Dragon Alpha Prototype

The Dragon Alpha, also called the Dragon Professional, was an advanced business-oriented prototype developed as Dragon Data sought a successor to the Dragon 64. It combined 64KB or 128KB of RAM with an internal 3.5-inch floppy drive, RGB output and integrated power supply.

A three-channel sound generator, built-in modem and disk controller moved the design well beyond the original home-computer architecture. Dragon Data’s collapse prevented full production, although surviving prototypes document how the company intended to enter the professional market.

Notable Features

• Internal 3.5-inch floppy drive with provision for a second mechanism.
• Integrated modem, RGB output and three-channel sound.
• Planned 64KB and 128KB configurations with a professional desktop enclosure.

Historical Significance

• Dragon Data’s intended bridge from the Dragon 64 to a connected professional system.
• Reached advanced prototype stage but was overtaken by the company’s financial failure.

Collector’s Notes

• Prototype cases, boards and firmware may differ between surviving examples.
• The Alpha and Professional names refer to the same development programme.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Dragon Alpha Prototype
Manufacturer	Dragon Data Ltd
Launched	Sunday, January 1, 1984
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	Motorola MC6809E
Units Sold
Operating System	Prototype Dragon DOS/BASIC environment
I/O	Built-in modem, RGB, disk controller, serial and peripheral ports
Keyboard	Detached or integrated professional keyboard depending on prototype
Storage	One internal 3.5-inch floppy; second drive optional
Sound	Three-channel programmable sound
Graphics	Enhanced Dragon-compatible display hardware
Display	RGB monitor and video output
ROM	Prototype BASIC, disk and communications firmware
RAM	64KB or 128KB planned
CPU Speed	Prototype-dependent 6809 clock