Micro-Professor MPF-I
 Microprofessor I | |
| Also known as | MPF-1 MPF-1A |
|---|---|
| Developer | Multitech |
| Manufacturer | Multitech (1981-1993)[1] Flite Electronics International Limited (1993-)[2][3] |
| Release date | 1981 |
| Operating system | 2 kByte monitor ROM |
| CPU | Zilog Z80 @ 1.79 MHz |
| Memory | 2 kByte RAM |
| Display | six digit 7-segment display. |
| Sound | Beeper |
| Input | Hexadecimal calculator-type keyboard (36 keys including, 16 hexadecimal keys, 19 function keys, and one user-definable key) |
The Micro-Professor MPF-I, introduced in 1981 by Multitech (which, in 1987, changed its name to Acer), was the first branded computer product from Multitech and probably one of the world's longest selling computers. The MPF-I, specifically designed to teach the fundamentals of machine code and assembly language, is a simple and easy to use training system for the Zilog Z80 microprocessor.
The MPF-I does not look like a typical microcomputer. It is enclosed in a vacuum formed plastic book case often used to store a copy of a language textbook, two audio cassettes, and a training manual. When closed, the MPF-I can be placed on a bookshelf for easy storage and looks just like a book or a file.
Programs are entered into the MPF-I using Z80 machine code in hexadecimal format. The MPF-I monitor program displays both an address and data stored at that address simultaneously using a seven-segment display. There is a spare DIP socket for adding additional ROM or RAM to the MPF-I.
On 24 February 1993, Flite Electronics International Limited in Southampton, England, at that time an international distributor for Acer, purchased the copyright to the MPF-I's training manuals, as well as its firmware and hardware intellectual property rights from Acer. Currently, Flite is still manufacturing and selling the Micro-Professor as the MPF-1B.
References
- ^ "Summary of Acer Milestones: Acer America". Archived from the original on 1 July 2003. Retrieved 1 May 2004.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help), 1981:MicroProfessor-I becomes the company's first branded product. - ^ Flite Electronics – International Supplier of the Microprofessor Training System
- ^ Yet another computer museum - Multitech MPF-1
See also
- Microprofessor II — an unrelated Apple II clone also made by Multitech
- Microprofessor III — another unrelated Apple IIe clone made by Multitech
External links
- Flite Electronics – International Supplier of the Microprofessor Training System
- A tribute to the Microprofessor System
- MPF-I User's manual
- PDF documentation and ROM dumps for the Multitech MPF-1 computer
- Acer MPF-1 in Runaway (1984 film), Starring the Computer
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