Canon Cat: Difference between revisions

Canon Cat
Developer	Information Appliance, Inc.
Manufacturer	Canon
Type	Task-dedicated single-unit desktop computer
Release date	1987; 37 years ago
Introductory price	US$1,495 (equivalent to $4,000 in 2023)
Discontinued	1987; 37 years ago
Units sold	20,000 units
Operating system	Forth
CPU	Motorola 68000 @ 5 MHz
Memory	256 KB of RAM
Storage	3½-inch 256 KB floppy disk drive
Display	9-inch (229 mm) black-and-white monitor
Graphics	80 × 24 characters, 672 × 344 pixels
Connectivity	Internal 300/1200 bit/s modem
Mass	17 pounds (7.7 kg)

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The Canon Cat is a task-dedicated microcomputer released by Canon Inc. in 1987 for $1,495 (equivalent to $4,000 in 2023).^[1] Its appearance resembles dedicated word processors of the late 1970s to early 1980s, but it is far more powerful, and has many unique ideas for data manipulation.

The system is primarily the creation of Jef Raskin who originated the Macintosh project at Apple.^[1] After leaving the company in 1982 and founding Information Appliance, Inc., he began designing a new computer closer to his original vision of an inexpensive, utilitarian "people's computer". Information Appliance first developed the SwyftCard for the Apple II, then licensed it to Canon as the Cat. BYTE in 1987 described the Cat as "a spiritual heir to the Macintosh".^[2]

Overview

The Canon Cat uses a text-based user interface, without any pointer, mouse, icons, or graphics.^[1]^[3] All data are seen as a long "stream" of text broken into several pages. Instead of using a traditional command-line interface or menu system, the Cat uses its special keyboard, with commands activated by holding down a "Use Front" key and pressing another key.^[4] Special "Leap keys" are held down to allow the user incremental search for strings of characters.^[5]

The hardware consists of a 9-inch (229 mm) black-and-white monitor (80 x 24 character display, 672 x 344 resolution),^[6] a single 3½-inch 256 KB floppy disk drive, and an IBM Selectric–compatible keyboard. It uses a Motorola 68000 CPU (like the Macintosh) running at 5 MHz, has 256 KB of RAM, and an internal 300/1200 bit/s modem. Setup and user preference data are stored in 8 KB of non-volatile RAM with battery backup. The array of I/O interfaces encompasses one Centronics parallel port, one RS-232C serial port (DB-25), and two RJ11 telephone jacks for the modem loop. The total weight is 17 pounds (7.7 kg).

A range of application software is built into 256 KB of ROM: a standard office suite, telecommunications, a 90,000-word spelling dictionary, and user programming toolchains for Forth and assembly language.

Graphics routines are in ROM, and connectors for a mouse or other pointing device are never used.^[7]

Reception

BYTE in 1989 said "The Cat is perfect for someone who needs industrial-strength editing and record keeping but doesn't require a full-blown computer system ... It's as close to perfect integration, on a small scale, as I've encountered to date".^[8]

Legacy

Archy, originally called The Humane Environment, was a project initiated by Raskin in 2005 with similar principles to the Canon Cat.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "CAT Canon". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
^ Shapiro, Ezra (October 1987). "A Spiritual Heir to the Macintosh". BYTE. p. 121. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
^ "Online Help Screens from the Cat". www.canoncat.org. 2004. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
^ "Canon Cat". DigiBarn Computer Museum. Retrieved 2023-02-23.
^ Canon Cat Quick Reference Card (PDF). Canon Inc. 1987.
^ David Alzofon, David Caulkins (April 26, 1987). "Cat Reference Guide" – via Internet Archive.
^ "apple-history.com / gui discussion :: jef raskin response". www.apple-history.com.
^ Shapiro, Ezra (February 1989). "New Frends And Old". BYTE. pp. 139–142. Retrieved 2024-10-08.

External links

Canon's Cat Computer: The Real Macintosh at the Wayback Machine (archived October 25, 2014)
Raskin, Jef (1987), Canon Cat Emulation, retrieved 2019-12-30
CanonCat.org
Canon Cat Computer User Manual
Canon Cat Computer Reference Manual
Canon Cat Computer Repair Manual
Promotional Video for Leap and Canon Cat (If broken link: video is titled "Leap Technology")

SwiftCard

[:0-1] "CAT Canon". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 2023-02-23.

[shapiro198710-2] Shapiro, Ezra (October 1987). "A Spiritual Heir to the Macintosh". BYTE. p. 121. Retrieved 4 August 2014.

[3] "Online Help Screens from the Cat". www.canoncat.org. 2004. Retrieved 2023-02-23.

[4] "Canon Cat". DigiBarn Computer Museum. Retrieved 2023-02-23.

[5] Canon Cat Quick Reference Card (PDF). Canon Inc. 1987.

[6] David Alzofon, David Caulkins (April 26, 1987). "Cat Reference Guide" – via Internet Archive.

[7] "apple-history.com / gui discussion :: jef raskin response". www.apple-history.com.

[shapiro198902-8] Shapiro, Ezra (February 1989). "New Frends And Old". BYTE. pp. 139–142. Retrieved 2024-10-08.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|Desktop computer by Canon}}
-{{Refimprove|date=August 2014}}
+{{More citations needed|date=August 2014}}
 {{Infobox information appliance
-| name         = Canon Cat
+| name = Canon Cat
-| title        =
+| title =
+| aka =
-| aka          =
+| logo =
+| image = Canon Cat front profile.jpg
-| logo         =
+| caption =
-| image        = Canon Cat.jpg
+| developer = [[Jef Raskin|Information Appliance, Inc.]]
-| caption      = Canon Cat.
-| developer    = [[Jef Raskin]]
+| manufacturer = [[Canon Inc.|Canon]]
+| family =
-| manufacturer = [[Canon Inc.]]
+| type = Task-dedicated single-unit desktop [[microcomputer|computer]]
-| family       =
+| generation =
-| type         = task-dedicated, desktop [[microcomputer|computer]]
+| releasedate = {{Start date and age|1987}}
-| generation   =
+| lifespan =
-| releasedate  = {{Start date and age|1987}}
+| price = {{USD|1495|1987|round=-2}}
-| lifespan     =
-| price        = {{nowrap|1495 [[United States dollar|US$]]}} {{nowrap|(today ${{Inflation|US|1495|1987|r=2}})}}
 | discontinued = {{Start date and age|1987}}
-| unitssold    =
+| unitssold = 20,000 units
 | unitsshipped =
-| media        =
+| media =
-| os           = [[Forth (programming language)|Forth]]
+| os = [[Forth (programming language)|Forth]]
-| power        =
+| power =
+| soc =
+| cpu = [[Motorola 68000]] @ 5 [[Megahertz|MHz]]
-| soc          =
+| memory = 256 KB of [[random-access memory|RAM]]
-| cpu          = [[Motorola 68000]] @ 5 [[Megahertz|MHz]]
-| memory       = 256 KB of [[random-access memory|RAM]]
+| storage = 3½-inch 256 [[kilobyte|KB]] [[floppy disk]] drive
+| memory card =
-| storage      = 3½-inch 256 [[kilobyte|KB]] [[floppy disk]] drive
+| display = 9-inch (229&nbsp;mm) black-and-white [[computer monitor|monitor]]
-| memory card  =
+| graphics = 80 × 24 characters, 672 × 344 [[pixel]]s
-| display      = 9-inch (229&nbsp;mm) black-and-white [[computer display|monitor]]
-| graphics     =
+| sound =
-| sound        =
+| input =
-| input        =
+| controllers =
-| controllers  =
+| camera =
-| camera       =
+| touchpad =
-| touchpad     =
 | connectivity = Internal 300/1200 bit/s [[modem]]
-| platform     =
+| platform =
-| service      =
+| service =
-| dimensions   =
+| dimensions =
-| weight       = 17 pounds (7.7&nbsp;kg)
+| weight = {{convert|17|lbs}}
-| topgame      =
+| topgame =
-| compatibility=
+| compatibility =
-| predecessor  =
+| predecessor =
-| successor    =
+| successor =
-| related      =
+| related =
-| website      = <!--{{URL|example.org}}-->
+| website = <!--{{URL|example.org}}-->
 }}
-The '''Canon Cat''' was a task-dedicated, desktop [[microcomputer|computer]] released by [[Canon Inc.]] in 1987 at a price of [[United States dollar|US$]]1495. On the surface it was not unlike the dedicated [[word processor]]s popular in the late 1970s to early 1980s, but it was far more powerful and incorporated many unique ideas for data manipulation.
+The '''Canon Cat''' is a task-dedicated [[microcomputer]] released by [[Canon Inc.]] in 1987 for {{US$|1,495|1987|round=-2|long=no}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=CAT Canon |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=642 |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=www.old-computers.com}}</ref> Its appearance resembles dedicated [[word processor]]s of the late 1970s to early 1980s, but it is far more powerful, and has many unique ideas for data manipulation.
-==Description==
-The Canon Cat was primarily the creation of [[Jef Raskin]], originator of the [[Apple Macintosh|Macintosh]] project at [[Apple Computer|Apple]]. After leaving the company in 1982, he began designing a new computer closer to his original vision an inexpensive, utilitarian "people's computer"; ''[[BYTE]]'' in 1987 described the Cat as "a [[spiritual successor|spiritual heir]] to the Macintosh".<ref name="shapiro198710">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1987-10-rescan/1987_10_BYTE_12-11_Heuristic_Algorithms#page/n125/mode/2up | title=A Spiritual Heir to the Macintosh | work=BYTE | date=October 1987 | accessdate=4 August 2014 | author=Shapiro, Ezra | pages=121}}</ref> It featured a [[text user interface]], not making use of any [[computer mouse|mouse]], [[icon (computing)|icon]]s, or [[computer graphics|graphics]]. All data was seen as a long "stream" of text broken into several pages. Instead of using a traditional [[command line interface]] or [[menu (computing)|menu]] system, the Cat made use of its special [[computer keyboard|keyboard]], with commands being activated by holding down a "Use Front" key and pressing another key. The Cat also used special "Leap keys" which, when held down, allowed the user to [[incremental find|incrementally search]] for [[string (computer science)|string]]s of characters.
+The system is primarily the creation of [[Jef Raskin]] who originated the [[Macintosh 128k|Macintosh]] project at [[Apple Inc.|Apple]].<ref name=":0" /> After leaving the company in 1982 and founding Information Appliance, Inc., he began designing a new computer closer to his original vision of an inexpensive, utilitarian "people's computer". Information Appliance first developed the [[SwyftCard]] for the [[Apple II]], then licensed it to Canon as the Cat. ''[[Byte (magazine)|BYTE]]'' in 1987 described the Cat as "a [[spiritual successor|spiritual heir]] to the Macintosh".<ref name="shapiro198710">{{cite news |url= https://archive.org/stream/byte-magazine-1987-10-rescan/1987_10_BYTE_12-11_Heuristic_Algorithms#page/n125/mode/2up |title=A Spiritual Heir to the Macintosh |work=BYTE |date=October 1987 |accessdate=4 August 2014 |last=Shapiro |first=Ezra |pages=121}}</ref>
-[[Image:Canon Cat keyboard.jpg|thumb|Keyboard of the Canon Cat and the red "leap" keys, used for instant inline searching.]]
+==Overview==
-The machine's hardware consisted of a 9-inch (229&nbsp;mm) black-and-white [[computer display|monitor]], a single 3½-inch 256 [[kilobyte|KB]] [[floppy disk]] drive and an [[IBM Selectric typewriter|IBM Selectric]]–compatible [[computer keyboard|keyboard]]. It used a [[Motorola 68000]] [[central processing unit|CPU]] (like the Macintosh, [[Apple Lisa|Lisa]], [[Atari ST]] and [[Amiga]]) running at 5 [[Megahertz|MHz]], had 256 KB of [[random-access memory|RAM]], and an internal 300/1200 bit/s [[modem]]. Setup and user preference data was stored in 8 KB of non-volatile (battery backed-up) RAM. The Cat's array of [[input/output|I/O]] interfaces encompassed one [[Centronics]] [[parallel port]], one [[RS-232|RS-232C]] [[serial port]] ([[DB-25]]), and two [[RJ11, RJ14, RJ25|RJ11]] telephone jacks for the modem loop. The total weight of the system was 17 pounds (7.7&nbsp;kg).
+The Canon Cat uses a [[text-based user interface]], without any pointer, [[computer mouse|mouse]], [[icon (computing)|icon]]s, or [[computer graphics|graphics]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2004 |title=Online Help Screens from the Cat |url=http://www.canoncat.org/canoncat/onlinehelp.html |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=www.canoncat.org}}</ref> All data are seen as a long "stream" of text broken into several pages. Instead of using a traditional [[command-line interface]] or [[menu (computing)|menu]] system, the Cat uses its special [[computer keyboard|keyboard]], with commands activated by holding down a "Use Front" key and pressing another key.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canon Cat |url=https://www.digibarn.com/collections/systems/canon-cat/index.html |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=DigiBarn Computer Museum}}</ref> Special "Leap keys" are held down to allow the user [[incremental search]] for [[string (computer science)|string]]s of characters.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.canoncat.net/cat/Cat%20Quick%20Reference%20Card%20One.pdf |title=Canon Cat Quick Reference Card |publisher=Canon Inc. |year=1987}}</ref>
+The hardware consists of a 9-inch (229&nbsp;mm) black-and-white [[computer monitor|monitor]] (80 x 24 character display, 672 x 344 resolution),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://archive.org/details/CatReferenceGuide|title=Cat Reference Guide|first=David Caulkins|last=David Alzofon|date=April 26, 1987|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> a single 3½-inch 256 [[kilobyte|KB]] [[floppy disk]] drive, and an [[IBM Selectric]]–compatible [[computer keyboard|keyboard]]. It uses a [[Motorola 68000]] [[central processing unit|CPU]] (like the Macintosh) running at 5 [[Megahertz|MHz]], has 256 KB of [[random-access memory|RAM]], and an internal 300/1200 bit/s [[modem]]. Setup and user preference data are stored in 8 KB of non-volatile RAM with battery backup. The array of [[input/output|I/O]] interfaces encompasses one [[Centronics]] [[parallel port]], one [[RS-232|RS-232C]] [[serial port]] ([[DB-25]]), and two [[Registered jack#RJ11, RJ14, RJ25 wiring|RJ11]] telephone jacks for the modem loop. The total weight is {{convert|17|lbs}}.
-An extensive range of application software was built into 256 KB of [[read-only memory|ROM]]: standard [[office suite]] programs, communications, a 90,000 word spelling dictionary, and user programming [[toolchains]] for [[Forth (programming language)|Forth]] and [[assembly language]].
+A range of application software is built into 256 KB of [[read-only memory|ROM]]: a standard [[office suite]], telecommunications, a 90,000-word spelling dictionary, and user programming [[toolchain]]s for [[Forth (programming language)|Forth]] and [[assembly language]].
-Often considered a text-only machine, the Cat included graphics routines in ROM as well as connectors for a [[Mouse (computing)|mouse]] or other [[pointing device]] that were never used.<ref>[http://www.apple-history.com/?page=gui_raskin2 apple-history.com / gui discussion :: jef raskin response]</ref>
+Graphics routines are in ROM, and connectors for a [[computer mouse|mouse]] or other [[pointing device]] are never used.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.apple-history.com/gui_raskin2|title=apple-history.com / gui discussion :: jef raskin response|website=www.apple-history.com}}</ref>
-There was a software project no longer under development, initiated by Raskin, to develop a similar yet even more capable system for today's computing systems. The project (called [[Archy]]) was designed to eventually replace current software [[User interface|interfaces]].
+==Reception==
+''[[BYTE (magazine)|BYTE]]'' in 1989 said "The Cat is perfect for someone who needs industrial-strength editing and record keeping but doesn't require a full-blown computer system ... It's as close to perfect [[integrated software|integration]], on a small scale, as I've encountered to date".<ref name="shapiro198902">{{Cite magazine |last=Shapiro |first=Ezra |date=February 1989 |title=New Frends And Old |url=https://archive.org/details/eu_BYTE-1989-02_OCR/page/n194/mode/1up?view=theater |access-date=2024-10-08 |magazine=BYTE |pages=139-142}}</ref>
+==Legacy==
+[[Archy (software)|Archy]], originally called The Humane Environment, was a project initiated by Raskin in 2005 with similar principles to the Canon Cat.
+==See also==
+* [[Jupiter Ace]], British home computer of the early 1980s that uses Forth
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
-;Notes
-{{refbegin}}
-* [http://www.jagshouse.com/swyft.html Canon's Cat Computer: The Real Macintosh]
-{{refend}}
 ==External links==
+* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025053109/http://www.jagshouse.com/swyft.html |date=October 25, 2014 | title=Canon's Cat Computer: The Real Macintosh}}
-* [http://www.digibarn.com/collections/systems/canon-cat/index.html DigiBarn Systems: Canon Cat]
+* {{Citation| last = Raskin| first = Jef| title = Canon Cat Emulation| accessdate = 2019-12-30| date = 1987| url = http://archive.org/details/canoncat}}
-* [http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=642 OLD-COMPUTERS.COM Museum: Canon Cat]
 * [http://canoncat.org/ CanonCat.org]
-* [http://www.canoncat.net/cat/Cat%20Quick%20Reference%20Card%20One.pdf Canon Cat Quick Reference Card]
 * [ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/documentation/misc/jef_raskin/DTCJefRaskinDoc060.pdf Canon Cat Computer User Manual]
 * [ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/documentation/misc/jef_raskin/DTCJefRaskinDoc061.pdf Canon Cat Computer Reference Manual]
 * [ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/documentation/misc/jef_raskin/DTCJefRaskinDoc062.pdf Canon Cat Computer Repair Manual]
-* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3953309968260107254 Promotional Video for Leap and Canon Cat] (Broken link: video can be found elsewhere titled "Leap Technology")
+* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_TlE_U_X3c Promotional Video for Leap and Canon Cat] (If broken link: video is titled "Leap Technology")
-* [ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/documentation/hardware/misc/SwyftCard_Quick_Reference_Guide.pdf SwyftCard Quick Reference Card] (for the earlier [[SwyftCard]] firmware card, giving the [[Apple II]] similar but not quite identical functionality to the Canon Cat)
+===SwiftCard===
 * [http://apple2online.com/web_documents/swyftcard_manual.pdf SwyftCard guide, glossary, and reference manual]
 * [ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/documentation/hardware/misc/Apple%202%20SwyftCard%20-%20BYTE%20review.pdf BYTE SwyftCard review]
@@ Line 82: / Line 87: @@
 {{Canon}}
-[[Category:Canon (company)]]
+[[Category:Canon computers]]
 [[Category:Jef Raskin]]
 [[Category:Personal computers]]
-[[Category:Products introduced in 1987]]
+[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1987]]
+[[Category:68k-based computers]]