website/content/museum/otrona-attache.md

---
title: Otrona Attache
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Transportable
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1982'
cpus:
- Zilog Z80A at 4 MHz
params:
  name: Attache
  image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache_1s.jpg
  company: /companies/otrona
  company_name: Otrona
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: Attache
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Otrona
  - label: TYPE
    value: Transportable
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: April 1982
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: '1984'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Unknown
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: compact full-stroke keyboard (QWERTY)
  - label: CPU
    value: |-
      Zilog Z80A at 4 MHz\
      \+ Intel i8086 at 8 MHz for the Model 8:16
  - label: RAM
    value: |-
      64 KB\
      8:16 model: 256 KB when running in MS-DOS mode
  - label: ROM
    value: 4 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 x 24
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 320 x 240
  - label: COLORS
    value: No (monochrome built-in 5.5'' CRT display)
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 12 x 5.75 x 13.6 inches / 19 lbs
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: expansion slot, keyboard connector, two RS-232c ports, video output (composite)
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 5.25'' built-in floppy disk drive (360 KB)
  - label: OS
    value: |-
      CP/M\
      \+ MS-DOS with 8:16 model
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: AC power or battery pack (optional)
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: second 5.25'' floppy disk drive, 10 MB hard disk, parallel interface, carrying case, battery pack
  - label: PRICE
    value: $3995 (USA, 1982)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - links
  forum_thread: 1194
  photos:
  - title: OTRONA ATTACHE
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache_1.jpg
  - title: RIGHT SIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache_3.jpg
  - title: TOP VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache_top.jpg
  - title: CLOSED
    subtitle: ''
    text: ready to go !
    image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache_closed.jpg
  - title: CLOSED - STAND UP
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache_closed_2.jpg
  - title: CLOSED WITH 5.25'' DISK
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache_closed_3.jpg
  - title: DETAIL
    subtitle: ''
    text: The serial number of this unit is 1464.
    image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache_detail.jpg
  - title: TURNED ON
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache_2.jpg
  - title: USING THE DISK DRIVES
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache_disk.jpg
  - title: REAR
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache_rear.jpg
  - title: BOOT SCREEN
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache_screen.jpg
  - title: MOTHERBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: This is a model 8:16 motherboard, with the additional i8086 board placed on top of the main Z80 board.
    image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache-8-16_mobo.jpg
  - title: DOCUMENTATION
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/otrona_attache_docs.jpg
  links:
  - title: Oldcomputers.net - Otrona Attache page
    url: http://oldcomputers.net/attache.html
    text: Very interesting page about the Otrona Attache
  - title: Otrona Attache 8:16 diskette contents
    url: http://wps.com/archives/Otrona-Attache-8-16-diskettes/
    text: download this while it's online!
  - title: Rhod's collection
    url: http://www.rhod.fr/otrona.html
    text: Nice pictures!
  - title: Wikipedia - Otrona page
    url: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otrona
    text: Some info here...
  oc_id: 1227
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230530210241/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1227
    date: '2023-05-30'
---

The Otrona Attache was the most wanted transportable computer at the time as it was the smallest of its category. Preceded by the [Osborne](/museum/osborne-corp-osborne-1/) and [Kaypro II](/museum/kaypro-ii/), the Attache was also more expensive than its competitors. Compactness has a price!

The Attache is this a nice little CP/M system. High-resolution graphics, compact keyboard, 64 KB RAM, real time battery-packed clock, composite video output, delivered with Wordstar, MBasic, CP/M, the Otrona Attache had all that was needed at the time to be efficient.

in 1983, Otrona released a second model, the **Attache 8:16** which was in fact a "normal" Attache with an Intel 8086 expansion board built-in, thus offering the MS-DOS world in addition to the CP/M compatibility. The [IBM PC](/museum/ibm-pc-model-5150/) was already putting a strong pressure on the market. The rush toward MS-DOS compatibility had begun, announcing CP/M death. Meanwhile, hybrid machines like this one appeared on the market illustrating the transition.

In May 1984, Otrona announced a new transportable model, the **Otrona 2001**, using an Intel 8088 processor. Sadly the 2001 wasn't completely IBM PC compatible and the production costs were high. Like its predecessor (Attache), the 2001 had real assets, but was too expensive compared to other portables. As Otrona didn't want to exceed the $3000 price limit to stay competitive against IBM and Compaq, they had to throw in the towel.

Too bad, as the demand for the "2001" ran extraordinarily well, as Otrona president Jim Lindner explained. 1000 orders in the month were common.

But in september 1984, Otrona Advanced Systems announced that it was ceasing production. It gave notice to its 175 employees and said that it had decided that is was not able to reorganize (and thus continue in business) under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Act. Jim Lindner hoped for a buyback which never came (?).

<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>