website/content/museum/mcm-computers-mcm-70-700.md

---
title: MCM COMPUTERS MCM 70 / 700
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- Canada
years:
- '1974'
cpus:
- Intel 8008
params:
  name: MCM 70 / 700
  image: /media/museum/photos/mcm-computers_782apl_1.jpg
  company: /companies/mcm-computers
  company_name: MCM COMPUTERS
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: MCM 70 / 700
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: MCM Computers
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Canada
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1974'
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: Unknown
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: APL language
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full stroke keyboard, 46 keys
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 8008
  - label: SPEED
    value: 0.8 MHz (800 Khz)
  - label: RAM
    value: 2, 4 or 8 KB depending models
  - label: ROM
    value: 32 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: Unknown, built-in alphanumeric plasma display (1 line)
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: Unknown
  - label: COLORS
    value: 'No'
  - label: SOUND
    value: Unknown
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 9 Kg
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: expansion bus
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 0, 1 or 2 x 100 KB cassette tape drives depending models
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Unknown
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: printer, floppy disk driven, plotter, card reader, RS232 interface
  - label: PRICE
    value: |-
      MCM 720: Cnd $4950 (Canada, 1974)\
      MCM 782: Cnd $9,800 (Canada, 1974)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - links
  forum_thread: 350
  photos:
  - title: AN EARLY PRODUCTION MODEL OF THE MCM/70, 1974
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      This photograph, taken in the early 1974, was used liberally by Micro Computer Machines in its promotional brochures, manuals, and press articles

      Thanks to [York University Computer Museum](http://www.cse.yorku.ca/museum/v_tour/artifacts/artifacts.htm) for this picture
    image: /media/museum/photos/mcm_70_yucm_1.jpg
  - title: MCM/70 COMPUTER
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The MCM/70 computer, designed by Canadian company Micro Computer Machines (MCM) between 1972 and 1973, is possibly the earliest example of a microcomputer designed and manufactured specifically for personal use (Photograph by Z. Stachniak)

      Thanks to [York University Computer Museum](http://www.cse.yorku.ca/museum/v_tour/artifacts/artifacts.htm) for this picture
    image: /media/museum/photos/mcm_70_yucm_2.jpg
  links:
  - title: Wikipedia - MCM entry
    url: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCM/70
    text: info about MCM and its systems
  - title: York University Computer Museum
    url: http://www.cse.yorku.ca/museum/collections/MCM/MCM.htm
    text: detailed list of their impressive MCM collection
  related:
  - /museum/mcm-computers-mcm-800
  oc_id: 346
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230528100340/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=346
    date: '2023-05-28'
---

All the MCM machines were designed and built in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The company was originally called "Micro Computer Machines, Inc." (the term "micro computer" was all the rage in the early 70's) but sometime in the late 70's changed the name to simply "MCM Computers".

MCM was among the first companies to fully recognize and act upon microprocessor technology's immense potential for developing a new generation of cost-effective computing systems.

Their first machine was launched in 1974 as the "MCM/70". It was a small desktop microcomputer designed to provide the APL programming language environment for business, scientific, and educational use. Since personal computers were pretty much unheard of at the time and since the company didn't have much money the launch didn't get a lot of notice. It was re-launched in 1975 or 1976 as the "MCM/700" but this was purely a marketing game; the absolute sole difference between the 70 and the 700 was the additional zero on the model designation to the right of the plasma display.

The MCM 700 uses a full APL language interpreter and incorporates a battery backup system that automatically saves the user's workspace. It has an integrated plasma alphanumeric display, full 46 key input and a bus structure to allow interface to the other peripherals developed by MCM: Floppy Disk Drive, printer, plotter, card reader and a RS232 interface (called SCI 1200). At the time of release virtually the only external peripheral available (the plasma display and cassette tape drives were built in) was a Diablo daisy wheel printer. The additional peripherals were added over time.

In theory you could order models with zero, one or two cassette tape drives and with 2K, 4K or 8K of memory. In practice the 782 (8K, two drives) was the most common. There was no external operating system; when you pressed the ON button you went directly into the in-ROM APL which had all the facilities necessary to create programs and access all the peripherals, and allow virtual memory swapping on the two 100 KB built-in cassettes drives.

There were additional models released in due course:

\- **[Model 800](/museum/mcm-computers-mcm-800/)** (faster cpu, RAM up to 16K, nicer looking case, CRT option)\
\- **Model 900** (faster again, RAM up to 24K, CRT built-in)\
\- **Model 1000**, aka "MCM Power" (repackaged 900, with optional HDS-10 external hard disk unit)

---

**Contributor:** Cam Farnell who worked at MCM from 1973 until 1981, starting as a junior assembly language programmer and ending as the manager of research & development