website/content/museum/access-computer.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
ACCESS Computer	Computers	Transportable	U.S.A.	1982	Zilog Z80A	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts links oc_id source ACCESS Computer /media/museum/photos/access.jpg /companies/access-computer ACCESS COMPUTER label value NAME ACCESS Computer label value MANUFACTURER ACCESS Computer label value TYPE Transportable label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR 1982 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Full stroke keyboard with numeric keypad label value CPU Zilog Z80A label value SPEED Unknown label value CO-PROCESSOR Unknown label value RAM 64 KB label value ROM Unknown label value TEXT MODES 80 chars x 24 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES Unknown label value COLORS Monochrome (9.5 built-in amber display) label value SOUND Unknown label value SIZE / WEIGHT Unknown / 17 Kg label value I/O PORTS Parallel ans Serial ports, modem cups on the top label value BUILT IN MEDIA Two 5.25'' disk-drives label value OS CP/M label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in power supply unit label value PRICE Unknown photos adverts links 363 title subtitle text image FIRST VERSION The machine is connected to a larger monochrome monitor. Thanks to **Dennis Woodling** /media/museum/photos/actrix_access_system_s1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR ...with printer and acoustic modem on top /media/museum/photos/access_matrix_rear_1.jpg title subtitle text image ADVERT (SEPT.1983) from New Zealand Bits & Bytes magazine null title url text About the Matrix project http://www.digibarn.com/collections/systems/actrix/index.html Neat article by Jay Berg, original designer of the Access Matrix title url text Actrix and Access Computers http://www.actrixcomputer.com/ Unofficial homepage for Actrix and Access Matrix Computers 359 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230415202048/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=359 2023-04-15

The Access Computer had a 9.5" built-in screen (amber) and a built-in 80 CPS Dot Matrix Printer. It also had a built-in modem and came with a full range of software : CP/M, CBasic, Communication software, Perfect Writer, Speller, Filer and Calc.

The name of the machine was shortly changed to Actrix (Access Matrix) because of copyright issues.

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From Tom Creviston:
I sold, maintained, studied, and used this computer. It was unique in that it had a detachable keyboard, TWO 5-1/4" disk drives, an EPSON MX-80 printer built-in to the top, a built-in 300 baud modem, a parallel printer port, a plug-in 8088 IBM-PC card, serial ports, and a full complement of CP/M software including the Perfect Word, DBase, CBasic, and a host of utilities that would make most programmers proud. I ran a FORTH operating system on this machine that ran my observatory for a long time.
It was the best portable at the time and still has features that beat "laptops" to this day. Such as input, communication, print apability, transportibility, throw it in the trunk and make it work later capability.

Bob Montgomery's opinion:
I developed the communications utility and various other programs for this computer. I worked for the company about a year as a contract programmer.
The computer included everything but the kitchen sink. Unfortunately, the design wasn't very well thought out and it wasn't very reliable.
Access Martix was founded by the same individual who manufactured boards for the Osborne transportable.

Michael O'Donnell recalls:
I bought one of these in 1983 and used it for about four years, until I replaced it with an IBM PS/2. Even then I continued to use it as a backup machine. I would have students use it to type in lecture notes, then send them to the IBM via the built-in modem (across the hall).
I found it to be pretty stable, and it never broke down on me. But this computer was "portable" only if you needed a weight lifting workout. Mine came with CP/M and lots of Basic software; I programmed statistical routines in basic with this.

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.