Later, in the 1990s, their powerful central processing unit (CPU) and straightforward, easy-to-program design made them popular as demoscene machines.

BK (БК) is a Russian abbreviation for "бытовой компьютер" (bytovoy kompyuter) – domestic (or home) computer.

The only software available at the launch, except read-only memory (ROM) firmware, is an included magnetic tape with several programming examples (for the languages BASIC and FOCAL), and several tests.

The ROM firmware includes a simple program to enter machine codes, BASIC and FOCAL interpreters.

This led to an explosion of homebrew software, from text editors and databases to operating systems and video games.

Some operating systems such as ANDOS have managed to output text in 80×25 mode when displaying documents imported from IBM PC, by placing characters more densely.

Other points of criticism included the archaic FOCAL programming language supplied by default and the lack of peripherals and software.

The follow-up version, БК-0010.01 (sometimes referred to as -0010-01), is essentially the same machine, but with a conventional full-travel keyboard and a Vilnius BASIC p-code compiler in the ROM, correcting the weakest points of its predecessor.

While it is much more comfortable to work with, the keys were prone to sticking, significant bounce and wore quickly, though a model with a further improved keyboard became available later.

It can be either the −0010 or −0010.01 model but includes a special current loop network adapter rated at 19200 bits per second (bit/s), which can be inserted into the Q-Bus slot.

Based on ULA chip K1801VP1-035 (and later on K1801VP1-065), the adapter is compatible with Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) DL-11 and KL-11 serial interfaces, but without modem control bits.

It includes a newer version of BASIC in ROM and 16 selectable video palettes, which were almost universally criticized by users for their odd color combinations.

There are also fairly complete re-implementations of the BK for field-programmable gate array (FPGA) based systems, such as the MiST.