A UK-based hardware firm. KDS has been one of the first companies to make CPC peripherals, they have had adverts in every issue of ACU from January 1985 to February 1987. After February 1987 they seem to have vanished suddenly.
Hardware
- KDS Serial Interface (1/1985) (9/1986: new version with Comms Pak software)
- KDS Twin 8bit I/O Port (1/1985) (4/1986 advert says it uses Z80APIO)
- KDS 8-Bit Printer Port (4/1985) (4/1986 advert says (new version?) without power input needed)
- KDS Sideways ROM Board (7/1985: original version for 4 roms) (4/1986: new version for 5 roms)
- KDS Communicator 104 (7/1985) (this modem connects directly to the CPC's expansion port)
- KDS Power Controller (4/1986)
- KDS Serial and Parallel Port (4/1986) (for PCW, not for CPC)
- KDS Printer T Switch (4/1986)
- KDS Mini-Max Modem (9/1986) (this modem connects via RS232 interface)
- KDS 5¼" Disc Drive (19xx ?)
- ROMDOS (19xx ?)
- KDS Chatterbox (for PCW, not for CPC)
Software
- RAMDOS and ROMDOS (later resold by Siren Software)
Unidentified Hardware
KDS Interface for the Amstrad - there is some confusion on this device.
- Some people say it'd be a serial interface - this may be true, but it's definetly NOT the KDS Electronics Serial Interface (which has a 50pin connector).
- The device looks quite similar to the KDS 8-Bit Printer Port but with an additional cable attached to it, which isn't attached (or isn't visible) on the 8bit port photo, Media:KDS8Bit.jpg.
Actually, the KDS 8-Bit Printer Port should require a similar cable (for 5V power supply, which isn't available on the CPCs 34pin printer port). So it's quite possible that the "KDS Interface" and "KDS 8-Bit Printer Port" are the same hardware, both having the cable, but with the cable being not visible on one of the photos for whatever reason.
Adverts
- ACU8601-052.jpg
ACU Jan 1986
- ACU8602-097.jpg
ACU Feb 1986
- ACU8603-040.jpg
ACU Mar 1986
- ACU8604-090.jpg
ACU Apr 1986
- ACU8606-131.jpg
ACU Jun 1986
- ACU8607-131.jpg
ACU Jul 1986
- ACU8608-127.jpg
ACU Aug 1986
- ACU8609-078.jpg
ACU Sep 1986
- ACU8610-094.jpg
ACU Oct 1986
- ACU8611-101.jpg
ACU Nov 1986
- ACU8612-047.jpg
ACU Dec 1986