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yann64andClaude Opus 5.5 b274874139 All machines linked to their forum thread (full comment import) 
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title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params
title categories types origins years cpus params
Olivetti M20
Computers
Professional Computer
Italy
1982
Zilog Z8001
name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts links docs oc_id source
M20 /media/museum/photos/olivetti_m20_system_1.jpg /companies/olivetti Olivetti
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NAME M20
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MANUFACTURER Olivetti
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TYPE Professional Computer
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ORIGIN Italy
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YEAR March 1982
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BUILT IN LANGUAGE None
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KEYBOARD Full-Stroke 120 keys with numeric keypad
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CPU Zilog Z8001
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SPEED 4 Mhz
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CO-PROCESSOR None
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RAM 128 KB expandable to 512 KB
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ROM 12 KB (BIOS)
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TEXT MODES 80 columns x 25 lines
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GRAPHIC MODES 512 x 256 pixels in 4 colours maximum
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COLORS 4 or 8 with RAM extension board
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SOUND Beeper
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SIZE / WEIGHT 42.5(W) x 51.4(D) x 15(H) cm. Weight: 10.5 Kg.
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I/O PORTS 1 x RS-232 port, 1 x RS-1232C enhanced serial port, 1 x custom monitor connector, 1 x Parallel printer port
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BUILT IN MEDIA 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
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OS PCOS, CP/M8000, MS-DOS (with the APB 8086 card)
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POWER SUPPLY Built-in power supply
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PERIPHERALS 128 KB memory card, Intel 8086 microprocessor card, IEEE-488 card
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PRICE $5400 (2 x F.D. version)
photos
adverts
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docs
598
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NICE ITALIAN DESIGN /media/museum/photos/olivetti_m20_system_2.jpg
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M-20 KEYBOARD Keyboard and built-in F.D. drives close-up /media/museum/photos/olivetti_m20_keyboard_1.jpg
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INSIDE M-20 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 /media/museum/photos/olivetti_m20_inside_1.jpg
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UNCOVERED SYSTEM /media/museum/photos/olivetti_m20_inside_2.jpg
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U.S. AD #1 (1982) 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... /media/museum/pubs/olivetti_m20_pub_2.jpg
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U.S. AD #2 (1983) 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. /media/museum/pubs/olivetti_m20_pub_3.jpg
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U.S. AD. JUNE 1983 /media/museum/pubs/olivetti_m20_pub_4.jpg
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GERMAN ADVERT /media/museum/pubs/olivetti_m20_germanad_1.jpg
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THE FIRST M20 VERSION 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 /media/museum/pubs/olivetti_m20_typewriter_1.jpg
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Olivetti M20 site http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=home.inc Very complete, detailed and useful site for any M20 owner.
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USER MANUAL (GERMAN) http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_user-manual.jpg [**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)
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INSTALLATION AND USE GUIDE (ITALIAN) http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_installation-and-use.jpg [**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)
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HARDWARE MANUAL http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_hardware-manual.jpg [**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)
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HARDWARE MANUAL - PART 2 http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_hardware-manual_2.jpg [**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)
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OLIVETTI M20 QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_quick-reference-guide.jpg [**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)
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PC-OS (ITALIAN) http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_pc-os.jpg [**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)
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ASSEMBLER MANUAL AND RELATIONSHIPS WITH PC-OS http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_assembler.jpg [**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)
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M20 MICROSOFT BASIC (ITALIAN) http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_basic.jpg [**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)
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M20 ISAM MANUAL (ITALIAN) http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_isam-uk.jpg [**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)
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M20 ISAM MANUAL (ITALIAN) http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_isam.jpg [**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)
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M20 OLISORT MANUAL (ENGLISH) http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_olisort_uk.jpg [**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)
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M20 OLISORT MANUAL (ITALIAN) http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_olisort.jpg [**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)
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M20 OLIWORD MANUAL (ITALIAN) http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_oliword.jpg [**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)
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I/O WITH EXTERNAL PERIPHERALS MANUAL http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_io-manual.jpg [**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)
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ZILOG Z8000 PROGRAMMING GUIDE http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/manuals/manuals.inc /media/museum/docs/couvs/olivetti_m20_z8000-programming-guide.jpg [**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)
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url date
https://web.archive.org/web/20230627021257/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=611 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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