NABU VC4404

The NABU VC4404, also known as “The Chat,” was a Canadian-made video display terminal introduced in 1982 by Volker-Craig, later part of Ottawa-based NABU Manufacturing. Its most notable features included a Zilog Z80A CPU, a 12-inch anti-glare screen capable of displaying 24 lines of 80 characters, and robust connectivity via RS232C, making it compatible with a wide range of computers and early networks.

The VC4404’s claim to fame lies in its role as a key component of the innovative, Canadian-developed NABU Network-an early precursor to online services-demonstrating Canada’s pioneering efforts in personal computing and networked information delivery, though it ultimately remained a niche product with limited commercial success outside institutional and development settings in Canada.

Manufacturer: Volker-Craig (later part of Ottawa-based NABU Manufacturing)
Type: Video display terminal
Release Date: 1982
Cost at release: USD $695 (CAD ~$2,500 adjusted for inflation)
MIPS: 0.58 (580 KIPS)

Hardware Specifications

CPU: Zilog Z80A running at 3.58 MHz16
Display: 12″ anti-glare screen, 24 lines x 80 characters per line114
Memory: 64 KB RAM6
Graphics: Texas Instruments TMS9918A video chip with 16 KB RAM4
Sound: General Instrument AY-3-8910 sound chip4
Keyboard: Detachable QWERTY keyboard with upper/lower case characters1
Connectivity: EIA RS232C communications interface1
Data rates: 110 to 19,200 baud

Operating System & Programming Languages

The NABU VC4404 was a video display terminal rather than a standalone personal computer, so it did not have its own operating system or native programming languages
When paired with the NABU 1100, the typical operating system was CP/M, allowing users to run languages such as BASIC, FORTRAN, COBOL, Pascal, and assembly language on the host computer. The VC4404 itself simply displayed output and sent input, acting as an interface to the software running on the connected computer.

Notables

The NABU VC4404 represents an interesting piece of Canadian computer history, showcasing the early days of video display terminals and their role in the evolving personal computer market of the 1980s. It was operational at the faculty of Engineering at Carleton University.
The NABU VC4404 was nicknamed “The Chat” and was also known as the Volker-Craig VC4404

It was a Canadian-designed video display terminal, notable for its compatibility with a wide range of computers via RS232C and for supporting baud rates up to 19,200, which was high for its era
Its claim to fame was its role in the NABU Network, a pioneering Canadian system for delivering software and information over cable TV, making it an early precursor to online services
The VC4404 stands out in Canadian computing history as an example of early innovation in networked information delivery and personal computing interfaces
Volker-Craig Ltd. was a pioneering Canadian manufacturer of video display terminals, founded in 1973 by Michael C. Volker and Ronald G. Craig. Both founders were alumni of the University of Waterloo

Donated by: Carleton University Faculty of Engineering

Carleton University: Was used to connect to Carleton’s CP6 mainframe

Canadian: The NABU Network was a pioneering Canadian initiative in the early 1980s that foreshadowed many aspects of modern internet and online services. Launched in Ottawa in October 1983, it was among the first commercial computer networks to deliver high-speed access to information, software, and digital entertainment directly to homes via cable television

Vintage Computing Collection