{"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":"2026-06-22T14:41:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T18:41:51","slug":"vin7","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin7\/","title":{"rendered":"Rair Black Box"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Rair Black Box\n <\/h1>\n \n \n <\/header>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Rair Black Box<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

[Vin7]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Rair<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n\n\n