Merlin M4000
| Developer | Logica |
|---|---|
| Type | Professional computer |
Keyboard | |
| Connectivity | ARCNET or Cambridge Ring LAN |
The BT Merlin M4000 was a
.Merlin M4000 was designed as a general purpose computer but was not IBM PC compatible, and so could not run the major business applications around at the time as these were tied to the IBM PC hardware.
Hardware
Merlin M4000 computers were packaged inside a substantial and heavy steel desktop case weighing approximately 12 kg. Inside the case was the main board, power supply, floppy and hard drives, and expansion cards. The design was reasonably modular as the case and main board were able to accommodate expansion cards and additional memory.
A separate keyboard with 114 keys connected to the main unit using a reversed
An
A security socket was located on the rear of the main unit although it is unclear how it was used in practice.
Networking was accomplished using
The M4204T and M4213T computers were TEMPEST certified[3] to BTR/01/202(4).
Storage media
The M4204T had two internal 720 kB 5¼-inch
Software
The
Most Merlin M4000 computers were used to run
- Lex9b word processor.
- MerlinWord word processor.
- A rather neat telephone directory / database program that was mainly used by switchboard operators.
- Software development tools including an 8086 assembler and COBOL compiler.
- An bitmapped graphics.
Usage
Merlin M4000 computers were commonplace in the United Kingdom during the 1980s, although most were sold to the public sector as large contracts as opposed to the private sector. Major customers included the Royal Navy as part of the OASIS II project,[4] with sales of subsequent models as part of the Oasis 4 project,[5] and the Department of Health and Social Security, with sales also being made to HM Customs and Excise and the Forestry Commission.[6] Merlin M4000 computers were installed in DSS offices across the country where they were used for Case Paper location (tracking files as they moved from one room to another) and calculating benefits.[7] Some M4000 computers were used internally by BT although it is not clear if they were ever used in conjunction with System X telephone exchanges. Many theatres in the UK used Merlin M4000 computers running the RITA booking software that was written either by or in conjunction with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Successor
The M4204T and M4213T computers were available in 1990 from the TEMPEST division of BT which sold TEMPEST certified computer equipment for high security applications.[8] They were replaced by the M5000 range of IBM PC compatible TEMPEST certified computers running MS-DOS.
References
- ^ "M4000 Merlin". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "Merlin M4000 read more". OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ BT Brochure - TEMPEST, System Solutions from British Telecom
- ^ "Micros for the Navy". British Telecom Journal. Vol. 7, no. 4. January 1987. p. 83. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "GAP in the marketplace". British Telecom Journal. Vol. 8, no. 3. October 1987. pp. 41–44. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "Merlin micro boom". British Telecom Journal. Vol. 6, no. 1. April 1985. p. 43. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
- ^ "Computerisation (Hansard, 5 December 1988)". 17 January 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ BT Brochure - TEMPEST, System Solutions from British Telecom
