Olivetti M20#PCOS

System design began in 1979 in Cupertino, California at Olivetti's Advanced Technology Center.{{cite magazine |last=Mello-Grand|first=Sergio |date=June 1983|title=The Docutel/Olivetti M20 A Sleek Import|magazine=Byte|publisher= Byte Publications|issn=0360-5280|volume=8|number=6|pages=188–192}}{{rp|189}} When announced on March 31, 1982,{{cite magazine |last=Freiberger|first=Paul|date=April 19, 1982|title=Olivetti microcomputer debuts, M20 will be one of the first 16-bit systems in Europe|magazine=InfoWorld|publisher= IDG|issn=0199-6649|volume=4|number=13|pages=1, 10}}{{rp|1}} it was probably the first 16-bit personal computer in Europe with an expected price range of US$3,000-6,000.{{rp|10}}

InfoWorld magazine saw the M20 as an "answer to Tandy's Model 16, the IBM Personal Computer and the Apple III";{{cite magazine |last=Freiberger|first=Paul|date=May 24, 1982|title=Olivetti's new M20 confronts top micros|magazine=InfoWorld|publisher= IDG|issn=0199-6649|volume=4|number=20|page=3}} Olivetti itself compared its computer to the IBM PC, Sirius Victor, Commodore 8000 and Apple II in television advertising.{{cite magazine |last=Kewney|first=Guy|date=May 23, 1983|title=M20 embarrasses Olivetti execs at Hannover Fair|magazine=InfoWorld|publisher= IDG|issn=0199-6649|volume=5|number=21|page=30}}

Although the computer was initially well received,{{cite magazine |last=Kewney|first=Guy|date=May 17, 1982|title=Micro firms vie for European market at Hannover|magazine=InfoWorld|publisher= IDG|issn=0199-6649|volume=4|number=19|page=5}} its use of a non-standard OS (Olivetti's proprietary PCOS) and CPU (Zilog Z8001) proved to be its most serious limitations.{{rp|192}}{{cite magazine |last=Marett|first=Warren |date=June 1983|title=Italian micro enters New Zealand business market|magazine=Bits and Bytes|publisher= Neill Birss, Dion Crooks and Paul Crooks|issn=0111-9826|issue=9|pages=13–14, 33}}{{rp|13}} The first major software package was a word processor by SofSys called Executive Secretary,{{cite magazine |last=Freiberger|first=Paul|date=October 4, 1982|title=Olivetti releases software, announces plans for M20|magazine=InfoWorld|publisher= IDG|issn=0199-6649|volume=4|number=39|page=15}} followed later by another word processor, OliWord, and business software, Olibiz. There was also Microsoft BASIC 5.2 with full support for the hardware's features.{{rp|14}}

To alleviate a lack of applications, Olivetti sold a CP/M emulator for US$300 and distributed certain CP/M software packages (dBase II and SuperCalc) for their computer. Olivetti later introduced the "Alternate Processor Board" (APB 1086), based on an 8 MHz Intel 8086 CPU for compatibility with MS-DOS and CP/M-86 software.{{rp|192}}

In January 1984, Olivetti introduced a new IBM PC-compatible computer, the Olivetti M24, running MS-DOS as a "complement" to the Olivetti M20.{{cite magazine |date=January 30, 1984|title=Late news, Olivetti unveils PC-compatible|magazine=InfoWorld|publisher= IDG|issn=0199-6649|volume=6|number=5|page=9}}

Olivetti sold around 50,000 M20 computers in the first year of production.{{rp|189}} Only a few games were released for the system.{{Cite web |title=Olivetti M20 video games list, 'a' to 'z' |url=https://www.uvlist.net/platforms/games-list/241 |access-date=2023-01-09 |website=Universal Videogame List |language=en}}

Image:M20 mb.jpg

Image:M20 mb cpu.jpg

M20 uses Zilog Z8001 4 MHz CPU and 128 KB RAM,{{rp|14}} which can be expanded up to 512 KB by three 128 KB memory boards.{{rp|190}} Keyboard, motherboard and disk drives are contained in all-in-one unit with separate monitor.{{rp|13}} The computer has also parallel (IEEE-488) and serial port (RS-232-C).

Standard configuration{{refn|group=nb| Announced price for basic configuration with only one 320 KB floppy disk drive was {{US$|2965}}. Price of M20 including monitor, two 320 KB floppy disk drives, PCOS and BASIC was {{NZ$|6850}} in June 1983. Dual 640 KB floppy disk drives were available for additional {{NZ$|2200}}, 32 KB memory expansion for {{NZ$|430}} and PR 1450 printer for {{NZ$|2450}}. Total system price with hard drive could reach {{NZ$|17000}}. Software packgages Olibiz and OliWord cost both around NZ$400.{{rp|14}} Exchange rate in June 1983 was {{US$|0.6569}} for {{NZ$|1}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/-/media/ReserveBank/Files/Statistics/tables/b1/hb1-monthly-1973-1998.xlsx. |title=Monthly exchange rates and TWI - B1 |publisher=Reserve Bank of New Zealand|date=September 4, 2017|format=XLSX |access-date=May 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180128154653/https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/-/media/ReserveBank/Files/Statistics/tables/b1/hb1-monthly-1973-1998.xlsx|archive-date=January 28, 2018}}}} includes two {{frac|5|1|4}}-inch 320 KB floppy disk drives (286 KB formatted capacity). Optional were 160 KB or 640 KB (compatible with 320 KB disks) drives or {{frac|5|1|4}}-inch hard disk in place of one of the floppy disk drives (9.2 MB formatted capacity).{{rp|190}}

Motherboard has two expansion slots intended for the hard disk controller board, additional parallel interface, twin serial interface or Corvus Omninet LAN card.{{rp|190}} This slot is also used by the APB 1086 CPU card.{{cite book |date=July 1983 |title=The Olivetti L1 M20 Hardware Architecture and Function Manual|location=Ivrea, Italy |publisher=Olivetti }}{{rp|2–86}}

M20 provides 512 × 256 display resolution on 12-inch{{cite magazine |last=Free|first=John |date=August 1982|title=Bits & Bytes|magazine=Popular Science|publisher=Times Mirror Magazines |issn=0161-7370|volume=221|number=2|pages=42}} monochrome or color monitor. With memory expanded by two 32 KB memory boards, the computer can display 8 colors. When using only one additional memory board, only 4 colors form 8 color palette are available. All graphics is pixel-generated (there is no specific text mode), text characters use resolution 64 characters per 16 rows (or 80 characters per 25 rows).{{rp|190}}

Keyboard lacks {{key press|Delete}}, {{key press|Tab}} and {{key press|Backspace}} keys - their function can be mapped on {{key press|S1}} or {{key press|s2}} special keys by the "Change Key" system utility. Instead of standard function keys, user defined special functions are invoked by pressing orange-colored {{key press|Command}} or light-blue-colored {{key press|Control}} key along with another key (creates 24 user-definable function keys). Numeric keypad serves also as cursor controls.{{rp|189}}

PCOS (Professional Computer Operating System{{rp|13}}) is a single-user, single-tasking operating system.{{rp|191}} It was used on the Olivetti M20 and L1 computers. The first version (PCOS 1.0) supports 14 characters long filenames, with no directories and a limit of 192 files per disk (called volume).{{Cite web|url=http://www.z80ne.com/m20/index.php?argument=sections/pcos/pcos.inc|title=Olivetti M20}}

PCOS requires significant part of the main memory.{{rp|13}} Operating system with BASIC interpreter takes 64 KB RAM,{{rp|2–15}} another 16 KB are reserved for screen output and user is left with only around 40 KB RAM on unexpanded machine. Version 2.0 supports dynamic memory allocation alleviating segmented memory limitations of the Z8000 CPU.{{rp|191}}

PCOS can protect by password volumes (disks), individual files and BASIC programs (against listing/editing/copying).{{rp|192}} Standard OS configuration includes BASIC interpreter, other programming languages (Assembler and PASCAL) are optional.{{cite book |date=June 1983 |title=M20 Personal Computer PCOS (Professional Computer Operating System) User Guide|location=Ivrea, Italy |publisher=Olivetti |page=1-1 }}

Example PCOS commands:

• vformat - formats a volume
• vrename - changes the name of a volume
• vpass - changes the volume password
• vlist - file list
• vquick - quick file list
• vcopy - volume copy
• fcopy - file copy
• flist - display a text file contents
• basic - run the BASIC interpreter
• dconfig - system configuration
• slanguage - system regional settings

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• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IptSj5SS3eI/ Video, Retro Computer museum, Zatec, Czech Republic video]

{{Olivetti computers}}

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Category:Olivetti personal computers

Category:Computer-related introductions in 1982

Category:Computers Designed in Italy