Mindset (computer)

The Mindset was a personal computer released in Spring of 1984 by Mindset Corp. that featured custom graphics hardware that supported 16 colors out of 512.

Conceptually, it was similar to the Commodore Amiga released a year later.

Why it had Failed

 * 1) Even though the Mindset can run MS-DOS, it wasn't ENTIRELY IBM-compatible. As a matter of fact, it was verified that the computer could run 60 off-the-shelf software titles, a number of which being business applications. Virtually no existing games could work on it. This is because that Mindset officials had decided that they already had most of the desirable software included. For this, they froze the system ROM in a way that locked out about 20% of the total IBM PC software base. For some people, though, it was more like about 95% of PC software, including games.
 * 2) *In regards to games, the Mindset did have a built-in software title, Vyper.
 * 3) Added to point #1 above, the software market had grown substantially over the past two years up to the point of the Mindset's release, therefore making compatibility with existing software a more important purchasing decision for customers than fancy graphics or sound capabilities.
 * 4) Overpriced. The base model with 64k RAM sold for $1,100, the mid-tier model with a 128K RAM and a single floppy drive sold for $1,800, and the high-end model with two floppy drives and 256K RAM for $2,400.
 * 5) The Mindset can display up to 512 colors,  but only on composite or RF , and the CGA video port could only display the 16 colors of a CGA monitor.
 * 6) The system's power supply ran all the time, meaning that the plastic would melt if the computer was plugged in for too long.
 * 7) The video hardware was not compatible with the CGA or EGA graphics modes.

Redeeming Qualities

 * 1) With its advanced-for-the-time graphical capabilities, especially genlock, the Mindset was a useful tool for video production. It was even used for the production of a video for the U.S. Army which explained how computers work.
 * 2) Despite its commercial failure, the Mindset received positive reviews, and rightly so, due to it having better graphics capabilities and overall performance when compared to other contemporary PCs of the time.