ACFA-8
{{Short description|Microcomputer}}
{{Infobox computer
| name=ACFA-8
| developer=Andrew M. Veronis
| manufacturer=ACFA, Inc.
| cpu=Motorola 6808
| memory=Up to 64 KB
| type={{ubl|Microcomputer|Single-board computer}}
}}
The ACFA-8 (Affordable Computers for All-8) was a microcomputer based on the Motorola 6808. It was released in 1979 by Andrew M. Veronis, a doctorate of computer science more well-known for his books on computer engineering.
Description and history
The ACFA-8 was a single-board microcomputer running the Motorola 6808. The board's memory layout comprised an array of eight chip sockets, onto which 3 KB or 6 KB DRAM chips can be populated, for a maximum of 48 KB of RAM.{{cite magazine | last=Staff writer | date=September 1979 | url=https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1979-09/page/29/ | title=Bits and pieces | magazine =Personal Computer World | publisher=Sportscene Publishers | volume=2 | issue=5 | page=29 | via=the Internet Archive}} As stock it came with 16 KB of RAM.{{cite magazine | last=Budgett | first=Henry | date=October 1979 | url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Electronics-Today-UK/70s/ETI-1979-10-79.pdf#page=52 | title=MicroCoup | magazine =Electronics Today International | publisher=Modmags | volume=8 | issue=10 | page=53 | via=}} The computer's cassette interface supports the Kansas City standard, and the computer came shipped with 8-KB BASIC on cassette. The board features a built-in color RF modulator; American buyers got shipped a color video display for the price of the computer.{{cite magazine | last=Ruckdeschel | first=Fred | date=June 1979 | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_oncomputing_summer-1979_1_1/page/n55/ | title=A Personal Computer Directory | magazine=On Computing | publisher=McGraw-Hill | volume=1 | issue=1 | pages=50–61 | via=the Internet Archive}}{{rp|52}} Both American and overseas buyers however both got the board with an enclosure, a keyboard, and the power supply unit.{{rp|52}}
The ACFA-8 was one of the few microcomputers based on the 6808 microprocessor, being a lesser-cost component in the Motorola 6800 family. It was more popular with embedded processing systems in industrial environments.{{cite book | last=Nadeau | first=Michael | date=2002 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WXZNAAAACAAJ | title=Collectible Microcomputers | edition=Illustrated | series=Schiffer Book for Collectors | page=8 | publisher=Schiffer Publishing | isbn=9780764316005 | via=Google Books}} The computer came shipped with manuals describing the principles of operation, which Electronics Today International described as "really a computer course on their own". ACFA, Inc. (Affordable Computers for All), was founded by Andrew M. Veronis, a doctorate of computer science more well-known for his books on computer engineering. In the United States, the computer sold for $695 as an assembled kit or $595 unassembled. Computer journalist Fred Ruckdeschel felt that it needed an additional $300 in hardware on top of the cost of the unassembled kit to bring it on par with its contemporaries. To that end the ACFA-8 came with a RS-232C serial port for peripherals including teletypes.{{rp|52}}
ACFA, Inc. was incorporated at 130 Main Street in Annapolis, Maryland.{{cite web | date=n.d. | url=https://egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/EntitySearch/BusinessInformation/D00958108 | title=A.C.F.A., Incorporated | work=Maryland.gov | publisher=Government of Maryland}} This location was previously the home of Wicker Basket Ltd., a seller of wicker furniture, cookware, and fine china. Veronis bought that company in 1977 and was the proprietor of the store for a few years.{{cite news | last=Staff writer | date=December 30, 1977 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117364026/wicker-baskets-new-owner/ | title=Wicker basket's new owner | newspaper=The Evening Capital | page=24 | via=Newspapers.com}} Veronis forfeit ACFA shortly after its incorporation. He continued working in the computer industry in the following decades while also teaching computer science at the University of Maryland, College Park.{{cite magazine | last=Sioris | first=Dennis | date=March 2000 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=13DzwE7Kjx8C | title=RADM Sirois on CG Training Initiatives | magazine =Navigator: The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Magazine | publisher=Coast Guard Auxiliary Association | volume=27 | issue=1 | page=34 | via=Google Books}}