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Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
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co-authored by Claude Opus 5.5
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---
title: SOLID STATE TECHNOLOGY Athena
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1979'
cpus:
- Intel 8085
params:
name: Athena
image: /media/museum/photos/solidstatetechnology_athena_1.jpg
company: /companies/solid-state-technology
company_name: SOLID STATE TECHNOLOGY
specs:
- label: NAME
value: Athena
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Solid State Technology
- label: TYPE
value: Professional Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: U.S.A.
- label: YEAR
value: ? 1979
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: Unknown
- label: KEYBOARD
value: Full-stroke keyboard
- label: CPU
value: Intel 8085
- label: SPEED
value: Unknown
- label: CO-PROCESSOR
value: Unknown
- label: RAM
value: Unknown
- label: VRAM
value: Unknown
- label: ROM
value: Unknown
- label: TEXT MODES
value: Unknown
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: Unknown
- label: COLORS
value: Unknown
- label: SOUND
value: Unknown
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: Unknown
- label: I/O PORTS
value: Unknown
- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
value: 5.25'' disk drives (320 KB)
- label: OS
value: Unknown
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: Built-in power supply
- label: PERIPHERALS
value: Unknown
- label: PRICE
value: 35000 FF HT (France, 1980)
comments:
- author: Marty Grogan (USA)
date: Monday 11th April 2011
text: |-
I obtained one of the first PC''s at Honeywell early in the ''80. It was an Athena. The total quote for all items exceeded $7k. I demonstrated its capabilities for executives and at a corporate trade show.
When the IBM PC came out, I thought it did not have nearly the capability of the Athena. The Athena used a true multi-tasking OS that enabled single keystroke application switching. It also incorporated intelligent distributed multiprocessing into perpherial interfaces.
The main cpu was an 8085. The machine and OS were developed by an MIT graduate.
The machine was obtained on spec and never purchased. The division VP commented after a demonstration "Wear it out" implying a total lack of regard for potential or interest in application.
Fewer than one thousand of these machines were produced. The company never gained viability.
- author: Roland (USA)
date: Friday 22nd May 2015
text: |-
Just stumbled across this site. I was one of hardware/firmware designers for this product. I may still have some manuals for the system, if there is any interest in me scanning them.
I designed the DRAM system (48K), the dot-matrix printer microcontroller hardware/ firmware, the RS232 terminal interface.
Also involved in a CPM conversion project that we never brought to market. Still know many of the team (Mike Varanka, Gary Cook, Roland Guilmet, Dennis Chasse, Dave. As well as the next generation (8088/86 based) system which we prototyped and didn''t make to market.
OS was called AMOS (Athena Multitasking Operating System) and used a bus based system that when each board was installed automatically provided relevant driver for the OS. No external software needed.
Interesting side note: Met Bill Gates of Microsoft, when we contracted Microsoft for Assembler, Basic, and Fortran software packages for the system.
oc_id: 1121
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230128071906/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1121
date: '2023-01-28'
---
Little is known about this obscure professional computer.
The Athena used a true multi-tasking OS that enabled single keystroke application switching. It also incorporated intelligent distributed multiprocessing into perpherial interfaces.
The machine and OS were developed by an MIT graduate and conceived by Solid State Technology from Boston. The Athena is based on a 8085 Intel chipset. Sold with a monochrome monitor and 5.25'' disk drives (320 KB each), it has also a printer (150 characters/s, 80 col.) built-in the case.
Several programming languages were available : compiled BASIC, COBOL, FORTRAN, PASCAL and APL.
Fewer than one thousand of these machines were produced. The company never gained viability.
<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>