Over this Xmas break I've grabbed some time to add a few bits and pieces to my Dick Smith System 80 website. Some on the list might find this stuff interesting, hence the post.
For those who might not know, Dick Smith was a colourful Australian entrepreneur (and helicopter pilot), who pioneered a chain of electronic shops. These shops were like the Radio Shack of Australia. The first of these shops opened in New Zealand in 1981 (or 1982?). Here are selected pages from the first Dick Smith catalog advertising the System 80 and accessories to us New Zealanders. The prices are eyewatering. Sales tax on overseas goods was very high. I think one NZ dollar was worth about 50 US cents at that time, maybe even lower. Nevertheless I bought a System 80 as advertised! My wife nearly killed me, as we were saving up to buy a house (opps!). Anyway, the PDF is here: http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/system-80/promotion-selected-pages-1st-dick-smith-nz-catalogue.pdf If you want to see everything I've added, check out the top three entries in this list: http://www.classic-computers.org.nz/system-80/whats_new.htm Tez