...design savvy, ruggedness, and sophistication...
Written on July 20th, 2026 by Tech Ads
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Imagine a microcomputer with all the design savvy, ruggedness, and sophistication of the best minicomputers.
Imagine a microcomputer supported by dozens of interface, memory, and processor option boards. One that
can be interfaced to an Indefinite number of peripheral devices Including dual floppy discs, CRT’s, line printers,
cassette recorders, video displays, paper tape readers, teleprinters, plotters, and custom devices.
Imagine a microcomputer supported by extensive software including Extended BASIC, Disk BASIC, DOS and
a complete library of business, developmental, and Industrial programs.
Imagine a microcomputer that will do everything a mini will do, only at a fraction of the cost.
You are imagining the Altair™ 8800b. The Altair 8800b Is here today, and It may very well be the
mainframe of the 70's.
The Altair 8800b Is a second generation design of the most popular microcomputer In the fleld, the Altair 8800.
Bullt around the 8800A microprocessor, the Altair 8800b Is an open ended machine that Is compatible with all
Altair 8800 hardware and software. It can be configured to match most any system need.
MITS’ plug-in compatible boards for the Altair 8800b now Include: 4K static memory, 4K dynamic memory,
16K static memory, multl-port serial Interface, multl-port parallel interface, audio cassette record Interface,
vectored Interrupt, real time clock, PROM board, multiplexer, A/D convertor, extender card, disc controller,
and line printer Interface.
MITS' peripherals for the Altair 8800b Include the Altair Floppy Disc, Altair Line Printer, teletypewriters, and
the soon-to-be-announced Altair CRT terminal.
Introductory prices for the Altair 8800b are $840 for a kit with complete assembly Instructions, and $1100 for
an assembied unit. Complete documentation, membership Into the Altair Users Club, subscription to “Computer
Notes’ access to the Altair Software Library, and a copy of Charles J. Sipp!'s Microcomputer Dictionary are
included. BankAmericard or Master Charge accepted for mail order sales. Include $8 for postage and handling.
Shouldn't you know more about the Altair 8800b? Send for our free Altair Information Package, or contact
one of our many retail Altair Computer Centers.
mits 2450 ALAMO S.€. ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO 87106 (505) 243-7821
QiGair SOO
Redesigned front panel. Totally synchro-
nous logic design. Same switch and LED
arrangement as original Altair 8800. New
back-lit Duralith (laminated plastic and
mylar, bonded to aluminum) dress panel
with multi-color graphics. New longer,
flat toggle switches. Five new functions
stored on front panel PROM including:
DISPLAY ACCUMULATOR (displays con-
tents of accumulator), LOAD ACCUMU-
LATOR (loads contents of the 8 data
switches (A7-AO) into accumulator), OUT-
PUT ACCUMULATOR (Outputs contents
of accumulator to I/O device addressed
by the upper 8 address switches), INPUT
ACCUMULATOR (inputs to the accumu-
lator from the I/O device), and SLOW
(causes program execution at a rate of
about 5 cycles per second—for program
debugging).
NOTE: Altair is @ trademark of MITS, Inc.
New, heavy duty power supply: +8 volts
at 18 amps, + 18 volts at 2 amps, -18 volts
at 2 amps. 110 volt or 220 volt operation
(50/60 Hz). Primary tapped for either
high or low line operation.
Full 18 slot motherboard.
Rugged, commercial grade Optima
cabinet.
New front panel interface board buffers
all lines to and from 8800b bus. New CPU board with 8080A micro-
processor and Intel 8224 clock generator
and 8216 bus drivers. Clock pulse widths
and phasing as well as frequency are
crystal controlled. Compatible with all
current Altair 8800 software and
hardware.
OS antes
2450 Alamo SE/Albuquerque, NM 87106/505-243-7821
Prices. delivery and specifications subject to change.
Two, 34 conductor ribbon cable assem-
blies. Connects front panel board to front
panel interface board, Eliminates need
for complicated front panel/bus wiring.
‘CIRCLE MO. 49 ON FREE INFORMATION CARO.
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‘…design savvy, ruggedness, and sophistication…’
The Altair 8800b was the second version of MITS Altair 8800 line of personal computers. As with the Altair 8800, the 8800b was available in both kit form for $880 and - for 260 dollars more - preassembled and tested by MITS.y
More details about the Altair 8800b can be found at the Centre for Computing History.
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