1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
193 lines
8.7 KiB
Markdown
193 lines
8.7 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: MULTITECH MPF II
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Home Computer
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origins:
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- Taïwan
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years:
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- '1982'
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cpus:
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- MOS Technology 6502
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params:
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name: MPF II
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image: /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_2keyboards_s.jpg
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company: /companies/multitech
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company_name: MULTITECH
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: MPF II
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Multitech
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- label: TYPE
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value: Home Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: Taïwan
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1982'
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: Basic interpreter (compatible with Applesoft Basic)
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: 49 keys calculator type keyboard (default one) or 57 keys rubber type keyboard (optional one).
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- label: CPU
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value: MOS Technology 6502
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- label: SPEED
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value: 1 MHz
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- label: RAM
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value: 64 KB
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- label: ROM
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value: 16 KB
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 40 x 24
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: 40 x 48, 280 x 192
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- label: COLORS
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value: '6'
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- label: SOUND
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value: one channel, 5 octaves, built-in speaker
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 28 x 22 x 3,8 cm / 1 Kg
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: video outputs (RF & composite), power in, tape interface, printer connector, cartridge slot, external keyboard connector
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: None
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: External Power Supply Unit (+5, +12 V)
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: Floppy-disk interface
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- label: PRICE
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value: |-
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$399\
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£269 (UK, 1983)\
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2995 FF (France, sept. 83)
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tabs:
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- photos
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- adverts
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- connectors
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- software
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- links
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forum_thread: 286
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photos:
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- title: MPF-II
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subtitle: ''
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text: '... with its second keyboard and external power supply'
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image: /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_complete_2.jpg
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- title: MPF-II AND ITS SECOND KEYBOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_2keyboards.jpg
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- title: MPF-II UNIT
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_2.jpg
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- title: TOP VIEW
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com**
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image: /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_system_s1.jpg
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- title: EXTERNAL KEYBOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com**
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image: /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_extkeyboard_s1.jpg
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- title: BUILT-IN KEYBOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com**
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image: /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_intkeyboard_s1.jpg
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- title: KEYBOARD TEMPLATES
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subtitle: ''
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text: They helped the user to type one-letter basic keywords or graphic symbols.
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image: /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_template_1.jpg
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- title: BACK CONNECTORS
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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From left to right:\
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• External power supply DB9 connector\
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• TV/RF jack\
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• Tape recorder In/Out jacks\
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• Composite monitor output
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Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com**
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image: /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_rearcon_s1.jpg
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- title: SIDE CONNECTORS
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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from left to right:\
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• Expansion connector, mainly used for the floppy drive unit\
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• Cartridge and parallel printer connectors.
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Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com**
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image: /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_sidecon_s1.jpg
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- title: MAINBOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: Thanks to **zonadepruebas.com**
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image: /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_mainboard_s1.jpg
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- title: COMPLETE SYSTEM
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subtitle: ''
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text: '... with monitor, floppy disk drive, thermic printer and external keyboard.'
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image: /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf2_complete.jpg
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adverts:
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- title: FRENCH AD (SEPT. 1983)
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/pubs/multitech_mpf2_pub_1.jpg
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connectors:
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- title: EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY
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subtitle: DB9 male connector
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text: |-
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1 = 12v\
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2,3,4 = 5v\
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5 = -5v\
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6,7,8,9 = ground
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image: /media/museum/connectors/multitech_mpf2_db9_alim.jpg
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screenshots:
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- title: ALIENS
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subtitle: screenshot
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text: A kind of Pac-Man in space
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image: /media/museum/software/multitech_mpf2_ss_aliens.jpg
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- title: MATHS
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subtitle: screenshot
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text: 'this educational game was composed of 4 tapes: addition, soustraction, multiplication and division.'
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image: /media/museum/software/multitech_mpf2_ss_maths.jpg
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- title: AUTOBAHN
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subtitle: screenshot
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text: Classic race driving game
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image: /media/museum/software/multitech_mpf2_ss_autobahn.jpg
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- title: SABOTAGE
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subtitle: screenshot
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text: shoot ennemies from the sky with your ground cannon
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image: /media/museum/software/multitech_mpf2_ss_sabotage.jpg
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links:
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- title: ACER milestones
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url: http://global.acer.com/about/milestones.htm
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text: Multitech was the first name of ACER
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oc_id: 276
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230528105456/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=276
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date: '2023-05-28'
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---
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After the MPF-1 educational systems, Multitech (which eventually became Acer in 1987) conceived the MPF-II computer (**MPF** stands for **M**icro-**P**ro**F**essor) a more advanced computer supposed to be compatible with the [Apple 2](/museum/apple-ii/).
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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](/museum/multitech-mpf-1-plus/) and [MPF-1/65](/museum/multitech-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](/museum/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!
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The main interest of the MPF-II is that it is supposed to be compatible [Apple II](/museum/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...
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Some extensions were available:\
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\- 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.
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Several optional software provided the MPF-II with Assembly, Pascal, Logo and Forth programming languages.
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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](/museum/sinclair-zx-spectrum/) and [Commodore 64](/museum/commodore-c64/) got more popular with their large software offer.
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The [MPF-1/65](/museum/multitech-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](/museum/multitech-mpf-iii-312/), also partially compatible with the [Apple IIe](/museum/apple-iie/).
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---
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**Taneli Lukka** from Finland reports to us:\
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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.
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**Francisco Morero** from Spain adds:\
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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.
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<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>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.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>
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