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NDR Klein Computer
Kit for 68k-card
Also known as	NKC
Developer	Rolf-Dieter Klein [de] and Joachim Arendt
Manufacturer	Graf-Elektroniksysteme
Type	Single-board computer
Release date	1984; 40 years ago (1984)
Operating system	CP/M
CPU	Zilog Z80A or Motorola 68020
Memory	64 KB RAM

NDR-Klein-Computer
Created by	Rolf-Dieter Klein, Joachim Arendt
Presented by	Rolf-Dieter Klein
Country of origin	Germany
Original language	German
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	26
Production
Running time	15 minutes
Original release
Network	NDR-Schulfernsehen
Release	1984 (1984)

The NDR Klein Computer, abbreviated NKC, was a do-it-yourself computer project from the early 1980s developed by Rolf-Dieter Klein [de] (RDK) and Joachim Arendt. In 1984, the computer was featured in the educational television series NDR-Klein-Computer for NDR-Schulfernsehen (NDR School Television). It was also broadcast on the computer television show ComputerTreff [de] on the Bavarian TV network Bayerisches Fernsehen (BFS).

History

The NDR Klein Computer was created by Rolf-Dieter Klein, a computer enthusiast who regularly contributed articles to the German computer magazine mc. His plan was not only to give a basic introduction to the way a computer operates, but also to introduce a modular system through which laymen could learn to complete basic programming exercises, as well as acquire the skills to operate a high-end home computer. Under the direction of Joachim Arendt, they developed a television series that was picked up by Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR) for its NDR-Schulfernsehen (NDR School Television) channel. The series, titled NDR-Klein-Computer, consisted of twenty-six episodes of fifteen minutes each. Klein hosted the show and wrote articles in mc to supplement the series. He published a book on the same subject, titled: Microcomputer Selbstgebaut und Programmiert (DIY Microcomputer Building and Programming), through Franzis Verlag, which also released the TV series on VHS. The computer's hardware was provided by Graf Elektronik System in Kempten, and sold at an electronics store in Detmold. The company Fischertechnik also produced a robot kit, which was one of the most comprehensive 32-bit programming language applications at the time.

Features

The NKC was built with several different hardware configurations, from a simple 8-bit single-board computer based on a Zilog Z80A processor to a 32-bit system equipped with a Motorola 68020 CPU. The software could be loaded with EPROMs or involve an operating system such as CP/M which could handle executable programs in various programming languages.

A helper card with an Intel 8088 processor allowed the NKC to run MS-DOS. Systems could be customized to handle many different peripherals including PS/2 keyboard, 3½-inch floppy disks, IDE-hard drives and modern storage. Users have developed new cards which replaced the former specialized components. For instance, a system could contain a new graphics card (with VGA connector), one serial port, a sound card, PC keyboard and a mouse connector. Another system configuration that supports booting via the IDE-interface has been developed for the 68xxx family.