Apricot PC
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (May 2012) |
| Also known as | ACT Apricot |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | LCD display |
The Apricot PC (originally called the ACT Apricot) is a personal computer produced by Apricot Computers, then still known as Applied Computer Techniques or ACT. Released in late 1983, it was ACT's first independently developed microcomputer, following on from the company's role of marketing and selling the ACT Sirius 1,[1] and was described as "the first 16-bit system to be Sirius-compatible, rather than IBM-compatible", indicating the influence that the Sirius 1 had in the United Kingdom at the time.[2]
It achieved success in the United Kingdom, with reviewers noting the system's high resolution 800 × 400 display (for its time) and its trackball cable (later models used IR).
It used an
The Apricot Xi was a similar computer released in 1984,
Software
Due to an IBM PC incompatible BIOS, trying to run a software package like
The system was delivered with
5.35.IBM PC compatibility
The manufacturer did not completely clone the
Apricot later offered the possibility of converting the computer into an IBM compatible PC by replacing the motherboard with one equipped with an Intel 80286 processor.
Technical data
- Processor: Intel 8086 4.77 MHz. Socket for optional Intel 8087 co-processor.
- BIOS: 2 × EPROM containing the BIOS
- Memory: 256 kB RAM expandable to 768 kB on board.
- Storage: 2 × 3.5"
- DMA chip: Intel 8089
- Graphics: Comes with a green phosphor screen 9" that weights 1.9 kg. Can display one of these modes:
- Text 80 × 25 (Characters of 10 × 16 pixels)
- Text 132 × 50 (Characters of 6 × 8 pixels)
- Graphics at 800 × 400 (Victor 9000 computer)[4]
- Mechanical Keyboard 101-key QWERTY, 8 function keys and 6 keys standard dynamic membrane with an LED to the left of each one to indicate they are active. An LCD with 40 × 2 characters is included, which can display the key assignment. Weighs 1.5 kg and can be attached to the frame underneath for easy transport.
- Housing: 42 × 32 × 10 cm plastic cream weighing about 6.4 kg The front half of the top shows a depression to bring the monitor. In the front two 3.5" floppy drives that can be protected with a shutter for transport. Under these, a carrying handle. At the rear two proprietary Apricot connector slots for expansion, parallel printer port of Centronics micro ribbon 36 pin connector type, serial port DB-25 connector, monitor connector and power supply with a switch.
- Support for two internal 3,5" Sony floppy disk drives
- Input / Output:
- External monitor connector.
- Parallel printer port, Centronics micro ribbon 36-pin connector
- RS-232 serial port
- Two expansion connectors or internal Apricot
- Operating system came with standard MS-DOS 2.11 and CP/M-86.
References
- ^ Rodwell, Peter (October 1983). "ACT Apricot". Personal Computer World. pp. 150–157. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ Kewney, Guy (September 1983). "A matter of time". Personal Computer World. pp. 118–119. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
- ^ a b c d e old-computers.com - Museum, ACT Apricot PC
- ^ "Victor 9000 computer, hardware review | Manualzz".
External links
- ACT Apricot PC at old-computers.com
- ACT Apricot Technical Reference Manual ACT Apricot Technical Reference Manual (WordStar), retrieved 18 July 2006
- ACT Apricot PC Brochure at classic.technology