website/content/museum/exxon-500-series.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
EXXON 500 Series	Computers	Professional Computer	U.S.A.	1982	Z80-A	name image company company_name specs forum_thread oc_id source 500 Series /media/museum/photos/exxon_520_system_1.jpg /companies/exxon EXXON label value NAME 500 Series label value MANUFACTURER Exxon label value TYPE Professional Computer label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR 1982 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Full-stroke 97 keys with 12 function keys and arrow keys label value CPU Z80-A label value SPEED 4 Mhz label value CO-PROCESSOR None label value RAM 64 KB (510 version) or 128 to 256 KB (520-530 versions) label value VRAM Unknown label value ROM 1 KB (Boot loader) label value TEXT MODES 80 columns x 25 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES None label value COLORS Monochrome label value SOUND Beeper label value SIZE / WEIGHT Unknown label value I/O PORTS Parallel printer, FDD unit, serial (option) label value BUILT IN MEDIA External dual 5.25'' 600 KB FDD unit (510 - 520 versions)\ 5 or 10 MB HDD (530 version) label value OS CP/M 2.2 label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in power supply unit label value PRICE $9200 (510 version) 604 617 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230608081756/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=617 2023-06-08

Exxon Computer Division, a branch of the Exxon Oil Company, sold this computer in the U.S.A and Europe.

This computer was built in 1982. The system is composed of CPU box, monitor, dual disk drives and a keyboard. It was delivered withe software on 5.2 disks, manuals, training materials.

This office computer was primarily a word processor with calenders, ticklers and file sharing capabilities. It ran on the Z-80 chipset with a 64 KB architecture running a CPM like OS. In some regards it is a monument to the arrogance of Senior Exxon management who felt that they were so good at managing an oil company, that surely they could manage a successful computer company.

Exxon owned Zilog, the creators of the Z80, which they purchased in 1980. The Z80 based Exxon 510 was the first system to grow out of that purchase. It has been argued by some the if Exxon had not purchased Zilog, that Zilog left alone would have rivaled Intel today. Exxon Office Systems was based on the purchase of Vydec and Zilog with the machines being developed by Compucorp and the printers being built by Qume.

Unfortunately, Exxon really mismanaged the companies and they sold off the business in 1985.

The 510 version was the basic 64 KB system.
The 520 version offered 128 KB of RAM expandable up to 256 KB.
The 530 version featured a 5 MB or 10 MB HDD.

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Contributors: David Gallaher

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.