Exhibitor Spotlight: Martin de Jong

Martin de Jong, also known as MAHJONGG, is an MSX enthusiast who worked for Aackosoft and Micro Technology in the past. At Aackosoft, he served as a low-level Z80 programmer and designed several useful applications such as speech generators. At Micro Technology, he designed hardware such as the MT-Telcom modem and cartridges for MT-Debug and MT-Base. He also contributed to the application package for the Sony F9-P MSX2 computer.

At GOTO40, Martin will demonstrate the NABU, an early Canadian home computer that predates MSX and is considered a precursor to the internet. With similar specifications to the MSX-1, the NABU features a Z80 running at 2.58 MHz, 64KB RAM, a TMS9918A Video Graphics Processor, and a General Instruments AY-3-8910 sound chip. Martin discovered the NABU through Adrian’s Digital Basement on YouTube and acquired one with the help of the Nationaal Videogame Museum. He converted his NABU to operate on 220V 50Hz, designed an adapter for the museum to enable the use of component video output, and built an RS422 interface to emulate the old cable modem for running the original NABU software.