The Robotron K8915 was an advanced microcomputer developed by East Germany's VEB Robotron in the early 1980s, primarily intended for scientific, industrial, and office applications. Released in 1984, it represented a leap forward in terms of capabilities within the Eastern Bloc and was largely influenced by Western models like the DEC VT100 and the IBM 3270 terminal. The K8915 was notable for its attempt to bridge gaps in the computing demands of East German institutions, which were looking for reliable data processing and control capabilities. As a terminal computer, the K8915 was typically deployed in organizations requiring networked solutions, connecting to mainframes or other data-processing systems as part of larger installations.

The Robotron K8915 ran on the K1810VM88 CPU, which was a Soviet clone of the Intel 8088 processor, rather than the U8001 CPU. The K1810VM88 was an 8-bit external bus version of Intel’s 16-bit 8086 processor, designed to support both 8-bit and 16-bit operations, which gave the K8915 more processing power than previous Robotron models based on Z80 architecture clones like the U8001.

Its storage options were limited to external drives, typically 5.25-inch floppy drives or cassette storage, which could be connected as peripherals. The K8915’s display capabilities were housed in a 12-inch monochrome CRT screen, offering an 80x24 character text mode that suited its terminal functions well. Additionally, it had serial and parallel interfaces for connecting to printers, modems, and other peripherals, enabling it to function both as a standalone data processing unit and as part of a larger network.

In terms of software, the K8915 ran on the SCP (System Control Program) operating system, which was similar to the CP/M OS common in Western microcomputers. This OS supported basic office applications, including word processors, database management, and spreadsheet programs, with custom software developed within East Germany for specialized uses in various industries. Due to restrictions on Western imports, Robotron had to innovate within its limitations, which led to the K8915 being a robust but relatively underpowered machine by Western standards. Nevertheless, the K8915 was an essential component of East German computing infrastructure, meeting government and industrial needs for data processing in an era marked by limited technology transfer between East and West.

The K1810VM88 is a single-chip 16-bit microprocessor, a complete analogue of the Intel 8088.

It is a part of the KR1810 series microprocessor kit designed for building microcomputers and controllers based on n-MOS technology. Similar to the 8086/8088, it differs from the K1810VM86 in that it has a reduced number of command queue registers and an 8-bit external data bus (the internal structure, like the K1810VM86, is 16-bit). Due to the use of an 8-bit external data bus, the sampling time of 16-bit words is doubled, resulting in a decrease in performance compared to the K1810VM86. However, the decrease in overall productivity turns out to be insignificant. For example, the processing time for single-byte operands with the K1810VM88 is only 5% less. The instruction set is compatible with the MCS-86.

It was produced in a ceramic case called KM1810VM88 and in a plastic KR1810VM88.

The Intel 8088 microprocessor is a variant of the Intel 8086. The 8088 has an 8-bit external bus instead of the 16-bit bus that the 8086 has. The 16-bit registers and the 1MByte address range are unchanged, however. The 8086 and the 8088 have the same execution unit (EU), only the Bus Interface Unit (BIU) differs.

The original IBM PC architecture is based on the Intel 8088. The CPU runs at 5 to 16 MHz, has a 20-bit address bus and can work together with the 8087 Co-Processor. The 8088 was launched in 1979. The 8088 is compatible with the Intel 8085.