News & Updates

A long-sought game I had tirelessly been searching for to complete the Tatung game collection, Beach Head, is now finally available on the Tatung Einstein TC01 & 256 computer.

A reprint of Phillipe Henrie's classic Einstein Monthly News article explaining what happens when the Einstein boots up and how its operating systems work.

A full catalogue of public domain software released for the Tatung Einstein, compiled and sourced by Lee Bendall, covering utilities, languages and disk tools.

The MSX and Tatung Einstein were two Z80A-based 8-bit computers of the 1980s that shared similar hardware foundations but diverged in purpose, ecosystem and software compatibility. The MSX, designed as a broad cross-vendor standard, offered strong software portability and a large library of games and applications. The Einstein, aimed at more technical and business users, featured slightly faster performance, more advanced video options in the Einstein 256, and powerful but incompatible operating systems. Despite hardware similarities, BIOS differences and unique memory mapping meant MSX software would not run natively on Einstein machines. However, recent hobbyist experiments have shown that with modern tools, cross-platform execution is now possible, hinting at exciting possibilities for retrocomputing enthusiasts.

The Tatung Einstein TC01 was a powerful, developer friendly computer from the 1980s that offered a full size keyboard, built in floppy drives and a solid design. While it never won over the mass market due to its price and limited game library, it became a favourite tool for programmers and contributed quietly to the industry’s growth. Its legacy is one of innovation, ambition and a reminder of the diverse landscape of early computing.

With original TC01 spare parts long extinct, the community has spent the last six months 3D printing replacement components to make full restorations possible again.