website/content/museum/logabax-persona-1600.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Logabax PERSONA 1600	Computers	Professional Computer	France	1983	Intel 8086	name image logo company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos oc_id source PERSONA 1600 /media/museum/photos/logabax_persona1600_system_s1.jpg /media/museum/logos/logabax_persona1600_logo_s1.gif /companies/logabax Logabax label value NAME PERSONA 1600 label value MANUFACTURER Logabax label value TYPE Professional Computer label value ORIGIN France label value YEAR 1983 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE MS-DOS and GW-Basic delivered on disks label value KEYBOARD Separated full-stroke keyboard, 102 keys, numeric keypad, 18 function keys\ A standard IBM keyboard (83 keys) was also proposed label value CPU Intel 8086 label value SPEED 8 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR 8087 arithmetic co-processor optional label value RAM 128 KB (up to 640 KB) label value ROM 16 KB label value TEXT MODES 40 / 80 columns x 25 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES 320 x 200 (4 colors) / 640 x 200 (monochrome) / 640 x 400 (monochrome) label value COLORS 16 label value SOUND Tone Generator label value SIZE / WEIGHT 38 (W) x 37 (D) x 16 (H) cm label value I/O PORTS Parallel Centronics, RS232C label value BUILT IN MEDIA One or Two 5.25'' disk-drives (360k or 720k) label value OS MS DOS 2.1, Concurrent CP/M 86, UCSD-P label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in PSU, 135w label value PERIPHERALS Hard-disk, IEEE 488, RS 422, RS 232, PC Net boards, IBM 3278 coaxial network board, mouse label value PRICE 1 disk-drive system :3350 (France, 84)\ 2 disk-drives system : 3811 (France, 84)\ 128k, monochrome, 2 x drives 720k : 6015 (France, 85) photos 166 title subtitle text image DUAL FDD VERSION /media/museum/photos/logabax_persona1600_front.jpg title subtitle text image 20 MB HDD VERSION The keyboard design was slightly different from the FDD version, particularly the function keys. /media/museum/photos/logabax_persona1600_system_s1.jpg title subtitle text image SIDE VIEW /media/museum/photos/logabax_persona1600_sideview_s1.jpg title subtitle text image MAIN UNIT On the HDD version a red plastic mask allowed to see the HDD leds (Power and Busy) by transparency. /media/museum/photos/logabax_persona1600_mainunit_s1.jpg title subtitle text image KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP User could choose between two keyboards: an IBM PC style one, or this Olivetti keyboard specially developed for the Persona 1600. /media/museum/photos/logabax_persona1600_keyboard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image BACK SIDE The black plastic box holds a large aluminium fan. /media/museum/photos/logabax_persona1600_backside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image BACK PANEL On can spot the various connectors:\ • Power sockets and switchs\ • Keyboard (not compatible with standard PC keyboards)\ • Parallel and Serial\ • Video, located on the first expansion slot. /media/museum/photos/logabax_persona1600_backpanel_s1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE THE HDD VERSION In this version, it isn't possible to add any expansion card. Only to cards are available, video (left) and HDD controller.\ Stangely, the video card is used as a bridge between the mainboard located below the metal frame and the expansion slots card. Here a one-slot card is attached, it supports the HDD controller card.\ The hard disk drive is a 20 MB model made by Olivetti. /media/museum/photos/logabax_persona1600_opened_s1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE THE FDD VERSION This version features a 7-slot backplane connected to the video card. Green slots are used for specific Olivetti cards. A RAM expansion card is fitted in one of the slots. /media/museum/photos/logabax_persona1600_opened.jpg title subtitle text image MAINBOARD The components side faces the bottom of the case. **(1)** "Bridge" video card connectors\ **(2)** Optional HDD controller socket\ **(3)** Western Digital FDD controller\ **(4)** Optional 8087 math coprocessor socket\ **(5)** 8086 microprocessor\ **(6)** 512 KB optional chips (16 x 41256)\ **(7)** 128 KB base RAM (16 x 4164)\ **(8)** BIOS ROMs\ **(9)** CMOS and clock battery, Reset switch and beeper\ **(10)** Various NEC I/O chips\ **(11)** Keyboard ROM /media/museum/photos/logabax_persona1600_mainboard_s1.jpg 154 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230529184854/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=154 2023-05-29

This computer was built at Meaux (France, Paris area) by Logabax which was owned by Olivetti at 65%. It was in fact the international version of the Olivetti M24.

This was a highly PC compatible system. It means that it was truely hardware and sotfware compatible with the IBM PC of the time. Back then, all "PC compatible" systems were not exactly 100% compatible... so it was a real marketing argument for the Persona 1600.
There were two true tests to know if a system was really IBM PC compatible: Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoft Flight Simulator, and the Persona 1600 was running both with no problem.

But in addition to its good compatibility, the Persona 1600 was offering more than the IBM PC itself: built-in RS232c and Centronics interface, more complete keyboard, better graphic possibilities (640 x 400) and 7 free expansion slots (instead of 3 for the IBM PC). Even the CPU (8086) was faster than the 8088 used by the IBM PC.

It was very well known in France because it was used as a server for Thomson TO7 and MO5 computer networks in schools (Nanoréseaux).

It ran under MS-DOS 2.11 or CP/M 86.
It was possible to connect an optional hard disk (from 10 to 50 Mb).
The Persona 1600 was sold with a 12" green monochrom, or a 14" color monitor.