yann64andClaude Opus 5.5
3eeabe9649
6,654 pages: 1,289 machines, 702 software, 460 companies, 64 history, 17 articles, 59 fun. 4,336 media files so far; references to files not downloaded yet are left out. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
98 lines
4.3 KiB
Markdown
98 lines
4.3 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: Matra MAX 20
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Professional Computer
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origins:
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- France
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years:
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- '1984'
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cpus:
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- Intel 8088
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params:
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name: MAX 20
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company: /companies/matra
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company_name: Matra
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: MAX 20
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Matra
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- label: TYPE
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value: Professional Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: France
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- label: YEAR
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value: '1984'
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- label: END OF PRODUCTION
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value: '1986'
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: None
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: Full stroke 92 keys with numeric keypad and arrow keys
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- label: CPU
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value: Intel 8088
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- label: SPEED
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value: 4,77 Mhz
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- label: CO-PROCESSOR
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value: Optional 8087 math co-processor
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- label: RAM
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value: 64 kb (up to 1 Mb)
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- label: ROM
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value: 2 kb
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 80 chars x 24 lines
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: Unknown
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- label: COLORS
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value: Monochrome green
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- label: SOUND
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value: Built-in speaker
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 42 (W) x 51 (D) x 38 (H) cm
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: Parallel, optional Serial and Network
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- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
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value: 5.25'' disk-drive - 320 kb
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- label: OS
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value: MS-DOS & CP/M 86
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: Built-in PSU - 65W
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: Printers, disk-drives, V24 communication card, high resolution card, modem
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- label: PRICE
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value: Unknown
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comments:
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- author: Jean Francois Girard (Canada)
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date: Saturday 5th November 2016
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text: I remember using this machine under DOS 2.11 and programming in GW-BASIC too ... Grade IV and V @ St-Maxime, Québec in the end of the 90s'' - what a blast from the past! I even played a joke upon my teacher by hiding one of these beasts in my locker loll!
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- author: D (Montreal, QC, Canada)
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date: Tuesday 27th August 2013
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text: |-
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Can''t beleive I learned my first programming language on this machine when I was 10.
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BASIC!
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- author: Hien Le (Houston, Texas, USA)
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date: Tuesday 8th August 2006
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text: I remember using this model in high school in Quebec (the year was 1989 I think) though it was not all popular. I had to edit an essay I started typing on my IBM PC at home but the school's computer lab only had Apple II's. Luckily, I remember seeing a few abandoned Max's in a nearly abandoned classroom so I asked for permission to use one. It booted my DOS 5.25" floppy diskette and ran my word processor with no problem and I was able to complete my essay.
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- author: Jacques Danière (FRANCE)
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date: Friday 22nd July 2005
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text: |-
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About the M of MAX :\
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\- from one part, Max is a very friendly name like Bob\
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\- on the other side, Matra-AXel (the original case design was the one of the Ax 20. A micro-computer designed (electronic and the case) by G Cottin who had sold his first company named Alcyane to MATRA.
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About the main customer : this micro had been designed on specifactions of the Québec and French Education. But only the Québec bought this product. The French education prefered work on its project "informatique pour tous" with the Léanord "nanoréseau".
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oc_id: 959
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20221205023127/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=959
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date: '2022-12-05'
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---
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The MAX-20 (for Matra AX-20) was the same machine as the [Axel 20](/museum/axel-ax-20/). The main difference between them was the removal of the function keys in front of the monitor. The 'E' version probably meant 'Education'
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Although the machine was well conceived and the case offered a nice design, it had no success in the private sector because of its poor compatibility with the IBM-PC standard. However, about 1000 systems were sold to the French Department of Education as network servers (first networks established in schools, called 'Nano Réseau').
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Furthermore, as the computer was built by **Comterm-Matra**, a Franco-Canadian subsidiary of Matra, the Canadian Department of Education obliged schools to order the MAX-20 instead of the Apple [Macintosh](/museum/apple-macintosh/). Thee first deliveries occurred in early 1985. One year later, after having delivered 9000 computers, Comterm-Matra met with financial difficulties and ceased production. Thus, the machines quickly became obsolete and unusable in schools.
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