website/content/museum/microwriter.md

---
title: Microwriter
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Pocket
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1980'
cpus:
- RCA CDP1802
params:
  name: Microwriter
  company: /companies/microwriter
  company_name: MICROWRITER
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: Microwriter
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Microwriter
  - label: TYPE
    value: Pocket
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1980'
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: '1985'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Word processing
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: 6 keys
  - label: CPU
    value: RCA CDP1802 (COSMAC) the first capable CMOS processor
  - label: RAM
    value: 8 Kb. expandable to 16 Kb.
  - label: ROM
    value: Unknown
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 14 characters LCD display
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: none
  - label: COLORS
    value: none
  - label: SOUND
    value: none
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Serial, Expansion, Tape recorder
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: none
  - label: OS
    value: n
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Rechargeable batteries or external P.S.U.
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: Video monitor module
  - label: PRICE
    value: Unknown
  tabs:
  - photos
  photos:
  - title: INSIDE MICROWRITER
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(1)** On/Off switch. Text entered remains in memory when Microwriter is switched off.\
      **(2)** Quartz used to synchronize data transfer between various chips.\
      **(3)** Microprocessor and memory chips are CMOS low power versions.\
      **(4)** Rechargeable batteries allowing 30 hours use.\
      **(5)** Power plug. An external transformer supplies power.\
      **(6)** Expansion connector giving access to the microprocessor address and data bus, planned for future expansion modules.\
      **(7)** EPROM chip holding the word processing and communication software.\
      **(8)** Ram memory chips holding 8 Kb. of RAM. RAM memory can be upgraded up to 16 Kb.\
      **(9)** Key microswitch.\
      **(10)** 16 char. LCD display.\
      **(11)** Serial port is used to connect a printer, a computer, an acoustic modem or a monitor with an optional adaptor.\
      **(12)** Tape recorder connector.
    image: null
  - title: IN USE
    subtitle: ''
    text: File transfer through the serial port
    image: null
  - title: TYPEWRITER ALPHABET
    subtitle: ''
    text: Each red square represents the key(s) to be pressed simultaneously to obtain a letter
    image: null
  - title: THE AGENDA
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The AgendA was a British-designed personal organiser from the mid-80s featuring the microwriter keyboard. As if to encourage the use of the microwriter, the conventional keyboard was arranged alphabetically. It costed just under $200, with 128 KB memory. It was the last MicroWriter keyboard experience.

      Thanks to **Barrie Towey** for the pictures
    image: null
  comments:
  - author: Dave
    date: Tuesday 10th October 2017
    text: Could you type as fast as you could on a traditional QWERTY keyboard as you could on a Microwriter? At the very least, was typing faster than, say, typing on an iPhone?
  - author: Gregory (London)
    date: Friday 13rd July 2012
    text: I have a Microwriter MW4 that has many fond memories. If anybody would like this classic piece of early technology let me know and I will send along for the cost of post and packing. Hate to throw it away. Serial No. 32233. Can email me info-''at''-chaos-works.com
  - author: Neville Dalton (Newbury UK)
    date: Thursday 8th February 2007
    text: I have 2 Microwriter Agendas (32K) for disposal. Complete with User Guides and Learn to Microwrite booklet. Also a French card and a Maths and Finance card, chargers, slip cases, one leather wallet and a parallel cable (for connection to PC). I want rid of the lot - either as one or two units. They have only been used as demo models and I guess the batteries have had it.
  - author: Ian (Newbury, England)
    date: Saturday 21st October 2006
    text: Does anyone have a schematic diagram for the MW 4?
  - author: Stuart Milburn (Hampshire)
    date: Friday 24th February 2006
    text: |-
      Can anyone give me a second hand vaue for an Agenda Microwriter 32 bit in box with all accessories.\
      Many thanks
  - author: Mark O Callaghan (Malta)
    date: Thursday 13rd February 2003
    text: Does anyone know if the Microwriter or Agenda work with Windows 2000 and if they do can they please give us some instructions on how to make it work.
  oc_id: 558
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230401005733/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=558
    date: '2023-04-01'
---

Microwriter was not really a computer, but a very original pocket word processing system, designed in 1980 by Endfield Cie in the USA and later manufactured in the UK. It used a keyboard with only 6 keys which made it possible to keyboard all the alphabet letters, numerals and punctuation marks. The typing method used the letters shape likeness and only one hand was necessary to type text. It only required a few hours to get used to keyboard and then typing speed could be very fast.

The internal design of MicroWriter was similar to a pocket calculator with low power components and rechargeable batteries ensuring a 30 hours autonomy. The 14 character LCD display allowed horizontal text scrolling. Several editing controls made it possible to correct, remove, add and move text.\
The integral word processing software could connect directly to a printer and did formatting. It also allowed to upload/download documents to a computer via that same serial port.

Microwriter could be also connected to a video monitor via an external unit, and an acoustic modem. The text could be recorded as well on tape.

The original concept of Microwriter did not meet much success, and distribution stopped in 1985, though the keyboard was subsequently used on the AgendA (1988-93) and still available for PC & Palm as the CyKey from Bellaire Electronics.

---

**Gareth Powell** writes us:\
It is much more interesting, perhaps, than you suggest.\
The inventor was Cy Enfield. He was blacklisted in America in the film industry and went to Britain.\
He wrote the script for Zulu Dawn about 1969 and then wrote, produced and directed Zulu in 1964. That starred Jack Hawkins, Michael Caine (at his very best) and Stanley Baker. The narrration, incidentally, was by Richard Burton so we are talking a class act.\
I never met Cy Enflield but I met his daughter several times in London.

While working on the script of Zulu Dawn and later on Zulu he had the idea of a one handed keyboard. He designed it, it was produced and I bought one.\
It was indeed called the Microwriter. It had five buttons on the top and you pressed them in sequence. I could write articles with the machine while driving and then sling the result down through a serial port into my computer for editing.\
The reason it did not sell is that it simply was very, very slow. There is a lot of current research into similar machines. And they won't work either. Speed and convenience is what you need and such devices provide neither.

**Stan Lee** adds:\
The MicroWriter was actually developed by a company called [Bellaire electronics](http://www.bellaire.demon.co.uk)... Their other product is called a CyKey, which allowed people to use the MicroWriting system as a keyboard on their PCs. The original model - Model CK A 1.1 - only used a 5-pinny outlet for the BBC Micro computer, however newer models allow you to use it with Microsoft Operating Systems.

**Lynn Craig's** memories:\
I was National Information Officer for the Microelectronics Education Programme during the early 1980s. All directorate staff used the Microwriter to compose all correspondence. We travelled with the machines as we visited the 14 regional information centres on a regular basis. On such long trips we could write on the train or whilst sitting in airports. It was mindbending to learn, but after 7 days we were each very competent and thought it a marvellous machine.\
I still have mine. I was once surrounded by some aggressive young people whilst travelling alone in a first class compartment, and I defused their threatening behaviour by teaching them how to use the machine.