Hector (or Victor Lambda) are a series of a microcomputers produced in France in the early 1980s.
In January 1980, Michel Henric-Coll founded a company named "Lambda Systems" in Toulouse, that would import a computer (produced by "Interact Electronics Inc" of Ann Arbor, Michigan [1] [2]) to France. The computer was sold under the name of "Victor Lambda". [3] [4]
"Lambda Systems" went bankrupt in July 1981, along with "Interact". In December 1981, "Micronique", [5] an electronic components company based in southern Paris, acquires the rights to the "Victor Lambda".
In 1982, "Victor Lambda Diffusion", a subsidiary, distributes the "Victor Lambda". The first machines built in the United States were not a success, and the following models were designed and produced in France at the headquarters of the "Micronique" company. The company uses the slogan: "The French Personal Computer". [6]
In 1983, the "Victor" is renamed "Hector", [7] to avoid confusion with the machines from the Californian company "Victor Technologies" (formerly " Sirius Systems Technology").
The last model introduced was the Hector MX, with production of the series ending in 1985. [6] The series was not successful, due to the focus on the French market, intense competition from Amstrad machines and high prices. [8] [9]
The Victor Lambda was a rebranded Interact Home Computer [10] [11] [2] [12](also called The Interact Family Computer 2 [13]) microcomputer. Introduced in 1980, it had a chiclet keyboard and built-in cassette recorder for data storage.
The Hector 1 [7] [14] [15] [16] was a 1983 computer, based on the Victor Lambda. Initially sold as Victor Lambda 2 [7] [17] [18] it was renamed to avoid trademark confusion. Also known as Hector 16K. More than 100 games were published for this machine. [19]
It was eventually considered as an entry level machine. [20]
Specifications: [14]
The Hector 2HR [21] [22] [23] is a 1983 [24] computer with a Zilog Z80 processor, 16KB of ROM and 48KB of RAM. Initially sold as Victor Lambda 2HR, it was renamed avoid trademark confusion. [25] Graphics were improved, with a resolution of 243x231 in 4 colors, and 40x23 character text. [26] It has an built-in cassette recorder and an optional disk drive (DISK II). At launch there were sixty software titles available on tape. [26] It was considered as a more serious machine for those wishing to program their own games. [20]
The "Disk II" is a dual external 5+1⁄4-inch floppy disk drive with a dedicated processor. The Hector processor would handle the screen, keyboard and printer, while the floppy drive processor would run CP/M and manage floppy disks. Communication took place via the bi-directional parallel port.
The programming language is not available in ROM but loaded at startup. This makes it possible to distribute several languages, with BASIC 80, Pascal MT+, Cobol 80, Fortran 77, Forth and Assembly being available.
The Hector 2HR+, [28] [29] [30] also released in 1983, is similar to the previous model, but including the BASIC language in ROM [24] (thus freeing up more RAM memory for user programs).
Specifications: [27]
The Hector HRX, [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] also released in 1983, is similar to the previous model, but changes BASIC for a Forth language interpreter in ROM and features a 64KB RAM. [36] An early 1983 review mentioned as positive compatibility with existing Lambda II HR software, but pointed lack of high-profile titles like arcade game conversions. [37] It was considered as a professional machine, capable of running small business applications like text processors, spreadsheets and databases. [20] A 1985 review of the system praised the varied peripherals available, but again criticized the lack of software. [33]
Specifications: [38]
The Hector MX, [39] [40] released in 1985, is similar to the HRX but offers BASIC, Forth, Logo and Assembly as languages available in ROM. [41]
Specifications: [41]
Some software like Wordstar or Multiplan exists for this series of machines, along with many small games. [42] [43] They are also compatible with the Interact Home Computer
Title | Alternative name | Type |
---|---|---|
Addition | Add Em Up | Video game |
Alunissage | Video game | |
Arithmétique et Tables | Utility | |
Asteroïdes | Hot Rocks | Video game |
Auto Formation Hector - 1 sur 6 | Utility | |
Auto Formation Hector - 2 sur 6 | Utility | |
Auto Formation Hector - 3 sur 6 | Utility | |
Auto Formation Hector - 4 sur 6 | Utility | |
Auto Formation Hector - 5 sur 6 | Utility | |
Auto Formation Hector - 6 sur 6 | Utility | |
Auto Lumière, L' | Video game | |
Backgammon | Video game | |
Balade dans Paris | Video game | |
Baroudeur, Le | Video game | |
Base Spatiale | Video game | |
Bataille Navale | Video game | |
Batter-Up | Video game | |
Beat The Clock | Video game | |
Biorhythm | Utility | |
Blackjack | Video game | |
Bombardement | Video game | |
Calcul Mental | Utility | |
Calculator | Utility | |
Castle | Video game | |
Catacombs | Video game | |
Caverne des Lutins, La | Video game | |
Chain Reaction | Video game | |
Chatbyrinthe | Computer Maze | Video game |
Checkbook Balancer | Utility | |
Chenille, La | Video game | |
Combat! | Video game | |
Concentration | Video game | |
Contratac | Video game | |
Cow-Boys | Showdown | Video game |
Crazy 8 | Video game | |
Crédits | Utility | |
Dé + 2 | Knockdown | Video game |
Decimal Tic-Tac-Toe. | Video game | |
Dédale | Video game | |
Désert des Tartares, Le | Video game | |
Dogfight | Video game | |
Double Trouble | Video game | |
Dragon du Donjon, Le | Video game | |
Earth Outpost I | Video game | |
Entrainement au Calcul | Utility | |
Envahisseurs, Les | Alien Invaders | Video game |
Etoile Noire | Video game | |
Extension Glouton | Video game | |
Flipper | Heads-Up-Pinball | Video game |
Formule 1 | Video game | |
Fractions Simplification | Utility | |
Furet, Le | Video game | |
Galaxius | Video game | |
Glouton, Le | Packrat, Extension Glouton | Video game |
Goofy Golf | Micro Golf | Video game |
Grand Prix | Video game | |
Grenouille | Wing It! | Video game |
Hammurabi | Video game | |
Hector Géo-France | Utility | |
Hector Mémoire | Video game | |
Hector-Man | Video game | |
Hep, Taxi ! | Video game | |
Hibou Taquin | Video game | |
Hyams | Video game | |
Identités Remarquables | Utility | |
Isola | Video game | |
Jeep Lunaire | Video game | |
Jumping-Jack | Video game | |
King of the Road | Video game | |
Laby 1 | Video game | |
Life | Video game | |
Logicase | Attro-Logic | Video game |
Mangeur d'Étoiles | Video game | |
Manoir d'Alba, Le | Video game | |
Mega Volts | Video game | |
Mega Volts II | Video game | |
Micro Chess | Video game | |
Micro Dico | Utility | |
Micro Yatse | Video game | |
Minor | Video game | |
Montlhéry | Video game | |
Morse Code Trainer | Utility | |
Mots et Chiffres | Utility | |
Mur de Briques, Le | Breakthrough | Video game |
Mysterious Mansion Adventure, The | Video game | |
Ortographie | Utility | |
Over Sea Aircraft Mission | Video game | |
Pack Wars | Video game | |
Packrat Multimaze Overlay | Video game | |
Participe Passé | Utility | |
Pendu, Le | Hang-Man | Video game |
Pengo | Video game | |
Pesée | Utility | |
Piège, Le | Video game | |
Piranhas | Vicious Fishes | Video game |
Poker Elan | Video game | |
Poursuite | Video game | |
Questions Réponses | Utility | |
R-Bert | Video game | |
Régates | Regatta | Video game |
Régions Françaises, Les | Utility | |
Relatifs | Utility | |
Relations | Utility | |
Reversi - Othello | Reversi | Video game |
Safecracker | Video game | |
Sous-marin | Depth Charge | Video game |
Space Opéra | Video game | |
Spéculation | Video game | |
Speed Reader | Utility | |
Star Track | Video game | |
Stramble | Video game | |
Strip 21 | Video game | |
Sub Search | Video game | |
Superbowl | Football | Video game |
Tic Tac Math | Video game | |
Tirages | Utility | |
Touch Down!! | Video game | |
Tour de France en Avion, Le | Utility | |
Toute la Conjugaison | Utility | |
Trail Blazers | Encirclement | Video game |
Turbo | Video game | |
Vautours | Video game | |
Video Chess | Video game | |
Videograph | Utility | |
Volleyball | Video game | |
Zarcos | Video game |
Hector (or Victor Lambda) are a series of a microcomputers produced in France in the early 1980s.
In January 1980, Michel Henric-Coll founded a company named "Lambda Systems" in Toulouse, that would import a computer (produced by "Interact Electronics Inc" of Ann Arbor, Michigan [1] [2]) to France. The computer was sold under the name of "Victor Lambda". [3] [4]
"Lambda Systems" went bankrupt in July 1981, along with "Interact". In December 1981, "Micronique", [5] an electronic components company based in southern Paris, acquires the rights to the "Victor Lambda".
In 1982, "Victor Lambda Diffusion", a subsidiary, distributes the "Victor Lambda". The first machines built in the United States were not a success, and the following models were designed and produced in France at the headquarters of the "Micronique" company. The company uses the slogan: "The French Personal Computer". [6]
In 1983, the "Victor" is renamed "Hector", [7] to avoid confusion with the machines from the Californian company "Victor Technologies" (formerly " Sirius Systems Technology").
The last model introduced was the Hector MX, with production of the series ending in 1985. [6] The series was not successful, due to the focus on the French market, intense competition from Amstrad machines and high prices. [8] [9]
The Victor Lambda was a rebranded Interact Home Computer [10] [11] [2] [12](also called The Interact Family Computer 2 [13]) microcomputer. Introduced in 1980, it had a chiclet keyboard and built-in cassette recorder for data storage.
The Hector 1 [7] [14] [15] [16] was a 1983 computer, based on the Victor Lambda. Initially sold as Victor Lambda 2 [7] [17] [18] it was renamed to avoid trademark confusion. Also known as Hector 16K. More than 100 games were published for this machine. [19]
It was eventually considered as an entry level machine. [20]
Specifications: [14]
The Hector 2HR [21] [22] [23] is a 1983 [24] computer with a Zilog Z80 processor, 16KB of ROM and 48KB of RAM. Initially sold as Victor Lambda 2HR, it was renamed avoid trademark confusion. [25] Graphics were improved, with a resolution of 243x231 in 4 colors, and 40x23 character text. [26] It has an built-in cassette recorder and an optional disk drive (DISK II). At launch there were sixty software titles available on tape. [26] It was considered as a more serious machine for those wishing to program their own games. [20]
The "Disk II" is a dual external 5+1⁄4-inch floppy disk drive with a dedicated processor. The Hector processor would handle the screen, keyboard and printer, while the floppy drive processor would run CP/M and manage floppy disks. Communication took place via the bi-directional parallel port.
The programming language is not available in ROM but loaded at startup. This makes it possible to distribute several languages, with BASIC 80, Pascal MT+, Cobol 80, Fortran 77, Forth and Assembly being available.
The Hector 2HR+, [28] [29] [30] also released in 1983, is similar to the previous model, but including the BASIC language in ROM [24] (thus freeing up more RAM memory for user programs).
Specifications: [27]
The Hector HRX, [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] also released in 1983, is similar to the previous model, but changes BASIC for a Forth language interpreter in ROM and features a 64KB RAM. [36] An early 1983 review mentioned as positive compatibility with existing Lambda II HR software, but pointed lack of high-profile titles like arcade game conversions. [37] It was considered as a professional machine, capable of running small business applications like text processors, spreadsheets and databases. [20] A 1985 review of the system praised the varied peripherals available, but again criticized the lack of software. [33]
Specifications: [38]
The Hector MX, [39] [40] released in 1985, is similar to the HRX but offers BASIC, Forth, Logo and Assembly as languages available in ROM. [41]
Specifications: [41]
Some software like Wordstar or Multiplan exists for this series of machines, along with many small games. [42] [43] They are also compatible with the Interact Home Computer
Title | Alternative name | Type |
---|---|---|
Addition | Add Em Up | Video game |
Alunissage | Video game | |
Arithmétique et Tables | Utility | |
Asteroïdes | Hot Rocks | Video game |
Auto Formation Hector - 1 sur 6 | Utility | |
Auto Formation Hector - 2 sur 6 | Utility | |
Auto Formation Hector - 3 sur 6 | Utility | |
Auto Formation Hector - 4 sur 6 | Utility | |
Auto Formation Hector - 5 sur 6 | Utility | |
Auto Formation Hector - 6 sur 6 | Utility | |
Auto Lumière, L' | Video game | |
Backgammon | Video game | |
Balade dans Paris | Video game | |
Baroudeur, Le | Video game | |
Base Spatiale | Video game | |
Bataille Navale | Video game | |
Batter-Up | Video game | |
Beat The Clock | Video game | |
Biorhythm | Utility | |
Blackjack | Video game | |
Bombardement | Video game | |
Calcul Mental | Utility | |
Calculator | Utility | |
Castle | Video game | |
Catacombs | Video game | |
Caverne des Lutins, La | Video game | |
Chain Reaction | Video game | |
Chatbyrinthe | Computer Maze | Video game |
Checkbook Balancer | Utility | |
Chenille, La | Video game | |
Combat! | Video game | |
Concentration | Video game | |
Contratac | Video game | |
Cow-Boys | Showdown | Video game |
Crazy 8 | Video game | |
Crédits | Utility | |
Dé + 2 | Knockdown | Video game |
Decimal Tic-Tac-Toe. | Video game | |
Dédale | Video game | |
Désert des Tartares, Le | Video game | |
Dogfight | Video game | |
Double Trouble | Video game | |
Dragon du Donjon, Le | Video game | |
Earth Outpost I | Video game | |
Entrainement au Calcul | Utility | |
Envahisseurs, Les | Alien Invaders | Video game |
Etoile Noire | Video game | |
Extension Glouton | Video game | |
Flipper | Heads-Up-Pinball | Video game |
Formule 1 | Video game | |
Fractions Simplification | Utility | |
Furet, Le | Video game | |
Galaxius | Video game | |
Glouton, Le | Packrat, Extension Glouton | Video game |
Goofy Golf | Micro Golf | Video game |
Grand Prix | Video game | |
Grenouille | Wing It! | Video game |
Hammurabi | Video game | |
Hector Géo-France | Utility | |
Hector Mémoire | Video game | |
Hector-Man | Video game | |
Hep, Taxi ! | Video game | |
Hibou Taquin | Video game | |
Hyams | Video game | |
Identités Remarquables | Utility | |
Isola | Video game | |
Jeep Lunaire | Video game | |
Jumping-Jack | Video game | |
King of the Road | Video game | |
Laby 1 | Video game | |
Life | Video game | |
Logicase | Attro-Logic | Video game |
Mangeur d'Étoiles | Video game | |
Manoir d'Alba, Le | Video game | |
Mega Volts | Video game | |
Mega Volts II | Video game | |
Micro Chess | Video game | |
Micro Dico | Utility | |
Micro Yatse | Video game | |
Minor | Video game | |
Montlhéry | Video game | |
Morse Code Trainer | Utility | |
Mots et Chiffres | Utility | |
Mur de Briques, Le | Breakthrough | Video game |
Mysterious Mansion Adventure, The | Video game | |
Ortographie | Utility | |
Over Sea Aircraft Mission | Video game | |
Pack Wars | Video game | |
Packrat Multimaze Overlay | Video game | |
Participe Passé | Utility | |
Pendu, Le | Hang-Man | Video game |
Pengo | Video game | |
Pesée | Utility | |
Piège, Le | Video game | |
Piranhas | Vicious Fishes | Video game |
Poker Elan | Video game | |
Poursuite | Video game | |
Questions Réponses | Utility | |
R-Bert | Video game | |
Régates | Regatta | Video game |
Régions Françaises, Les | Utility | |
Relatifs | Utility | |
Relations | Utility | |
Reversi - Othello | Reversi | Video game |
Safecracker | Video game | |
Sous-marin | Depth Charge | Video game |
Space Opéra | Video game | |
Spéculation | Video game | |
Speed Reader | Utility | |
Star Track | Video game | |
Stramble | Video game | |
Strip 21 | Video game | |
Sub Search | Video game | |
Superbowl | Football | Video game |
Tic Tac Math | Video game | |
Tirages | Utility | |
Touch Down!! | Video game | |
Tour de France en Avion, Le | Utility | |
Toute la Conjugaison | Utility | |
Trail Blazers | Encirclement | Video game |
Turbo | Video game | |
Vautours | Video game | |
Video Chess | Video game | |
Videograph | Utility | |
Volleyball | Video game | |
Zarcos | Video game |