INS8073 (was Re: HERO1 For sale...)

[Allison]

Eric Smith wrote:
> Scanning wrote:
>> Is the INS8073 the one that has a Tiny BASIC built-in or runs out of 
>> a ROM ?
>
> Yes.
>

The 8073 is specifically the 8072 with "NIBL BASIC" in the mask rom.  
The 8072 was a custom part where the customer would develope code and 
have National massproduce the part for a specific application.

>> Is it a Tom Pittman type Tiny BASIC ?  Thanks.
>
> How does one tell?
>
> It's in 2.5KB of ROM, so it's definitely a tinier BASIC than in the 
> competing Intel 8051AH-BASIC and Zilog Z8671, both of which had 4KB of 
> ROM.
>
> National called it "NIBL BASIC", although it is unclear how closely 
> related the 8073 version is to their NIBL BASIC for the SC/MP, SC/MP 
> II, or 8080.
>
>
"NIBL BASIC" as National called it is in the realm of Pitman TB.  It has 
a few variations added like start from rom.

I've never seen "NIBL BASIC" ported to 8080, that would be interesting.  
the 8073
is a SC/MP derived cpu family member so nibble on that is developed code.

Allison