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Olivetti M19

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Olivetti M19
Olivetti M19 without the I/O box
ManufacturerOlivetti
TypePersonal computer
Release date1986; 38 years ago (1986)
Operating systemMS-DOS 2.11 / 3.1, Concurrent DOS and UCSD p-System
CPU8088 @ 4.77 or 8 MHz
Memory256–640 KB
GraphicsPlantronics Colorplus

The Olivetti M19 was a personal computer made in 1986 by the Italian company Olivetti. It has an 8088 at 4.77 or 8 MHz and 256–640 KB of RAM.[1] The BIOS is Revision Diagnostics 3.71. In the UK, it was sold by Acorn Computers as the Acorn M19,[2] with additional software also available via Acorn.[3] In France, it was available as the Persona 1300,[4] sold by LogAbax.[5]

The machine came with three operating systems: MS-DOS 2.11 / 3.1, Concurrent DOS and UCSD p-System.[1] It is capable of displaying graphics in standard CGA or Plantronics Colorplus mode (320x200 pixel with 16 colors and 640x200 with 4 colors).[1]

The M19 was sold with two floppy disk drives (360 KB format). A hard drive option was made available later, in the form of a 5 MB (later 10 MB) hard drive in an add-on case (aka "sidecar") attached to the left hand side of the computer by four machine screws.

Paul Maynes, a technician at HBH Computers (one of Olivetti's dealerships in Durban) designed, and SA Signals Manufacturing (also of Durban) produced a bus extension card with a 90-degree bend (purportedly a world-first) that could accommodate a Seagate hard drive controller card. This allowed the second floppy drive to be removed and a 20 MB (later 40 MB) full-height hard drive installed in its place.

  • Olivetti M19 with external I/O box attached
    Olivetti M19 with external I/O box attached
  • Olivetti M19 rear view
    Olivetti M19 rear view
  • Inside of the computer, with two 5 1⁄4-inch disk drives
    Inside of the computer, with two 5 1⁄4-inch disk drives
  • Mainboard. An AMD P8259A Programmable Interrupt Controller is visible, together with a NEC V20 (µPD70108) main processor (instead of an Intel 8088)
    Mainboard. An AMD P8259A Programmable Interrupt Controller is visible, together with a NEC V20 (µPD70108) main processor (instead of an Intel 8088)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c https://www.sba.unipi.it/sites/default/files/10.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ Acorn Personal Computer M19 (PDF). Acorn Computers Limited. July 1986. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  3. ^ Acorn Personal Computer M19 Software Price List (PDF). Acorn Computers Limited. July 1986. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  4. ^ "Logabax Persona 1300". silicium.org.
  5. ^ "Logabax histoire". www.silicium.org.


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