{"id":19884,"date":"2024-11-07T15:11:30","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T20:11:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=19884"},"modified":"2026-02-10T16:51:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T21:51:09","slug":"vin7","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin7\/","title":{"rendered":"Rair Black Box"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Rair Black Box<\/h2>\n<p>[Vin7]<\/p>\n<p>The Rair Black Box was a modular, diskette-based microcomputer released around 1978, notable for its Intel 8085SA processor and flexible architecture that allowed easy system expansion. Its claim to fame was its advanced multi-user capability-supporting up to four workstations-and its use of the CP\/M and MP\/M operating systems, making it a versatile choice for business, research, and educational environments. While primarily a UK innovation, it saw use internationally, including in Canada, where its modular design and business focus made it a rare but respected system among early adopters and institutions.<a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/rair-blackbox-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignright size-large wp-image-23330\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/rair-blackbox-400x151.jpg\" alt=\"Rair Black Box\" width=\"400\" height=\"151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/rair-blackbox-400x151.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/rair-blackbox-240x91.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/rair-blackbox-160x61.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/rair-blackbox-768x290.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/rair-blackbox-1536x581.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/rair-blackbox-2048x775.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/rair-blackbox-360x136.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Rair Black Box can be described as one of the earliest, if not the first commercially realized, modular desktop computer case designed for a monitor\u2011on\u2011top business setup, predating the IBM PC\u2019s beige \u201cpizza box\u201d design. While earlier systems used low\u2011profile metal boxes under CRTs, Rair was among the first to combine a flat, self\u2011contained expandable case with front\u2011accessible disk bays in the now\u2011familiar desktop form factor that later became standard.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: RAIR (UK based company)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Released<\/strong>: 1978<\/li>\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Desktop Computer<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>: \u00a31,950 GBP (CAD ~$23,500 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost with peripherals<\/strong>: \u00a37,250 (CAD ~$87,000 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: 0.3 (300 KIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"slideme\"><dl class=\"slideme__list\"><dt class=\"slideme__term\"><a href=\"#slideme-hardware-specifications\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"slideme-hardware-specifications\" class=\"slideme__heading slideme__trigger\">Hardware Specifications<\/a><\/dt><dd class=\"slideme__description\" id=\"slideme-hardware-specifications\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><p><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW169789978 BCX0\">Hardware Specifications<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Processor<\/strong>: Intel 8085SA microprocessor running at 3 MHz<\/li>\n<li><strong>Memory<\/strong>: by the end of 1981, it offered a significant upgrade: a 256KB DRAM board, which was notable for the era<\/li>\n<li><strong>Storage<\/strong>: Modular, diskette-based system with options for single or double 5.25-inch floppy drives, or combinations with 5-inch or 8-inch hard drives<\/li>\n<li><strong>Display<\/strong>: Required connection to a VDU (video display unit) via RS-232C; compatible with most terminals, with the Rair VDU (Hazeltine 1410) as an official option<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p><\/dd><dl><\/div>\n<div class=\"slideme\"><dl class=\"slideme__list\"><dt class=\"slideme__term\"><a href=\"#slideme-operating-system-programming-languages\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"slideme-operating-system-programming-languages\" class=\"slideme__heading slideme__trigger\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages <\/a><\/dt><dd class=\"slideme__description\" id=\"slideme-operating-system-programming-languages\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><p><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"TextRun SCXW50331614 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW50331614 BCX0\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW50331614 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>O\/S<\/strong>: CP\/M operating system, with later models also supporting MP\/M, the multi-user version of CP\/M<\/li>\n<li><strong>Programming Languages<\/strong>: BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN, Pascal, and PL\/1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p><\/dd><dl><\/div>\n<div class=\"slideme\"><dl class=\"slideme__list\"><dt class=\"slideme__term\"><a href=\"#slideme-notables\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"slideme-notables\" class=\"slideme__heading slideme__trigger\">Notables<\/a><\/dt><dd class=\"slideme__description\" id=\"slideme-notables\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><p><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Rair Black Box was one of the earliest British microcomputers to use the Intel 8085 CPU, making it a technical pioneer in the late 1970s.<\/li>\n<li>Its distinctive all-black enclosure earned it the nickname &#8220;Black Box,&#8221; and it was marketed as \u201cThe British Micro\u201d in early advertisements. The desktop style case of the Rair Black Box was significant for its space-saving design, professional appearance, and influence on subsequent personal computer form factors. It helped set the standard for how early microcomputers were integrated into office environments, paving the way for widespread business adoption of personal computing. In terms of the etymology of computing it is the earliest desktop case we have found &#8211; maybe the first.<\/li>\n<li>It was notable for its modular, multi-user design, supporting up to four simultaneous users-unusual for microcomputers of its era.<\/li>\n<li>The system was rare and expensive, often leased or rented rather than purchased outright, and could be found under other brand names such as the ICL Personal Computer due to licensing agreements.<\/li>\n<li>The Black Box was introduced internationally, including at the US National Computer Conference in 1978, and saw some use in Canada, particularly among early business and institutional adopters.<\/li>\n<li>In 1981, it became one of the first systems to offer a 256KB DRAM upgrade, a significant memory capacity for its time<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/p><\/dd><dl><\/div>\n<div class=\"slideme\"><dl class=\"slideme__list\"><dt class=\"slideme__term\"><a href=\"#slideme-donated-by\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"slideme-donated-by\" class=\"slideme__heading slideme__trigger\">Donated By<\/a><\/dt><dd class=\"slideme__description\" id=\"slideme-donated-by\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><p><\/p>\n<p>Dr. Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n<p><\/p><\/dd><dl><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250916_171758817-1-scaled.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-22394\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250916_171758817-1-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"RAIR blackbox with terminal\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250916_171758817-1-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250916_171758817-1-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250916_171758817-1-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250916_171758817-1-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250916_171758817-1-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250916_171758817-1-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250916_171758817-1-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/PXL_20250916_171758817-1-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rair Black Box [Vin7] The Rair Black Box was a modular, diskette-based microcomputer released around 1978, notable for its Intel 8085SA processor and flexible architecture that allowed easy system expansion. Its claim to fame was its advanced multi-user capability-supporting up to four workstations-and its use of the CP\/M and MP\/M operating systems, making it a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Rair Black Box - 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