can be seen in the photo, the packaging is rather progressive and tasteful for a 1977 design (though I believe the system didn't see wide release until 1978). The system itself looks surprisingly like a smaller Atari 5200 SuperSystem (1982), with a downward slope and an almost triangular side profile. The pop up cartridge door is rather neat and when closed, maintains the sleek lines of the system. Besides the four front controller ports, the only other ports are on the back: a very specialized power adapter port whose unusual mate (which actually has a twist lock after plug-in) should be just visible in the photo and an accessory port, which looks somewhat like a typical Atari 2600 VCS joystick port. A 3/4 channel select switch and a hardwired RF cable that goes to the TV switch box round out the external features of the system. The box smells a bit musty, almost like water damage/mold, but that's common for systems of this vintage of unknown origin. As should be clear from the photos, everything was in remarkable shape and quite clean, though unfortunately my system only goes to a black, blank screen, even after pressing the "MASTER CONTROL" button as instructed. And yes, the keyboard really is awful, with keys that are too closely spaced together and configured in a very odd manner. Even for touch typists, the best way to do anything on this system is probably with a single finger.

Modern availability of VideoBrain product is quite low, but there seems to be little competition for systems, with small bundles like the one shown in the photo sometimes had for less than $200 (though obviously mine does not work, so take that as you will). Loose cartridges pop up very infrequently on the typical auction Websites.

The Obsolete Computer Museum has posted some related brochures for those
interested, here.

AtariProtos.com has a really great and comprehensive section on the system as well, here. Check out, under "Cartridges", the Gladiator game, as it's one of this modest system's best looking.

If my system were working, I would have acquired and posted direct feed video footage of the system's startup and various output, but it was not meant to be at this time. Hopefully I can acquire a working replacement CPU shortly.

The other aforementioned also-rans from 1978, the Exidy Sorcerer and Interact's The Home Computer System, will be covered at later dates. Those systems, the VideoBrain and many others are mentioned briefly in my upcoming book, along with exhaustive looks at 41 other systems. Be sure to keep visiting Armchair Arcade for ongoing coverage, as well. See you next time!