---
title: Olivetti P6040
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Transportable
origins:
- Italy
years:
- '1977'
cpus:
- Intel 8080
params:
  name: P6040
  image: /media/museum/photos/olivetti_p6040_system_1.jpg
  company: /companies/olivetti
  company_name: Olivetti
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: P6040
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Olivetti
  - label: TYPE
    value: Transportable
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Italy
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1977'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Tiny BASIC interpreter
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Alphanumeric 72 keys with calculator keypad
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 8080
  - label: SPEED
    value: Unknown
  - label: RAM
    value: 2 KB expandable to 4 KB (1 to 3 KB of user RAM)
  - label: ROM
    value: 16 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 16 chars x 1 line diode display
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 36 (W) x 40.6 (D) x 11.6 (H) cm. / 7.8 kg.
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: '2.5'
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in power supply unit
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: RS232 adapter and specific Olivetti interface called IPSO
  - label: PRICE
    value: |-
      $4,500 (USA)\
      About $60,000 including specific software developement according to custommers needs
  tabs:
  - photos
  forum_thread: 817
  photos:
  - title: KEYBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: A complete keyboard, but it was probably not easy to type text as the letter keyboard layout was alphabetical order
    image: /media/museum/photos/olivetti_p6040_keyboard_1.jpg
  - title: DISPLAY & PRINTER
    subtitle: ''
    text: Red diode 16 character display and alphanumeric printer
    image: /media/museum/photos/olivetti_p6040_dispprinter_1.jpg
  - title: DISK DRIVE
    subtitle: ''
    text: Olivetti disk drive with a 2.5" mylar minidisc
    image: /media/museum/photos/olivetti_p6040_minidisc_1.jpg
  oc_id: 836
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608073134/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=836
    date: '2023-06-08'
---

Although the P6040 was very like a calculator, it was a real computer featuring 16 KB ROM, 2 KB RAM and a tiny BASIC programming language.

A three position selector allowed to enter a BASIC program (LOAD position), execute (EXECUTE) or debug by running one instruction at a time (STEP). Sadly, out of the 2 KB of available RAM, only one was available for BASIC program and variables. Hopefully, an optional 2 KB RAM extension was available.

Programs could be listed or executed using the red diode display or the built-in alphanumeric printer. They was saved on Olivetti specific 2.5" 3 KB mylar minidiscs through the built in disc drive.

Three versions of the P-6040 were sold. The first allowed programs to be created, edited and executed; the second only allowed programs to be read from the minidisc and executed; the third, stangely, allowed programs to be created and saved but not executed.

Thanks to **Steven Williams** for the donation of his P6040!\
Thanks to **Gérard Touitou** for information and pictures