BBC Master

The BBC Master of 1986 was the natural next step for the classic BBC Micro: more memory, more built-in software and more room to expand, all while keeping the qualities that had made the Beeb a fixture in British schools. It was an evolution rather than a revolution, and all the better for it.

Aimed at advanced users and the education market alike, it folded several popular add-ons into the base machine and offered a smoother, more capable experience out of the box. For schools already invested in the BBC platform, it was an easy and welcome upgrade.

The Master extended the BBC line's long and influential life, and many enthusiasts regard it as the finest expression of Acorn's celebrated 8-bit design: everything that was good about the original Beeb, refined and rounded off. It was a fitting senior member of one of the most respected computer families Britain ever produced.