Paul Johnson

British electronics engineer, Tangerine co-founder and principal hardware designer of the Microtan 65 and the technology that became the Oric-1.

Biographical Information
Known forEntrepreneur, Founder , Hardware Designer, Hardware Engineer
NationalityBritish

Biography

Dr Paul Johnson is a British electronics engineer and co-founder of Tangerine Computer Systems. He established the company in 1979 with Mark Rainer and Nigel Penton Tilbury, initially producing video-display and microcomputer boards for engineers and enthusiasts.

Johnson was the principal hardware designer of the 6502-based Microtan 65, an expandable single-board computer that could grow from a compact kit into a rack-mounted system. He subsequently designed successor machines, including the Tangerine Tiger, and led the hardware work that evolved into the Oric-1.
When Oric Products International was formed to bring the new computer to a mass market, Johnson’s design combined a 6502 processor, colour graphics, sound and built-in BASIC at a price intended to compete directly with Sinclair. The Oric-1 and improved Atmos carried Tangerine’s technical work into homes across Britain and continental Europe.


Companies

Oric Products International

Hardware Designer, Project Lead · 1982-1984

Served as technical director and chief hardware designer for the Oric-1 and Atmos.

Tangerine Computer Systems

Founder , Hardware Designer · From 1979

Co-founded Tangerine Computer Systems and led its hardware design work.

Computers & Systems

Oric Atmos - Oric Products International

Hardware Designer, Hardware Engineer, Project Lead

Led the underlying hardware design carried into the improved Oric Atmos.

Oric-1 - Oric Products International

Hardware Designer, Hardware Engineer, Project Lead

Led the Tangerine hardware design that became the Oric-1.

Tangerine Microtan 65 - Tangerine Computer Systems

Founder , Hardware Designer, Hardware Engineer

Principal hardware designer of the expandable 6502-based Microtan 65.


References

  1. Tangerine Computer Systems history
    Centre for Computing History · History
    History of Tangerine, the Microtan 65 and the development path to Oric.
Written by: ChatGPT Codex
Source note: Tangerine Computer Systems history

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