Microbee Matilda
— The last Microbee computer

Microbee Matilda Logo.

In 1988, while I was working for Giuseppe De Simone and Serafino De Simone in their group of companies, which included MicroHelp and Powertech, the boys purchased Microbee Computers, which was in receivership.

Microbee History

The original Microbee computer was designed and built in Australia using an 8-bit Z80 CPU and initially sold in kit form. Launched in February 1982, the product used the CP/M operating system and became extremely successful in the primary and secondary school education market Australia wide. More than 70,000 Microbee computers were sold and used in Australian schools, homes and businesses.

See, Wikipedia: MicroBee.

The success of Microbee was driven by the huge library of software titles created for the system and cheaply available. However, this also partially led to the downfall of the company.

Intel 16-bit based IBM and compatible personal computers were soon dominating the market. Microbee was slow to offer a PC compatible product, and those systems it did offer couldn't run the Z80 based Microbee software. The company ended up in receivership.

Rebooting the Microbee Brand

After purchasing Microbee, we initially focused on rebooting the brand, mostly using it to sell PC compatible computers, accessories and software.

Microbee Advert.

Please download/view the Microbee Advert
(Adobe PDF | 1 page | 182 KB).

However, a different solution was required. The PCs couldn't run the existing library of Microbee software, but people didn't want to buy a Z80 based micro anymore and not be able to run the rapidly growing massive library of PC software.

The Eureka/Ah-Ha/Satori Moment

I had the idea — Why not put a PC in a Microbee case and create a computer that could run the Microbee Z80 software and the PC compatible software.

At my previous employer, Univex Corporation, I had worked with an absolute hardware and software genius, David Penington. So I ran the idea past David. "Yes, I could do that," he said. I put the idea to Guiseppe and Serifino, got the nod, and we were off.

Microbee Matilda Prototype to Production

In not much time at all, David had a prototype working. A system that could boot as a Microbee 256TC and run the Z80 CP/M software using a NCS800/Z80 CPU at 4/5 MHz clock speed, or boot as a NEC V40 CPU at 8/10 MHz clock speed PC and run IBM/Microsoft DOS software. With the help of Terran Computers, a computer and chip manufacturer based in Eltham, Victoria, David's prototype was turned into a production design.

We commissioned an initial run of 50 motherboards from Terran Computers. Unfortunately, someone at Terran decided to make a change to David's design in this first production run. The boards we received didn't work. David soon determined the cause of the problem and a solution was applied. It was a massive scramble to get the systems ready in time for the product launch.

Marketing and Preparation

Meanwhile, I was heavily promoting the concept of the new Microbee within the Microbee community. We ran a nationwide competition to name the new system.

Microbee Matilda was chosen as the winning name which was submitted by Daniel Randle. My brother, Kym Borrett, came up with a logo and brochure design, that built on a "The True Australian Computer" theme and Australian heritage associations we wanted.

I was also working on the creation of a Microbee Matilda User Manual, disk labels, plus marketing flyers and adverts.

Microsoft Matilda Launch

The Microsoft Matilda was launched on Tuesday 11 September 1990. An article in The Age read...

Microbee launches new line of PCs for schools

by Jay Spencer, The Age, 11 September 1990.

Microbee, a pioneer Australian computer manufacturer that has hovered on the brink of bankruptcy throughout its 10-year history, is making a comeback.

The company has released a new line of low-cost compact personal computers for schools. The base machine will sell to schools for less than $1000. It is Microbee's first new computer for well over two years.

The company, headquartered in Alexandria, NSW, teamed with the Melbourne-based Terran Computers to design the Microbee Matilda personal computer range.

Microbee plans to capitalise on the large installed base: 70,000 olde Microbee computers, running CPM, have been sold since 1981. Owners can upgrade to the new model, the Microbee Matilda, which runs both MS-DOS and CP/M programs for $695.

The launch of the Microbee Matilda is made against a background of financial woes in the indigenous computer industry. In Melbourne, two computer manufacturers, Labtam Information Systems and Webster Computer Corporation, are in receivership. The Adelaide-based MicroByte Technologies is also in receivership, while the Queensland manufacturer of Cleevland PCs, Computer Corporation of Australia, has disappeared.

In its newest firm, Microbee is in fact MicroCorp, trading as Microbee Technology Centres, a company owned by Giuseppe and Serafino De Simone. The De Simone brothers also own the Melbourne personal computer dealership MicroHelp Computers and Communications.

The De Simone brothers bought the business and assets of Microbee from the receiver appointed at their request by the Westpac Banking Corporation two years ago. They had earlier aquired control of the debt-stricken Microbee from the receiver of Impact Systems, a lailed listed company which designed and built computer printers.

At the time, the De Simone brothers said they wanted to keep alive a pioneering Australian high-technology enterprise. They said Australia needed high-technology manufacturing.

At the launch of the Microbee Matilda personal computer, Giuseppe De Simone, the managing director of Microbee said, "The shipping of the Matilda represents the highlight of my two-and-a-half years with Microbee. We have proven that raw determination and vision can produce results."

The high cost of research and development caused most of Microbee's financial troubles. The emergence of MS-DOS as an industry-standard operating system for personal computers also made the Microbee personal computer obsolete.

The Microbee Matilda was entirely designed and built in Australia and incorporates the highest theoretical Australian content. Not only is the BIOS (the input/output software) developed locally but the Application-Specific Integrate Circuits are also Australian-made.

Mr Giuseppe De Simone criticised the Australian Government's attitude to high-technology enterprises. "No real business entrepreneur wants charity," he said. "All that Australian manufacturers want is our political leaders to lead by example and buy Australian."

He said Australian governments seemed more interested in improving the United States trade deficit than fixing Australia's. "Faced with self-created budget problems, they turn to imprts to equip themselves rather than following their own policy of paying up to 20 per cent premium for items of Australian origin.

"Ostensibly this price premium was designed to recognise the many economic benefits gained by reduced imports, increased employment and ultimately higher profits and company tax that follws."

Matilda aimed to match tight school budgets

by Jay Spencer, The Age, 11 September 1990.

Australia's newest computer, the Microbee Matilda, is a low-cost compact microcomputer running industry-standard MS-DOS with an emulator (sic) to run CPM programs.

It was jointly developed by Microbee and the Melbourne-based Terran Computers specifically for schools. The Managing Director of Microbee, Mr Giuseppe De Simone, said: "While its specifications sound a little pedestrian next to $25,000 Intel 486 grunt boxes, its $995 price tag provides cost-effective reliable industry-standard computing.

"We researched the school market and found that one of the biggest crises was lack of capital funds for building works. Basically, there is no room for lots of bulky computers draining lots of power."

Microbee ran a nationwide competition to name the Matilda, which was codenamed the Microbee 640TC during the two-year development. The company wanted a name that underlined its Australian origin.

Daniel Randle suggested Matilda because, he said, it was "a jump ahead of the rest". He won a Microbee Matilda for his own use and another for his school, Springwood Public School in NSW. (The "matilda" in the popular song "Waltzing Matilda" refers to a "swag".)

The personal computer is designed around NEC V40 and NEC800/Z80 microprocessors. Surface-mounted custom chips have been used to keep down the chip count.

Microbee Matilda Flyer

I'd prepared a flyer to promote the new computer.

Microbee Matilda Flyer.

Please download/view the Microbee Matilda Flyer
(Adobe PDF | 2 pages | 333 KB) — 11 September 1990.

Please download/view Microbee Matilda Promo
(Adobe PDF | 2 pages | 224 KB) — 11 September 1990.

Microbee Matilda.

Microbee Matilda Features

Processors: NEC V40 CPU, 8/10 MHz clock speed,
NSC800/Z80 CPU, 4/5 MHz clock speed.

Memory: 640 kilobytes RAM on board.

Display: Integrated Enhanced Graphics Dislay Adapter (EGA) on boards supports: 640 x 350 resolution 16 colour EGA; 320 x 200 resolution 4 colour CGA; 640 x 350 resolution Monochrome graphics.

Storage Devices: Single internal 90mm 1.44-Megabyte Diskette Drive.

Interfaces: Integrated SCSI controller. Parallel (Printer) Interface. Asynchronous (Serial) Communications. Mouse Interface (IBM PS/2 compatible). Games Interface. Program controlled speaker. Real-time clock. Internal 50 pin ex[ansion connector.

Software: Microsoft DOS version 4.01 Operating System, with GW-BASIC. Microbee CP/M version 2.2 Operating System. Selected DOS and CP/M utilities and games.

Compatibility: In PC mode the Microbee Matilda runs the most popular software designed for industry-standard personal computers. In Z80 mode the Microbee Matilda runs the most popular sofware designed for the Microbee 256TC computer.

Coprocessor: Socket for 8087 math coprocessor.

Keyboard: 92 keys including numeric pad, function and cursor keys.

Dimensions: 290 mm Depth, 370 mm Wide, 90 mm Height.

Power Supply: 16 Volts AC at 1.5A, External plug pack supplied.

Warranty: Full one-year worldwide limited warranty.

Microbee Matilda Optional Features

Display: 30 cm (12") Monochrome Monitor; 36 cm (14") Enhanced Graphics Monitor.

Storage Devices: Second internal 90 mm 1.44-Megabyte Diskette Drive; 20-Megabyte SCSI Fixed Disk Drive (average access time 27 msec); 40-Megabyte SCSI Fixed Disk Drive (average access time 25 msec); 80-Megabyte SCSI Fixed Disk Drive (average access time 25 msec).

Communications: Full range of CCITT V.21, V.23, V.22, C.22bis and V.32 external auto-dial, auto-answer modems.

Networking: Arcnet, Ethernet, and Token-Ring external connectors.

Printers: DP135 9-pin, 80 column, 156 cps dot matrix printer; DL1100 24-pin, 110 column, 240 cps dot matrix printer.

Microbee Matilda User Manual

Using the existing Microbee 256TC manual as a starting point for content, I'm pretty sure I wrote most of the 68 page Microbee Matilda User Manual and produced it using Ventura Publisher. As I recall, I based the look of the manual on one that I liked from from Compaq. (MicroHelp had recently become a Compaq dealership.)

Lloyd Borrett's Menu System

Once the MS-DOS Operating System was loaded and running, the supplied AUTOEXEC.BAT file would invoke a special Microbee Matilda version of Lloyd Borrett's Menu System, MENUPRG.

This menu program would display the Microbee Matilda Main Menu. This menu would allow users to select from two sub-menus of Educational Games and Other Games or selected utilities. Users could also choose to switch to Z80 Mode.

The MENUPRG was written in BASIC for the Microsoft QuickBASIC Compiler. I wrote the first version of the program while working at BHP, in November 1984. I sold licences to Australian corporates, which helped me to raise the deposit for my first home. The menu program was installed on computers at BHP, HiSoft, Univex and MicroHelp when I worked at those companies.

Microbee Matilda Disk Labels

Microbee Matilda System Disk Labels.

Please download/view the Microbee Matilda System Disk Labels
(Adobe PDF | 1 page | 229 KB) — 11 September 1990.

The Result

Let's face it, the Micobee Matilda wasn't the big success we'd hoped for. A bit of a case of too little, too late. But, we gave it a red hot go.

There are misleading statements out there that the Microbee Matilda was a PC compatible system that could use software emulation to run the library of Microbee CP/M software. But that's wrong! The whole point of the computer was that it was both a PC compatible computer, AND a Microbee Z80 computer, with the user choosing which mode to run it in.

In 1992, Microbee Computer ceased trading.

Microbee Technology

Microbee Technology.

For more information about Microbee computers visit Microbee Technology — The home of the Microbee Computer, and the Microbee Technology Forum — Discussion forum for all things Microbee.