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---
title: Olivetti M20
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- Italy
years:
- '1982'
cpus:
- Zilog Z8001
params:
name: M20
image: /media/museum/photos/olivetti_m20_system_1.jpg
company: /companies/olivetti
company_name: Olivetti
specs:
- label: NAME
value: M20
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Olivetti
- label: TYPE
value: Professional Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: Italy
- label: YEAR
value: March 1982
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: None
- label: KEYBOARD
value: Full-Stroke 120 keys with numeric keypad
- label: CPU
value: Zilog Z8001
- label: SPEED
value: 4 Mhz
- label: CO-PROCESSOR
value: None
- label: RAM
value: 128 KB expandable to 512 KB
- label: ROM
value: 12 KB (BIOS)
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 80 columns x 25 lines
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: 512 x 256 pixels in 4 colours maximum
- label: COLORS
value: 4 or 8 with RAM extension board
- label: SOUND
value: Beeper
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: '42.5(W) x 51.4(D) x 15(H) cm. Weight: 10.5 Kg.'
- label: I/O PORTS
value: 1 x RS-232 port, 1 x RS-1232C enhanced serial port, 1 x custom monitor connector, 1 x Parallel printer port
- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
value: |-
2 x 160, 320 or 640 KB 5.25'' F.D. drives\
or 1 x F.D. drive + 1 x 11.25 MB Hard disk
- label: OS
value: PCOS, CP/M8000, MS-DOS (with the APB 8086 card)
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: Built-in power supply
- label: PERIPHERALS
value: 128 KB memory card, Intel 8086 microprocessor card, IEEE-488 card
- label: PRICE
value: $5400 (2 x F.D. version)
tabs:
- photos
- adverts
- links
- docs
forum_thread: 598
photos:
- title: NICE ITALIAN DESIGN
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/olivetti_m20_system_2.jpg
- title: M-20 KEYBOARD
subtitle: ''
text: Keyboard and built-in F.D. drives close-up
image: /media/museum/photos/olivetti_m20_keyboard_1.jpg
- title: INSIDE M-20
subtitle: ''
text: |-
The M-20 was a well designed system. Each part of the computer can be removed and put back without any tool.
**(1)** 2 x Expansion board connectors. The optional 8086 board takes place here.\
**(2)** 3 x Expansion memory boards. Up to 3 x 128 KB boards can be inserted.\
**(3)** 128 KB on-board RAM memory chips (16 x 4164)\
**(4)** Zilog Z-8001 microprocessor\
**(5)** BIOS ROM chips\
**(6)** Power supply unit
image: /media/museum/photos/olivetti_m20_inside_1.jpg
- title: UNCOVERED SYSTEM
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/olivetti_m20_inside_2.jpg
adverts:
- title: 'U.S. AD #1 (1982)'
subtitle: ''
text: |-
Advert said:
We know your question: How could Olivetti have developped a better personal computer than the other giants?\
The answer is in a word: Experience. Olivetti introduced the world's first desktop computer in 1965. Since then, we've continued to market a variety of minicomputers and microcomputers to a wide range of users...
image: /media/museum/pubs/olivetti_m20_pub_2.jpg
- title: 'U.S. AD #2 (1983)'
subtitle: ''
text: Despite the M20 was neither software nor hardware compatible with any other computer, Olivetti had to prove that it had more computing power at a smaller pice than any competitor.
image: /media/museum/pubs/olivetti_m20_pub_3.jpg
- title: U.S. AD. JUNE 1983
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/pubs/olivetti_m20_pub_4.jpg
- title: GERMAN ADVERT
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/pubs/olivetti_m20_germanad_1.jpg
- title: THE FIRST M20 VERSION
subtitle: ''
text: |-
This Olivetti ancestor, also called M20, was born in 1920...\
To note the superb design all the young italian secretaries were in love of!
Thanks to Karl-Heinz - www.sharpmz.org
image: /media/museum/pubs/olivetti_m20_typewriter_1.jpg
links:
- title: Olivetti M20 site
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=home.inc
text: Very complete, detailed and useful site for any M20 owner.
docs:
- title: USER MANUAL (GERMAN)
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_user-manual.jpg
text: |-
[**USER MANUAL (GERMAN)**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by Chris Groessler\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 3.2 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: INSTALLATION AND USE GUIDE (ITALIAN)
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_installation-and-use.jpg
text: |-
[**INSTALLATION AND USE GUIDE (ITALIAN)**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by Tix (1000bit.net)\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 49 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: HARDWARE MANUAL
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_hardware-manual.jpg
text: |-
[**HARDWARE MANUAL**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by Chris Groessler\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 5.3 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: HARDWARE MANUAL - PART 2
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_hardware-manual_2.jpg
text: |-
[**HARDWARE MANUAL - PART 2**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by Chris Groessler\
 type of document : Unknown\
 size : 5.8 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: OLIVETTI M20 QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_quick-reference-guide.jpg
text: |-
[**OLIVETTI M20 QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by Chris Groessler\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 4.7 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: PC-OS (ITALIAN)
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_pc-os.jpg
text: |-
[**PC-OS (ITALIAN)**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by prof.ing. Dino Molli\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 7.3 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: ASSEMBLER MANUAL AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH PC-OS
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_assembler.jpg
text: |-
[**ASSEMBLER MANUAL AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH PC-OS**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by Chris Groessler\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 19.1 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: M20 MICROSOFT BASIC (ITALIAN)
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_basic.jpg
text: |-
[**M20 MICROSOFT BASIC (ITALIAN)**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by prof.ing. Dino Molli\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 11.6 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: M20 ISAM MANUAL (ITALIAN)
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_isam-uk.jpg
text: |-
[**M20 ISAM MANUAL (ITALIAN)**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by Chris Groessler\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 10.1 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: M20 ISAM MANUAL (ITALIAN)
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_isam.jpg
text: |-
[**M20 ISAM MANUAL (ITALIAN)**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by prof.ing. Dino Molli\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 3.4 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: M20 OLISORT MANUAL (ENGLISH)
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_olisort_uk.jpg
text: |-
[**M20 OLISORT MANUAL (ENGLISH)**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by Chris Groessler\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 24 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: M20 OLISORT MANUAL (ITALIAN)
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_olisort.jpg
text: |-
[**M20 OLISORT MANUAL (ITALIAN)**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by prof.ing. Dino Molli\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 14.7 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: M20 OLIWORD MANUAL (ITALIAN)
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_oliword.jpg
text: |-
[**M20 OLIWORD MANUAL (ITALIAN)**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by Dwight Elvey and to Chris Groessler\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 4.7 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: I/O WITH EXTERNAL PERIPHERALS MANUAL
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_io-manual.jpg
text: |-
[**I/O WITH EXTERNAL PERIPHERALS MANUAL**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by Chris Groessler\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 14.6 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
- title: ZILOG Z8000 PROGRAMMING GUIDE
url: http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_z8000-programming-guide.jpg
text: |-
[**ZILOG Z8000 PROGRAMMING GUIDE**](http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc)written by Olivetti
 compiled/archived by Jurjen Kranenborg\
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 4.7 MB\
 source : [Olivetti M20 site](http://88.164.48.108/index.php)
oc_id: 611
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230627021257/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=611
date: '2023-06-27'
---
In 1972, Olivetti established in the U.S.A. (Cupertino), the Advanced Technology Centre (ATC), a research centre specialized in new technologies and office automation equipment design. During ten years the centre designed Olivetti typewriters, calculators, photocopiers, etc.... In 1980, the first Olivetti computer took form in Cupertino, and the M-20 computer was launched in March 1982. More than 50,000 units are estimated to have been shipped in the first year.
The M20 was one of the very rare computers based on the Zilog Z8000, a 16 bits microprocessor very close to its 8 bits big brother the Z80. Like most of the computers designed before the IBM PC era, the M20 offered technical choices which made it totally incompatible with the rest of the micro world.
The first proprietary M20 operating system, called PCOS (Professional Computer Operating System) was also very particular and didn't allowed files to be exchanged with other systems. Hopefully, MS-DOS V2.0, CP/M-86 and CP/M-80 would be later adapted to the specific M-20 hardware. Moreover, front of this compatibility problem, Olivetti developped a coprocessor board based on the 8086 chip, which offered M20 owners access to IBM PC software.
The M20 came with a 12'' monochrome or colour custom built monitor. The international version had a grey plastic case, the Italian version had a brown one.
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