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

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
MULTITECH MPF II	Computers	Home Computer	Taïwan	1982	MOS Technology 6502	name image company company_name specs tabs photos adverts connectors screenshots links comments oc_id source MPF II /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_2keyboards_s.jpg /companies/multitech MULTITECH label value NAME MPF II label value MANUFACTURER Multitech label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN Taïwan label value YEAR 1982 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE Basic interpreter (compatible with Applesoft Basic) label value KEYBOARD 49 keys calculator type keyboard (default one) or 57 keys rubber type keyboard (optional one). label value CPU MOS Technology 6502 label value SPEED 1 MHz label value RAM 64 KB label value ROM 16 KB label value TEXT MODES 40 x 24 label value GRAPHIC MODES 40 x 48, 280 x 192 label value COLORS 6 label value SOUND one channel, 5 octaves, built-in speaker label value SIZE / WEIGHT 28 x 22 x 3,8 cm / 1 Kg label value I/O PORTS video outputs (RF & composite), power in, tape interface, printer connector, cartridge slot, external keyboard connector label value BUILT IN MEDIA None label value POWER SUPPLY External Power Supply Unit (+5, +12 V) label value PERIPHERALS Floppy-disk interface label value PRICE $399\ £269 (UK, 1983)\ 2995 FF (France, sept. 83) photos adverts connectors software links title subtitle text image MPF-II ... with its second keyboard and external power supply /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_complete_2.jpg title subtitle text image MPF-II AND ITS SECOND KEYBOARD /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_2keyboards.jpg title subtitle text image MPF-II UNIT /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_2.jpg title subtitle text image TOP VIEW Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com** /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_system_s1.jpg title subtitle text image EXTERNAL KEYBOARD Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com** /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_extkeyboard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image BUILT-IN KEYBOARD Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com** /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_intkeyboard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image KEYBOARD TEMPLATES They helped the user to type one-letter basic keywords or graphic symbols. /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_template_1.jpg title subtitle text image BACK CONNECTORS From left to right:\ • External power supply DB9 connector\ • TV/RF jack\ • Tape recorder In/Out jacks\ • Composite monitor output Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com** /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_rearcon_s1.jpg title subtitle text image SIDE CONNECTORS from left to right:\ • Expansion connector, mainly used for the floppy drive unit\ • Cartridge and parallel printer connectors. Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com** /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_sidecon_s1.jpg title subtitle text image MAINBOARD Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com** /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_mainboard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image COMPLETE SYSTEM ... with monitor, floppy disk drive, thermic printer and external keyboard. /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_complete.jpg title subtitle text image FRENCH AD (SEPT. 1983) /media/museum/pubs/multitech_mpf2_pub_1.jpg title subtitle text image EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY DB9 male connector 1 = 12v\ 2,3,4 = 5v\ 5 = -5v\ 6,7,8,9 = ground /media/museum/connectors/multitech_mpf2_db9_alim.jpg title subtitle text image ALIENS screenshot A kind of Pac-Man in space /media/museum/software/multitech_mpf2_ss_aliens.jpg title subtitle text image MATHS screenshot this educational game was composed of 4 tapes: addition, soustraction, multiplication and division. /media/museum/software/multitech_mpf2_ss_maths.jpg title subtitle text image AUTOBAHN screenshot Classic race driving game /media/museum/software/multitech_mpf2_ss_autobahn.jpg title subtitle text image SABOTAGE screenshot shoot ennemies from the sky with your ground cannon /media/museum/software/multitech_mpf2_ss_sabotage.jpg title url text ACER milestones http://global.acer.com/about/milestones.htm Multitech was the first name of ACER author date text DC (Taiwan) Friday 2nd July 2021 I have this computer and it''s still working. Not sure what info i can share with you. author date text Levent (USA ) Tuesday 24th September 2019 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 date text vitalis (Finland) Friday 13rd September 2019 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 date text Hasan Batto (Lebanon) Thursday 21st March 2019 i have problem with video output, screen keeps scrolling diagonally on both AV and RF. any idea what would be causing this? author date text Bubz Monday 12th June 2017 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 date text Jan kajander (Norway) Monday 18th July 2016 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 date text Martin (Sweden) Wednesday 12th December 2012 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 date text Lisias Toledo (Brasil) Tuesday 10th April 2012 Dear eli (ISRAEL), how can I contact you? Maybe you can contact me: me at lisias dot net author date text eli (ISRAEL) Thursday 26th January 2012 I HAVE AN MPF II, WHICH IS BRAND NEW, IN IT''S ORIGINAL PACK. - LOOKING FOR BUYER author date text Ivan (France) Tuesday 15th February 2011 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 date text Martin Menner (Spain) Wednesday 3rd November 2010 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 date text Eddy (Thailand) Sunday 29th August 2010 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 date text Kiks (Italy) Friday 9th April 2010 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 date text ChrisWilliam (Sweden) Thursday 22nd August 2002 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 date text Brahma (Finland) Monday 17th June 2002 Where can I find a manual for this computer.. I cant believe it still works. 276 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230528105456/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=276 2023-05-28

After the MPF-1 educational systems, Multitech (which eventually became Acer in 1987) conceived the MPF-II computer (MPF stands for Micro-ProFessor) a more advanced computer supposed to be compatible with the Apple 2.

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 and 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. 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. 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 and Commodore 64 got more popular with their large software offer.

The 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, also partially compatible with the 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.

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.