website/content/museum/access-computer.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
ACCESS Computer	Computers	Transportable	U.S.A.	1982	Zilog Z80A	name image company company_name specs tabs photos adverts links comments oc_id source ACCESS Computer /media/museum/photos/access.jpg /companies/access-computer ACCESS COMPUTER label value NAME ACCESS Computer label value MANUFACTURER ACCESS Computer label value TYPE Transportable label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR 1982 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE None label value KEYBOARD Full stroke keyboard with numeric keypad label value CPU Zilog Z80A label value SPEED Unknown label value CO-PROCESSOR Unknown label value RAM 64 KB label value ROM Unknown label value TEXT MODES 80 chars x 24 lines label value GRAPHIC MODES Unknown label value COLORS Monochrome (9.5 built-in amber display) label value SOUND Unknown label value SIZE / WEIGHT Unknown / 17 Kg label value I/O PORTS Parallel ans Serial ports, modem cups on the top label value BUILT IN MEDIA Two 5.25'' disk-drives label value OS CP/M label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in power supply unit label value PRICE Unknown photos adverts links title subtitle text image FIRST VERSION The machine is connected to a larger monochrome monitor. Thanks to **Dennis Woodling** /media/museum/photos/actrix_access_system_s1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR ...with printer and acoustic modem on top /media/museum/photos/access_matrix_rear_1.jpg title subtitle text image ADVERT (SEPT.1983) from New Zealand Bits & Bytes magazine null title url text About the Matrix project http://www.digibarn.com/collections/systems/actrix/index.html Neat article by Jay Berg, original designer of the Access Matrix title url text Actrix and Access Computers http://www.actrixcomputer.com/ Unofficial homepage for Actrix and Access Matrix Computers author date text Robert Neal (United States) Sunday 26th August 2018 I have my 1983 Access Matrix in the closet (literally) and haven''t started in back up in several years. I still have all the software and documentation and was wondering if there was any market out there for one. author date text William Sevon (USA) Saturday 16th August 2008 I purchased an Access in December of 1984, about the time they were gong off the market. I used it for several years and produced a variety of publications that I printed with the machine. My son did some programming for me in Basic and the machine ran them very well. Even though it was heavy, 30 lbs+, I found that the 60 K memory and the portability were remarkable compared to the IBM 1620 that I first used in 1963 which had 60 K memory but required an air-conditioned room of moderate size. I haven' used the Access in years, but I still have it alo0ng with all the original manuals, something modern computers, such as my current Dell, lack, as well as all the original disks. I look upon it as another of the many antiques that fill my house. author date text Randolph James (USA) Tuesday 31st January 2006 I bought one of these computers when they first came out. I loved it. It had everything you could possibly want built right in; computer, disk drives, printer, modem, and several ports. It was advertised as a 'portable' but I called it 'transportable' because it weighed so much. author date text phlatline (midwest) Tuesday 23rd March 2004 I just got an ACCESS today, & I was wondering if anyone knew where I can get manuals/docs, software, anything at all for this system?\ Thanx! author date text nijineko (usa) Wednesday 10th September 2003 yea! that's my dad who posted that information about the access! i am looking for the nemesis game that was run on this system and/or the actrix system. can anyone help? 359 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230415202048/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=359 2023-04-15

The Access Computer had a 9.5" built-in screen (amber) and a built-in 80 CPS Dot Matrix Printer. It also had a built-in modem and came with a full range of software : CP/M, CBasic, Communication software, Perfect Writer, Speller, Filer and Calc.

The name of the machine was shortly changed to Actrix (Access Matrix) because of copyright issues.

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From Tom Creviston:
I sold, maintained, studied, and used this computer. It was unique in that it had a detachable keyboard, TWO 5-1/4" disk drives, an EPSON MX-80 printer built-in to the top, a built-in 300 baud modem, a parallel printer port, a plug-in 8088 IBM-PC card, serial ports, and a full complement of CP/M software including the Perfect Word, DBase, CBasic, and a host of utilities that would make most programmers proud. I ran a FORTH operating system on this machine that ran my observatory for a long time.
It was the best portable at the time and still has features that beat "laptops" to this day. Such as input, communication, print apability, transportibility, throw it in the trunk and make it work later capability.

Bob Montgomery's opinion:
I developed the communications utility and various other programs for this computer. I worked for the company about a year as a contract programmer.
The computer included everything but the kitchen sink. Unfortunately, the design wasn't very well thought out and it wasn't very reliable.
Access Martix was founded by the same individual who manufactured boards for the Osborne transportable.

Michael O'Donnell recalls:
I bought one of these in 1983 and used it for about four years, until I replaced it with an IBM PS/2. Even then I continued to use it as a backup machine. I would have students use it to type in lecture notes, then send them to the IBM via the built-in modem (across the hall).
I found it to be pretty stable, and it never broke down on me. But this computer was "portable" only if you needed a weight lifting workout. Mine came with CP/M and lots of Basic software; I programmed statistical routines in basic with this.

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.