TheElectronikaBKwas a series of 16-bitPDP-11-compatibleSoviethome computersdeveloped by NPO Scientific Center, the leading Soviet microcomputer design team at the time. It was also responsible for the more powerfulUKNCandDVKmicros. First released in 1984 (developed in 1983), they were based on the К1801ВМ1 (SovietLSI-11-compatible CPU) and were the only \"official\"[1]Soviet home computer design in mass production.

They sold for about 600-650rubles. This was expensive,[2]but marginally affordable, so they became one of the most popular home computer models in the Soviet Union despite numerous problems. Later, in 90s, their powerfulCPUand straightforward, easy to program design made them popular asdemo machines.BK(БК) is aRussianabbreviation which stands for\"Бытовой Компьютер\"-- domestic (or home) computer. It was also for a short time used ascash register, for example, in theState Universal Store.

Although BK-0010 was one of the cheapest Soviet PC and in speed (as well as memory, graphics, and so on) differed little from the simple 8-bit models, this PC was formally the first or one of the first fully 16-bit home computers in the world (in contrast to theTI-99/4A, BK had not only a 16-bitprocessor, but also theROM,RAMandcontrollerswith the same width).

The follow-up version,БК-0010.01(sometimes referred to as -0010-01) was essentially the same machine, but with a conventional full-travel keyboard and aVilnius BASICp-codecompilerin the ROM, correcting the weakest points of its predecessor. While the BASIC dialect used was quite powerful and well-optimized (it was actually a somewhat scaled-down clone ofMSX BASIC), the keyboard was a mixed blessing. While it was much more comfortable to work with, its quality left much to be desired, and the keys were prone to sticking, significantbounceand wore quickly, though a model with a further improved keyboard became available later. The FOCAL interpreter was not dropped, but instead shipped on an external ROM cartridge that could be inserted into the Q-Bus slot.