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 KBfloppy disk drive, and an IBM Selectric–compatible keyboard. It uses a Motorola 68000CPU (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 Centronicsparallel port, one RS-232Cserial 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.
See also
Jupiter Ace, British home computer of the early 1980s that uses Forth
