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Exidy Sorcerer microcomputer from the personal collection of Byte Shop founder Paul Terrell, a notably advanced 8-bit personal computer introduced in 1978 by Exidy, Inc. of Sunnyvale, California. Best known for its coin-operated arcade games, Exidy entered the personal computer market with the Sorcerer, a Z80-based system that combined a full-stroke keyboard, strong text and graphics capabilities, and an unusual ROM cartridge system for instant-loading software. The computer was developed from a concept by Paul Terrell and engineered by Howell Ivy, giving it a direct connection to the early retail and design culture of the personal computer revolution. The unit measures 19˝ x 13˝ x 4˝, and includes its spiral-bound "Guided Tour of Personal Computing" manual. Untested and in very good cosmetic condition.
The Sorcerer stood apart from many contemporary home computers through its flexible architecture and forward-looking software delivery. Its distinctive 'ROM-PACs,' housed in repurposed 8-track-style cartridge shells, allowed users to load BASIC, development tools, or word processing software without relying solely on cassette storage. The system also offered a programmable character set, enabling users to redefine characters for custom graphics and special applications—an innovative feature that helped make the Sorcerer attractive to programmers, educators, and hobbyists. Through its rear expansion connector and optional S-100 Expansion Unit, the Sorcerer could also interface with the broader S-100 bus ecosystem, opening the door to additional memory, disk controllers, CP/M operation, and business applications.
Although the Sorcerer did not achieve the same mainstream visibility in the United States as the Apple II, TRS-80, or Commodore PET, it earned a devoted following among technically minded users and found particular success in Europe and Australia. With its ROM cartridge concept, capable keyboard, expandable design, and connection to Paul Terrell’s Byte Shop legacy, the Exidy Sorcerer remains a distinctive and historically important entry in the first generation of personal computers.
From the Paul Terrell Collection
