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Unitron

PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 1:50 am
by rkuchar
Hey Everyone!
I have a Unitron PC . I haven't been able to find a lot of information about them accept that they were sued and whatnot. I believe it still works and I have the unitron mouse that came with it and the pamphlet for the mouse. I have a bunch of smaller disks that go with it .It's a model UD433D. I don't know if these are collectible or anything about it. My Dad bought it new forever ago and now I have it. Any info would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Rob

I moved your topic to appropriate forum, crusty.

Re: Unitron

PostPosted: Thu Oct 03, 2013 12:53 pm
by crustyasp46
he only info on the Unitron PC that I have found thus far is here:
Code: Select all
http://www.applelogic.org/UnitronAndI.html


Unitron 2200

Unitron originated in Brazil and enjoyed good sales from being one of the most common Apple II clones, but then Unitron itself was cloned and manufactured in Taiwan with greater success and far greater quality than the Brazillian outfit, which was eventually shutdown by Apple shortly after they successfully cloned the Macintosh 512 in 1985.

U2200HIRES.jpg
U2200HIRES.jpg (17.99 KiB) Viewed 5975 times


This machine was the first Macintosh clone in the whole world.
Unitron_Mac512_System_s1.jpg
Unitron_Mac512_System_s1.jpg (27.37 KiB) Viewed 5972 times

In Brazil it is almost unknown and there are people who doubt its existence, but it really did exist!
This computer almost started a commercial war between Brazil and the United States. Apple persuaded the U.S. government to use everything it could against the Brazilian clone makers (increases in import taxes for brazilian products such as orange juice, shoes, etc.) until this machine was no longer made.

Brazil had a tradition since the beginning of the 80's of cloning computers without permission from the original brand owners (see the lawsuit moved by Sinclair against Microdigital). Apple had so far tolerated brazilian clones of the Apple II, but not this time...

There were differences between this machine and genuine Macs: Some of Unitron's macs had keyboards with black keys, some others had grey keys. Some versions had a disc drive with a button to eject the disc, others were like the original Mac and had no button in its disc drive.

The end of making Brazilian Mac clones may have been not good for Apple in the long run since it opened the doors of Brazilian market to PC clones that didn't have such restrictions.

Thanks to Ernesto Hublard from Brazil for information.

Source:
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http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=997&st=1

Re: Unitron

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 2:03 am
by rkuchar
Thanks,
Mine doesn't look like the one in the picture. It looks like a PC base that has a key "lock/Unlock" , a "turbo" button, and a "reset" button on the front. It has a spot for a larger floppy disk and a spot for a smaller floppy disk all on the front. It has a Compaq Presario V410e monitor with it now. Is there someone that I can send pictures/information to that would know about this system?

Re: Unitron

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 2:17 am
by crustyasp46
You could post your pictures here of the computer, and someone may be to help you. But from your description I would think that it is a later Unitron, and probably a PC clone. Whether it is collectable is anyones guess, It may be rare, but that does not necessarily make it valuable. Value for these old machines is what a buyer is willing to pay.

Re: Unitron

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 2:21 am
by rkuchar
Thanks, I'll try to put up some Pics. I just didn't want to get rid of it if it meant something to someone...Uhg How do I get a pic on here?

Re: Unitron

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 2:10 pm
by crustyasp46
To put a picture on when posting, scroll to the bottom of the page, notice the "upload attachment" button below preview and submit buttons. Click upload attachment, browse to where your picture is located, add file, place inline in your post. Submit.

Am anxious to see what it looks like. Thanks. :D

Re: Unitron

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 2:29 pm
by rkuchar
IMG-20131004-00220.jpg
IMG-20131004-00220.jpg


Did that work?
IMG-20131004-00225.jpg
IMG-20131004-00224 (1).jpg
IMG-20131004-00222.jpg
IMG-20131004-00221 (1).jpg
IMG-20131004-00220.jpg

Re: Unitron

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 2:34 pm
by rkuchar
IMG-20131004-00226.jpg

Re: Unitron

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 2:38 pm
by rkuchar
IMG-20131004-00220.jpg

Re: Unitron

PostPosted: Sat Oct 05, 2013 5:45 pm
by crustyasp46
Nice pics, worked well, hopefully someone can give you more information on this now. :cheers: