Hour of the Phoenix... " Last Rites
The 80-BUS computer used processor cards which were heavily based on the NASCOM-2, but in the same square format as the expansion cards. It was, of course, compatible with the NASCOM-2 some users could turn their "old" NASCOM systems into nice new Gemini systems just by changing the processor card! The new system was really aimed at the business sector, supporting CP/M in the "big" version.
Quite a few boards were advertised under the 80-BUS banner. The ones that I know of, or have seen advertised are listed in the hardware section.
I'm not sure what happened next. Like many people I was distracted by another machine and the NASCOM-1 went into storage.
By February 1984 there only seems to have been one outlet for the Gemini Microcomputers components. That was Micro Value. This may have been the sales arm of Gemini, Gemini themselves or just a company set up to exploit the 80-BUS. The last issue of 80-BUS News that I have is January-February 1984 but it makes no mention of being the last issue. The Nascom Newsletter published its last issue in June of the same year. The editorial states that "...the number of hobbyist users is dropping off rapidly. The natural life-cycle of a microcomputer I suppose."
In a January 1985 magazine there are no more Gemini components advertised. Micro Value appears to have stopped advertising.
Now, here is a new bit! There were two other Gemini machines after the Gemini MkII. The first was based on the Motorolla 68000. This was known as the Gemini Challenger (I think) and was aimed at the educational market. This was kept *very* secret from the dealers right up to product launch. All they were told was that there was a new 16-bit machine. Of course, the dealers hoped that this would be an IBM clone - as that was the new trend. I have a feeling that many of them were very disappointed!
The final new machine was an up-market IBM clone using a motherboard built by British Aerospace. I am told that this was a beautifully built machine but it just couldn't compete against the new influx from the far east and it sank without trace. It was too late and too expensive.
Gemini themselves finally disappeared about 1987.
Thus the short life of the NASCOM systems ends. Started in 1978 using the new Z80 processor (only launched in 1977) and fading away in less than 10 years. By now, of course, Sinclair had launched the ZX80, ZX81 and Spectrum. Commodore had the KIM, VIC 20, PET and 64. The outcome was easily predictable: why build an expensive computer when you can buy a seemingly better-specified ready-built computer cheaper? You could buy ready-built boards but this only made the price difference worse.
Today I doubt if you could produce any of the NASCOM machines and make a profit. Even providing it as a kit and using the existing NASBUG monitor (I doubt if Microsoft would make you a present of the 8k BASIC code though!).
It would be interesting to re-cycle the old Nas-bus/80-BUS as a microcontroller interface though. Any takers?