Heathkit had always been know for its useful and quality electronics kits. Dating back to 1926, they first offered a light airplane in kit form, moving to war surplus components in the 30's, and eventually to more modern audio and electronics test equipment, small projects, and HAM radio communications systems.

Releases in late 1977, the H8 was the first computer system made available from Heathkit. While other computer manufactures were producing some computer systems in kit form, the practice was quickly fading from th market. Heathkit continued to produce computer kits thought the companies final years of operation.

Announced:	July 1977
Available:	Fall 1977
Original price:	$379 (0K RAM)
CPU:	Intel 8080A @ 2MHz
Interface:	16-button keypad 9-digit Octel LED display
Storage:	Optional audio cassette Optional Floppy drive
OS:	Heath DOS (HDOS) CP/M (Therd party offering)

The engeners at Heath chose not to implement the popular S-100 bus fond in many units of the day. They instead created "Benton Harbor Bus" named after their home town. Their bus was based on a 50-pin connecter type already be used in other Heathkit projects. Design consideration in the bus laid out, helped avoid some of the common electrical problems of the MITS S-100 system. For example having +5V and ground being placed beside each other.

The H8 design was packaged in a chassis using pressboard on the sides and sheetmetal for the rest of the case. There is no fan in the H8. Cooling is provided through the heavily perforation of top and bottom sheetmetel covers forming  cooling vents. These vents allow cool air to flow from bottom, thorugh the installed boards and the hot air exits out the top.

When the H8 was introduced, the computer market was moving from the hobby market to a "user" market that wished to purchase pre-assembled systems. The Heath company followed this trend by introducing is own prewired vertion known as the WH8. The base unit cost started from $475 with 0K of RAM.