MCM DDS-1000 Diskette System
Dublin Core
Title
MCM DDS-1000 Diskette System
Subject
computer hardware: external storage
Description
Historical context (by Z. Stachniak)
In December 1971, Mers Kutt and Gordon Ramer incorporated Kutt Systems Inc. (later renamed as Micro Computer Machines or MCM) in Toronto, with the purpose of designing, building, and marketing a small desktop microcomputer to be known as the MCM/70. The computer was to be an inexpensive, APL programmable, general-purpose computer that would
``bridge the gap between the sophisticated [programmable] calculators that offer simplicity of operation but fail to provide the information processing capability of the computer... and the large, complex computers that require such high degrees of training and experience as to place them beyond the operational capabilities of most people who want to use them.'' [From an MCM/70 promotional brochure]
The MCM/70 was to appeal to both computer experts and novices alike. The computer was offered in mid 1974 with up to two built-in cassette drives offering approximately 200KB of external storage. In 1975, MCM upgraded the MCM/70 to the /700 model and offered a range of peripherals including two diskette storage systems: the SDS 250 (single disk drive, 250KB of storage) and the DDS 500 (dual diskette storage system, 500KB). In 1977, MCM introduced the DDS 1000 Diskette System designed as a mass storage for the MCM/700, /800, and /900 computers. It offered 1 MB of storage on 8" diskettes.
The museum has two MCM DDS-1000 Diskette Systems (serial numbers 544903 and 501807), one DDS-500 Diskette Systema (serial number 376901) well as DDS-1000 Diskette Drive User's Manual, MCM Computers Ltd., rev. AA (October 1978).
In December 1971, Mers Kutt and Gordon Ramer incorporated Kutt Systems Inc. (later renamed as Micro Computer Machines or MCM) in Toronto, with the purpose of designing, building, and marketing a small desktop microcomputer to be known as the MCM/70. The computer was to be an inexpensive, APL programmable, general-purpose computer that would
``bridge the gap between the sophisticated [programmable] calculators that offer simplicity of operation but fail to provide the information processing capability of the computer... and the large, complex computers that require such high degrees of training and experience as to place them beyond the operational capabilities of most people who want to use them.'' [From an MCM/70 promotional brochure]
The MCM/70 was to appeal to both computer experts and novices alike. The computer was offered in mid 1974 with up to two built-in cassette drives offering approximately 200KB of external storage. In 1975, MCM upgraded the MCM/70 to the /700 model and offered a range of peripherals including two diskette storage systems: the SDS 250 (single disk drive, 250KB of storage) and the DDS 500 (dual diskette storage system, 500KB). In 1977, MCM introduced the DDS 1000 Diskette System designed as a mass storage for the MCM/700, /800, and /900 computers. It offered 1 MB of storage on 8" diskettes.
The museum has two MCM DDS-1000 Diskette Systems (serial numbers 544903 and 501807), one DDS-500 Diskette Systema (serial number 376901) well as DDS-1000 Diskette Drive User's Manual, MCM Computers Ltd., rev. AA (October 1978).
Creator
Micro Computer Machines
Date
1976
Identifier
H.91
Coverage
North America, 1976-1980s
Files
Citation
Micro Computer Machines, “MCM DDS-1000 Diskette System,” York University Computer Museum Canada, accessed April 25, 2024, https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/items/show/189.