website/content/museum/multitech-mpf-ii.md

---
title: MULTITECH MPF II
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Taïwan
years:
- '1982'
cpus:
- MOS Technology 6502
params:
  name: MPF II
  company: /companies/multitech
  company_name: MULTITECH
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: MPF II
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Multitech
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Taïwan
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1982'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Basic interpreter (compatible with Applesoft Basic)
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: 49 keys calculator type keyboard (default one) or 57 keys rubber type keyboard (optional one).
  - label: CPU
    value: MOS Technology 6502
  - label: SPEED
    value: 1 MHz
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 16 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 x 24
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 40 x 48, 280 x 192
  - label: COLORS
    value: '6'
  - label: SOUND
    value: one channel, 5 octaves, built-in speaker
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 28 x 22 x 3,8 cm / 1 Kg
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: video outputs (RF & composite), power in, tape interface, printer connector, cartridge slot, external keyboard connector
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: None
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: External Power Supply Unit (+5, +12 V)
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: Floppy-disk interface
  - label: PRICE
    value: |-
      $399\
      £269 (UK, 1983)\
      2995 FF (France, sept. 83)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  - connectors
  - software
  - links
  photos:
  - title: MPF-II
    subtitle: ''
    text: '... with its second keyboard and external power supply'
    image: null
  - title: MPF-II AND ITS SECOND KEYBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: MPF-II UNIT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: TOP VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com**
    image: null
  - title: EXTERNAL KEYBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com**
    image: null
  - title: BUILT-IN KEYBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com**
    image: null
  - title: KEYBOARD TEMPLATES
    subtitle: ''
    text: They helped the user to type one-letter basic keywords or graphic symbols.
    image: null
  - title: BACK CONNECTORS
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      From left to right:\
      • External power supply DB9 connector\
      • TV/RF jack\
      • Tape recorder In/Out jacks\
      • Composite monitor output

      Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com**
    image: null
  - title: SIDE CONNECTORS
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      from left to right:\
      • Expansion connector, mainly used for the floppy drive unit\
      • Cartridge and parallel printer connectors.

      Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com**
    image: null
  - title: MAINBOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com**
    image: null
  - title: COMPLETE SYSTEM
    subtitle: ''
    text: '... with monitor, floppy disk drive, thermic printer and external keyboard.'
    image: null
  adverts:
  - title: FRENCH AD (SEPT. 1983)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  connectors:
  - title: EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY
    subtitle: DB9 male connector
    text: |-
      1 = 12v\
      2,3,4 = 5v\
      5 = -5v\
      6,7,8,9 = ground
    image: null
  screenshots:
  - title: ALIENS
    subtitle: screenshot
    text: A kind of Pac-Man in space
    image: null
  - title: MATHS
    subtitle: screenshot
    text: 'this educational game was composed of 4 tapes: addition, soustraction, multiplication and division.'
    image: null
  - title: AUTOBAHN
    subtitle: screenshot
    text: Classic race driving game
    image: null
  - title: SABOTAGE
    subtitle: screenshot
    text: shoot ennemies from the sky with your ground cannon
    image: null
  links:
  - title: ACER milestones
    url: http://global.acer.com/about/milestones.htm
    text: Multitech was the first name of ACER
  comments:
  - author: DC (Taiwan)
    date: Friday 2nd July 2021
    text: I have this computer and it''s still working. Not sure what info i can share with you.
  - author: Levent (USA )
    date: Tuesday 24th September 2019
    text: |-
      I just bought one on EBay. This computer is compatible with Apple II. You can run most Apple II Basic programs on it.\
      For software, haven’t seen anything yet.
  - author: vitalis (Finland)
    date: Friday 13rd September 2019
    text: |-
      I just bought MPF-II in a good condition from internet auction. The computer and external keyboard work, connected from "Monitor" output to the flat TV.

      I did not know about the existence of such a model until I saw it at auction. Is there any resource available where one can download any software, preferably as .WAV files for loading through the Cassette interface.

      I have also 5 "official" cassettes with it: PYRAMID, MICRO-NURSE, SNAKE, BURN-OUT, BLITZ, but have zero knowledge are these tapes still readable.
  - author: Hasan Batto (Lebanon)
    date: Thursday 21st March 2019
    text: i have problem with video output, screen keeps scrolling diagonally on both AV and RF. any idea what would be causing this?
  - author: Bubz
    date: Monday 12th June 2017
    text: Does anyone know of any resources online for the MPF-II? Besides the TK2000, I can''t seem to find any games, programs, or much of anything. It would be nice if there were some preservation project or similar (I might possibly even be able to contribute, I''m in the process of recovering the data off the tapes I got, but I only got a few games and sadly it does not look like I''ll be able to recover all of them, the tapes are just not in very good condition any more).
  - author: Jan kajander (Norway)
    date: Monday 18th July 2016
    text: Had one as Kid in 1975 (100$) sure it was imported by a company in Stockholm, and sold by a Radio shop in Gusum Sweden near to Valdemarsvik, It was new in to the country, it was Apple compatible but much rework and rewrite the programs to get things work had to be done, eventually i gave it back due to lack of apple functions, cassette tape, (long way prior the other names arrived, and later such dominance in the market. No epa jaggy edge logotypes, no flash bios, just a square white blinking cursor at top left corner. That was before loading the cassette tape and the program. Compare spec and prices with IBM that year , for my i think the price was 3000:- sek /300 euro or so, that is a diff to 19975 USD. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_5100
  - author: Martin (Sweden)
    date: Wednesday 12th December 2012
    text: Anybody who has these "special ROMs" that the summary page is referring to (or knows of a source/link where they might be available)?
  - author: Lisias Toledo (Brasil)
    date: Tuesday 10th April 2012
    text: |-
      Dear eli (ISRAEL), how can I contact you?

      Maybe you can contact me: me at lisias dot net
  - author: eli (ISRAEL)
    date: Thursday 26th January 2012
    text: I HAVE AN MPF II, WHICH IS BRAND NEW, IN IT''S ORIGINAL PACK. - LOOKING FOR BUYER
  - author: Ivan (France)
    date: Tuesday 15th February 2011
    text: |-
      I had this computer for a couple of years (it''s gone by now though - unfortunately). Couldn''t afford the disks, so it was cassette only for me.

      Used this to grind my teeth at computing - 1st, I wrote a 6502 disassembler - only using hex - took me a few month..

      At which point, I wrote a symbolic assembler (took me but a week once I had the disassembler).

      Fond memories !
  - author: Martin Menner (Spain)
    date: Wednesday 3rd November 2010
    text: |-
      I have 2 Microprofessor II Manuals and 2 defect Microprofessor II computers incl. all cables in the house of my parents in Germany. The motherboards would serve to take out parts that still work. I would just give it for free (if you pay the transport).\
      I am in Spain, but could ask my parents to send it to someone interested. (mmenner@merlin.fae.ua.es)
  - author: Eddy (Thailand)
    date: Sunday 29th August 2010
    text: Hi, I have this computer since I was a student in university. And it be kept at my home. May be its user manual and reference manual be there.
  - author: Kiks (Italy)
    date: Friday 9th April 2010
    text: |-
      Hi, when I was 7 years old, my father bought an MPF II. I think it was the only one in Italy $)\
      I remember that I used an Apple II manual, but I can''t remember about it''s original manual. I''ll search for something but I remember that my father sell it after some years and bought a C64.
  - author: ChrisWilliam (Sweden)
    date: Thursday 22nd August 2002
    text: |-
      Hi!

      when I was a kid I had a Microprofessor II (my first computer). TO BAD I sold it! - but now I feel I just HAVE TO get one!, so my question is simple: does anyone have one OR know were I might be able to get one + games? I am verrrry happy for any answers about this!, PLEEEES Email me...I WILL PAY!!!

      girfu@hotmail.com

      C YA // Chris - thanx

      ps. I live in Sweden but I would of course do bussines with people outside Sweden!
  - author: Brahma (Finland)
    date: Monday 17th June 2002
    text: Where can I find a manual for this computer.. I cant believe it still works.
  oc_id: 276
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230528105456/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=276
    date: '2023-05-28'
---

After the MPF-1 educational systems, Multitech (which eventually became Acer in 1987) conceived the MPF-II computer (**MPF** stands for **M**icro-**P**ro**F**essor) a more advanced computer supposed to be compatible with the [Apple 2](/museum/apple-ii/).

The MPF-II must be the only computer delivered with two keyboards! The first one is located directly onto the system case. It has very small calculator type keys and is really painful to work with. In fact it is the same used with [MPF-1 Plus](/museum/multitech-mpf-1-plus/) and [MPF-1/65](/museum/multitech-mpf-1-65/) educational computers. Knowing that it wouldn't be enough for the more ambitious MPF-II, Multitech chosed to deliver a larger keyboard with rubber keys, same type used on popular computers of that time like the [Sinclair ZX Spectrum](/museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum/). Even though it was better than the first one, it wasn't still very convenient. There is even a special key labeled with the Multitech logo which function is... nothing. Indeed, nothing happen when you press it!

The main interest of the MPF-II is that it is supposed to be compatible [Apple II](/museum/apple-ii/). In fact only its Basic is compatible with the Applesoft Basic. Thus it is not possible to directly use Apple Software on a MPF-II, even though later, special ROMs modified by enthusiasts were available to turn the MPF-II into a full Apple II compatible system...

Some extensions were available:\
\- up to 2 disk drives with their controller (5.25", Single Sided - Double Density, 250 KB non formated), - Multitech thermal printer using special thermal paper (10 cm wide). 150 lines per minute, 120 caracters per second, - Dot matrix printer - joysticks, tape recorder, multi-printer interface.

Several optional software provided the MPF-II with Assembly, Pascal, Logo and Forth programming languages.

When it came out in 1982, the MPF-II had excellent reviews since for a reasonable price you had color, high resolution and 64 KB RAM. This offer had nearly no competition... until the [ZX Spectrum](/museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum/) and [Commodore 64](/museum/commodore-c64/) got more popular with their large software offer.

The [MPF-1/65](/museum/multitech-mpf-1-65/) also From Multitech is very similar to the MPF-II and might be based on it, or vice versa. The MPF-II had a successor, the [MPF III](/museum/multitech-mpf-iii-312/), also partially compatible with the [Apple IIe](/museum/apple-iie/).

---

**Taneli Lukka** from Finland reports to us:\
This computer was sold here in Finland and if I remember correctly it got pretty good reviews from a couple of Finnish computer magazines thanks to it's Apple II compatibility and average design, but it is not common even in Finland. It does seem that it was used in Finnish schools (which means that it was accepted and recommended as a school computer by the Finnish board of education). I found one of these from my school here in the city of Pori when the building was being renovated last year together with a disk drive controller cartridge, but I was too slow to get it back, so now I only have the controller cartridge, the machine went missing soon after. :( It was stored in the biology classroom together with a large old printer , so it must have been used there for some kind of simple biological experiments as a learning tool.

**Francisco Morero** from Spain adds:\
It was also sold also in Spain, but the software included in the "Spanish version" did not include any other language than its 'Apple compatible BASIC'. Therefore the options were BASIC or Assembler for 6502 microprocessor. Unfortunately its spartan documentation as well as the non-existing users comunity made it the worst choice in Spain.

<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>