Tandy Video Information System

• Name — Video Information System • Developer — Tandy • Manufacturer — Radio Shack • Type — Home multimedia entertainment / Home video game console • Generation — Fourth generation • Release Date — 1992 - 1994 • Units Sold — 11,000 • Media — CD-ROM • Os — Microsoft Modular Windows • Cpu — AMD N80L286-12/S • Memory — 1 MB • Memory Card — Dallas Semiconductor plug-in CyberCard • Display — NTSC TV or composite monitor; Composite, RF and S-Video out • Graphics — Cirrus Logic • Input — Mouse, keyboard • Controllers — hand controller • Cpu Speed — 12 MHz

• Illustration — Logo for Modular Windows Modular Windows is a special version of Microsoft Windows 3.1, designed to run on the Tandy Video Information System. Microsoft intended Modular Windows to be an embedded operating system for various devices, especially those designed to be connected to televisions. However, the VIS is the only known product that actually used this Windows version. It has been claimed that Microsoft created a new, incompatible version of Modular Windows ("1.1") shortly after the VIS shipped. No products are known to have actually used Modular Windows 1.1.

• While Modular Windows was discontinued, other modular, embedded versions of Windows were later released. These include Windows CE and Windows XP Embedded. • VIS applications could be written using tools and techniques similar to those used to write software for IBM PC compatible personal computers running Microsoft Windows. This concept was carried forward in the Microsoft Xbox.

Details of the system include: • CPU: 80286 AMD (N80L286-12/S) • Video System: Cirrus Logic • Sound System: Yamaha (YMF262-M) • Chipset: NCR Corporation • CDROM ×2 IDE by Mitsumi • OS: Microsoft Modular Windows Additional details: * • Illustration — Tandy VIS Back I/O Panel Intel 80286 processor on a local bus (not ISA) running at 12 MHz. 0-wait states. Equivalent PC performance somewhere around that of a 386SX at 16 or 20 MHz. • 1 MB of ROM containing minimal MS-DOS 3.x, a few drivers, and Modular Windows. • Built-in Audio CD player application. • 1 MB of RAM in a conventional PC layout 640 KB + 384 KB. • Mitsumi 1× (150 KB/s) CD-ROM drive with 16-bit interface, 800 ms access, 1300 ms worst case access, CD+G capable, but not Photo CD. 5000 hour MTBF. • IR interface with up to two IR transmitters (hand controllers) operating at once. * • Illustration — Tandy VIS Infrared Controller PS/2 mouse or keyboard interface (either can be connected and are generally recognized by applications). A wired hand controller could also be connected to this port for use in locations where the wireless controller was not practical, or could be used in conjunction with one wireless controller. • Expansion compartment for RS-232 serial board for use with Windows debugger. • Modem (the same modem card that went in the Tandy Sensation I) could also be installed in the VIS. 2400 data 4800 send-only FAX. • Illustration — Tandy VIS Save-It SRAM by Dallas Semiconductor • Outputs: RCA Line left/right, composite video, RF video, S-Video. NTSC video. • Dallas Semiconductor plug-in CyberCard - removable non-volatile storage, in sizes up to 512 KB and system comes with a 32 KB unit. • Onboard audio is same as Tandy Sensation I: Adlib Gold compatible, not Sound Blaster compatible. • Video uses ADAC-1 chip as found in Tandy Sensation I, supports YUV and several high-quality color modes. Also supported some TV-specific features for handling overscan.

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