I remember a friend had an Oric computer, but his
mother would only allow him to use it 45minutes
per day, because the power-supply would get too
hot. We made two assumptions even in those
days. 1) The PSU was fine. 2) His mother was not
an physicist or electrical engineer.
Opinion
During the 1980s, the playground of computer
technology was largely dominated by Sinclair
and Commodore, with Acorn and Amstrad
following closely behind. Amidst these giants,
however, there were numerous other 8-bit
systems that never quite captured the
limelight—one such example is the Oric.
For the mainstream retro gamer, the Oric may
not offer much allure, as it did not excel in any
specific area; your investment might be better
placed in a more celebrated system.
However, if you see yourself as a sort of retro
computing archaeologist, eager to delve into the
depths of lesser-known technology, the Oric
presents a fascinating endeavor. This platform
continues to enjoy a stream of new game
releases, boasts a robust selection of
peripherals, and maintains a relatively vibrant
fan base. One point to note: the Oric enjoyed
greater popularity in France than in the UK, so be
prepared for potential language barriers if you
are not conversant in French.