Olivetti Envision

Olivetti Envision (400/P75)
Manufacturer	Olivetti
Type	Multimedia personal computer
Release date	1995; 29 years ago
Discontinued	1996; 28 years ago
Operating system	Windows 95
CPU	Intel 486 DX4 100 MHz or Intel Pentium P75 processor
Memory	8 MB
Storage	Floppy disk; Hard drive; CD-ROM
Removable storage	1.4 MB 3.5" floppy disk; CD-ROM
Display	VGA monitor, TV; 1024x768, 800x600
Graphics	Trident TGV9470
Sound	Crystal Semiconductor Corporation CS4231 + Oak Mozart OTI 605
Input	Keyboard, remote
Connectivity	Parallel, Serial, Modem

The Olivetti Envision (400/P75) was an Italian multimedia personal computer produced in 1995.^[1]^[2]^[3] It came with a choice of two processors: Intel 486 DX4 100 MHz or Intel Pentium P75.^[2]

It had an infrared keyboard and internal modem, and it was compatible with audio CDs, CD-ROMs, Photo CDs and Video CDs.^[4] Preinstalled software allowed the computer to work as a fax or answering machine when connected to a telephone line.^[5]

The Envision had three possible operating modes:

Simple (limited to the use of an infrared remote control to control the volume and the reproduction of photo, video or audio CDs);
Intermediate (a simplified Windows shell replacement called Olipilot that gave access to a limited set of programs);
Advanced (standard Windows 95 graphical user interface).^[3]

Designed by M. De Lucchi,^[1] the declared goal for this device was to convince non-computer-savvy people that computers are not impossibly hard to use and can be bought and used like normal home appliances. For this reason, it was intentionally designed to resemble a videocassette recorder more than a computer, and it was equipped with two SCART sockets (to connect it to a TV set),^[1] a TV-like remote control, and a slot that could host a satellite TV decoder card.^[6]

The Olivetti Envision was discontinued in 1996 due to poor sales caused by its excessive price, many software bugs and limited expandability.^[7]^[2]

Technical specifications^[1]^[8]

CPU: Intel 486 DX4 @ 100 MHz or Intel Pentium @ 75 MHz
RAM: 8 MB
Graphics: Trident TGV9470^[9] (1 MB, integrated into the motherboard, compatible with Number Nine GXE Graphics Accelerator, Infotronic IPG 64 and Spea Video 7 Mercury)
Resolutions: 1024 x 768 with 256 colors (monitor), 800 x 600 with 65,536 colors (TV)
Audio: Crystal Semiconductor Corporation CS4231^[10] + Oak Mozart OTI 605^[11] (compatible with the MPC2 multimedia standard, Roland SCC-1 and Sound Blaster 16)
Connectors: 3 expansion slots, 2 SCART, audio out, MIDI, VGA out, serial, parallel, modem
Storage: 1.4 MB 3.5” floppy disk; 635 MB hard disk, CD-ROM drive
Keyboard: 83 keys infrared keyboard

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "OLIVETTI ENVISION, 1995". Laboratorio-Museo Tecnologicamente (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-11-11.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Olivetti Envision - Obscure Italian Multimedia device". Ultimate Console Database. 2009. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
^ ^a ^b Wim, Wubs (2010). "Olivetti Envision P75". Klassieke computers (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
^ Grimwood, Jon Courtenay (23 October 1995). "On the sofa with your favourite program". The Independent. Retrieved 2010-12-24.
^ Nicola, Saldutti (September 8, 1995). "Olivetti rilancia sui computer". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). p. 23. Archived from the original on 2012-09-02.
^ Ciardelli, Paolo (December 1995). "Olivetti Envision". MC Microcomputer. No. 157. p. 204.
^ Pedrazzini, Fabrizio (2001). "OLIVETTI ENVISION". The Strange (and Rare) Videogame Pics Page. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
^ ENVISION 400/P75/P100 (PDF).
^ TVG9470 TV Accelerator. Trident Microsystems. September 1995.
^ CS4231A - Parallel Interface, Multimedia Audio Codec (PDF). Crystal Semiconductor Corporation. 1994.
^ "Olivetti Personal Computers Mozart OTI 605 driver. Driver for Olivetti Educator PCS P/90 E/En original sound card". www.soundcard-drivers.com. Retrieved 2022-11-11.

External links

[:0-1] "OLIVETTI ENVISION, 1995". Laboratorio-Museo Tecnologicamente (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-11-11.

[:1-2] "Olivetti Envision - Obscure Italian Multimedia device". Ultimate Console Database. 2009. Retrieved 2022-11-11.

[:2-3] Wim, Wubs (2010). "Olivetti Envision P75". Klassieke computers (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 2020-03-22. Retrieved 2022-11-11.

[4] Grimwood, Jon Courtenay (23 October 1995). "On the sofa with your favourite program". The Independent. Retrieved 2010-12-24.

[corriere-5] Nicola, Saldutti (September 8, 1995). "Olivetti rilancia sui computer". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). p. 23. Archived from the original on 2012-09-02.

[mc157-6] Ciardelli, Paolo (December 1995). "Olivetti Envision". MC Microcomputer. No. 157. p. 204.

[strangeraregames-7] Pedrazzini, Fabrizio (2001). "OLIVETTI ENVISION". The Strange (and Rare) Videogame Pics Page. Retrieved 2011-03-16.

[8] ENVISION 400/P75/P100 (PDF).

[9] TVG9470 TV Accelerator. Trident Microsystems. September 1995.

[10] CS4231A - Parallel Interface, Multimedia Audio Codec (PDF). Crystal Semiconductor Corporation. 1994.

[11] "Olivetti Personal Computers Mozart OTI 605 driver. Driver for Olivetti Educator PCS P/90 E/En original sound card". www.soundcard-drivers.com. Retrieved 2022-11-11.

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Technical specifications[1][8]

References

External links

Technical specifications^[1]^[8]