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The Olivetti company, an Italian manufacturer of computers, tablets, smartphones, printers and other such business products as calculators and fax machines, was founded as a typewriter manufacturer by Camillo Olivetti in 1908 in the Turin commune of Ivrea, Italy. Olivetti was a pioneer in computer development, starting with the mainframe systems in the 1950s, and continuing into the 1990s with PC-compatible laptops and desktops.

History

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1950–1960s

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Central control unit of the mainframe Olivetti Elea 9003 (1957)

Between 1955 and 1964 Olivetti developed some of the first transistorized mainframe computer systems, such as the Elea 9003. Although 40 large commercial 9003 and over 100 smaller 6001 scientific machines were completed and leased to customers to 1964, low sales, loss of two key managers and financial instability caused Olivetti to withdraw from the field in 1964.

In 1965, Olivetti released the Programma 101, considered one of the first commercial desktop programmable calculators. It was saved from the sale of the computer division to GE thanks to an employee, Gastone Garziera, who spent successive nights changing the internal categorization of the product from "computer" to "calculator", so leaving the small team in Olivetti and creating some awkward situations in the office, since that space was now owned by GE.[1]

1970s

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In 1974, the firm released the TC800, an intelligent terminal designed to be attached to a mainframe and used in the finance sector. It was followed in 1977 by the TC1800.

1980s

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Olivetti M20

Olivetti's first modern personal computer, the M20, featuring a Zilog Z8000 CPU, was released in 1982.[2]

Olivetti M28

The M20 was followed in 1983 by the M24,[3] a clone of the IBM PC using DOS and the Intel 8086 processor (at 8 MHz) instead of the Intel 8088 used by IBM (at 4.77 MHz). The M24 was sold in North America as the AT&T 6300. Olivetti also manufactured the AT&T 6300 Plus, which could run both DOS and Unix.[4] The M24 was also sold as Xerox 6060 in the US, and as LogAbax PERSONA 1600 in France. The Olivetti M28 was the firm's first PC to have the Intel 80286 processor. It was sold in France as the LogAbax Persona 1800.[5][6]

The same year Olivetti produced its M10 laptop computer,[7] a 8085-based workalike of the successful Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 100, which it marketed in Europe.[8] These were the first laptops to sell in million-unit quantities, though the Olivetti M10 [it] itself only attained sales figures in the tens of thousands and went out of production within two years.

Olivetti Prodest PC128

In 1985, the company acquired a controlling share in the British computer manufacturer Acorn Computers Ltd; a third partner was Thomson SA. Olivetti sold the Thomson MO6 and Acorn BBC Master Compact with brand names Olivetti Prodest PC128 and PC128S[9] respectively.

In 1987, Olivetti introduced the LSX line of computers which was based on the Motorola 68000 series of processors. They could run either Olivetti's proprietary MOS or Olivetti's own Unix variant, X/OS.[10] Intended to replace Olivetti's existing Linea Uno (L1) range of multiuser systems, introduced in 1981, the reported $250 million investment in the LSX line by Olivetti was seen as a necessary measure to update its range, bringing increased performance, offering an upgrade path to existing customers (with a promise that existing L1 systems could be upgraded with a new processor card), and preserving a degree of control over product designs that would not have been possible by merely selling or adapting products from AT&T, at that time a significant shareholder in the company. For the high-end LSX models, Olivetti employed technologies from Edge Computer, an Arizona-based company pursuing higher-performance processor designs offering a degree of compatibility with the Motorola 68000 architecture.[11]

Olivetti Prodest PC1

In 1988, Olivetti released the M380/C, part of the Pandora project - an experimental system for multimedia applications.[12] They also released the PC1 Prodest and PC1 HD (XT clones, similar to the Schneider Euro PC).[13][14]

In 1989, the Olivetti M290S was released, featuring an Intel 80286 at 12 MHz, 1 MB of RAM and a 30 MB hard drive.[15] That same year, the company presented their 80486-based next generation of workstations, with Olivetti's CP486 (Computing Platform 486) model (with EISA bus) being shown at CeBit.[citation needed] As part of a relaunch of the company's Open Systems Architecture (OSA) strategy in 1991, the CP486 was renamed to the LSX-5010, and an accompanying 33 MHz model was introduced as the LSX-5020, alongside the four-processor LSX-5030 and LSX-5040 systems. The CP486 provided sockets for a Weitek WTL4167 numeric co-processor and an Intel i860 RISC processor.[16]

1990s

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In 1990, Olivetti had its own distribution network in New Zealand through Essentially Software Ltd.[17] (owned by Gary McNabb) located at Mt. Eden in Auckland and Wellington, where Olivetti M300-100 16 MHz PCs with 80386SX CPU were sold for NZ$7395 and used as graphical work station for design houses using Corel Draw as graphical program. The New Zealand distribution stopped in 1991 when Olivetti could not supply their PCs.

In 1991, Olivetti introduced the D33, a laptop in a carry case and the PCS 286S, a PC with VGA monitor and keyboard.[18] Olivetti also sold quasi-portable 8086/8088-based PCs with an integrated keyboard and one or two integrated 3.5" floppy disk drives, running DOS 3.27, an Olivetti OEM version of PC DOS 3.20 with minor improvements like the M21 portable (based on M24) and the M15. Also later Olivetti produced interesting laptops like M111, M211, S20, D33, Philos and Echos series. A very interesting subnotebook was the Quaderno, about the same size as an A5 paper – it was the grandfather of the netbooks introduced 20 years later.

Although Olivetti had committed to a range of MIPS-based workstations running Windows NT, introducing the M700 series in 1992 with the M700-10 featuring a MIPS R4000PC processor,[19] the company pursued a partnership with Digital Equipment Corporation in 1992, putting its MIPS-based offerings in doubt as the company announced its intention to eventually focus on only two product lines: one featuring Intel processors and the other Alpha processors.[20] This partnership eventually led to the introduction of the LSX 7000 range of workstations and servers employing Digital's Alpha CPU in 1994.[21] However, just as Olivetti had abandoned its development of products based on the MIPS architecture, discontinuing the M700 produced by its Japanese subsidiary, by 1993, the company had also narrowed its development focus "entirely" to systems based on Intel's Pentium, merely reselling "semi-finished" Digital products based on Alpha.[22]

Olivetti did attempt to recover its position by introducing the Envision in 1995,[23] a full multimedia PC, to be used in the living room; this project was a failure. Gateway also introduced a similar product in the U.S., called the Destination 2000, around the same period, to a similarly mixed commercial reception.[24]: 156 

The company continued to develop personal computers until it sold its PC business in 1997.

Models

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Name Photo Year Type CPU Created by Design by Notes
Elea 1957 Mainframe Transistor based Mario Tchou Ettore Sottsass Elea series (1957–64). Entirely Transistor based.
The Elea 9003 (photo) is the first commercial model
P101 (Programma 101) 1964 Programmable calculator Transistor based Pier Giorgio Perotto Mario Bellini (chassis) In New York's MoMA . Golden Compass Award.[citation needed]
P102 1965 Programmable calculator Transistor based Pier Giorgio Perotto Mario Bellini Version of Programma 101 with an RS-232 serial connector and ability to connect printer[25]
P203 1967 Personal computer Transistor based Pier Giorgio Perotto Mario Bellini[26] P101 with Tekne 3 and Editor 4. For business, printer included
P602 1971 Microcomputer Integrated circuit For technical or scientific usage
P603 1972 Microcomputer Integrated circuit P602 with Editor 4. For business.
P652 1973 Microcomputer Mario Bellini[citation needed] For technical or scientific usage
TC800 1974 Mainframe Banking terminal
TC1800 1977 Mainframe
P6060 1975[27] Personal computer PUCE1/PUCE2
TTL 		Pier Giorgio Perotto Ettore Sottsass and G. Sowden For technical or scientific usage
P6040 1975[27] Personal computer Intel 8080 Pier Giorgio Perotto Mario Bellini First Olivetti computer to use a microprocessor. For technical or scientific usage. Three versions.[28]
P6066 1975 Personal computer Similar to P6060 Pier Giorgio Perotto
Olivetti BCS
1974–78 Mainframe

Business Computer Systems, from 1974–1978[29]

M20 1982 Personal computer Zilog Z8001 4 MHz Enrico Pesatori, Enzo Torresi and project team[30][31] Ettore Sottsass

Antonio Macchi Cassia

George Sowden

First Olivetti personal computer in 1982. Own operating system: PCOS. Commercial Failure[32]
M10 1983 Laptop Intel 80C85 CMOS at 3 MHz Antonio Macchi Cassia

Perry A. King

First laptop.
Present under different brand names: Kiotronic Kc-85, Tandy Trs-80, NEC PC-8201 and Olivetti M10. SMAU Industrial Design prize[33]
M30 1983 Minicomputer Zilog Z8001 George Sowden Linea L1. Operating system COSMOS IV (MOS)
M40 1983 Minicomputer Zilog Z8001 George Sowden Linea L1. Operating system COSMOS IV (MOS)
M44 1983 Minicomputer Zilog Z8001 George Sowden Linea L1
M60 1984 Minicomputer Zilog Z8001 George Sowden[34] Linea L1. Operating system COSMOS IV (MOS)
M24 1983 Personal computer desktop Intel 8086 (16 bit) at 8 MHz – Optional coprocessor 8087 Luigi Mercurio, Sandro Graciotti[30] E. Sottsass IBM PC compatible;

First Olivetti MS-DOS compatible computer

[35]

M21 1983 Laptop Intel 8086 (16 bit) at 4 MHz – Optional coprocessor 8087 Portable version of the M24 with an integrated monitor.
M19 1986 Personal computer AMD 8088 4.77MHz Economical model
M28

1986 Personal computer Intel 80286 8MHz

[35]

M70 1986 Minicomputer Zilog Z8001 Linea L1. Operating system COSMOS IV (MOS)
Prodest PC 128 1986 Home Computer Motorola 6809e 1 MHz Rebranded Thomson MO6, first on the Olivetti Prodest series.[31]
M15 1987 Laptop Intel 80C88 4.77MHz Removable keyboard. First laptop.
Prodest PC 128s 1987 Home Computer MOS 6512 2 MHz Sold as the BBC Master Compact outside of Italy,[36] second in the Olivetti Prodest series.[31]
Prodest PC1 1988 Home Computer NEC V40 4.77-8 MHz, XT clone Third in the Olivetti Prodest series.[31]
M200 1988 Personal computer NEC V40 8 MHz Parallel project to the ETV 2700 typewriter
M240 1984 Personal computer Intel 8086 8 MHz
M280 1986 Personal computer Intel 80286 12 MHz
M290 1984 Personal computer Intel 80286 12 MHz [31]
M380-40 1991
M24 NEW P133 1996
M380/C 1988 proprietary "Pandora" OS[31]
M380 1988 Personal Computer Intel 80186 Model 380/C[31]
1988 Intel 80386DX 20 MHz Model XP1 and XP5
1989 Intel 80386DX 25 MHz Model XP7 (tower)
1990 Intel 80386SX 33 MHz Model XP9 (tower) Operating system SCO Xenix
PE28 1988
M111 1989 Laptop NEC V30 10 MHz Mario Bellini

Bruce Fifield[citation needed]

Operating system DOS 3.30
M260s 1989 Personal computer Intel 80286

12 MHz (16 bit)

Parallel project to the ETV 4000s typewriter
M290S 1989 [31]
P500 1989
M386-25 1990
PCS 386SX 1991
PCS 86 1990 Personal computer NEC V30 10 MHz
PCS 286 1991 Personal computer Intel 80286 12.5 MHz [31]
M211 1989 Laptop Intel 80286 Operating system Windows 3.0
M250 1989 Personal computer Intel 80286 8 MHz The 250-E model was clocked at 12 MHz
CP486 1989 Personal computer Intel 80486DX 25 MHz Tower, EISA, "Computing Platform"
P800 1990 Personal computer Intel 80486DX 25 MHz Tower. Olivetti MS-DOS 5.00, MS Windows 3.1
LSX 1987 Personal computer Motorola 68k
LSX 3005 1987 Personal computer Motorola 68k
LSX 3010 1987 Personal computer Motorola 68k
LSX 3015 Personal computer Motorola 68k
LSX 3018/BS Personal computer
LSX 3020 1987 Personal computer Motorola 68k
LSX 520 1989 Personal computer
LSX-5010 1991 Personal computer
LSX-5015 1991 Personal computer
LSX-5020 Personal computer
LSX-5030 Personal computer
PC PRO 486/33 1991
PC PRO 290SP
M400-40 1992
M6-460 Suprema 1994
M290-30 1988 [37][38]
M480 1990 Personal computer Intel 80486SX 20 MHz Model M480-10 (EISA)
Intel 80486SX 33 MHz M480-20 (EISA)
Intel 80486DX 33 MHz M480-40/60 (EISA)
M316 1991 Laptop Intel 80386SX 16 MHz
M300 1988 Personal computer Intel 80386SX 20 MHz Model M300-02
Model M300-30
Model M300-04
Intel 80386SX 20 MHz Model M300-10
Intel 80486 25/50 MHz Model M300-28
LSX-5030 1992 Personal computer Intel 80486DX 33 MHz Tower, EISA
S20 1991 Laptop Intel 80386SX 16 MHz Triumph-Adler Walkstadtion 386SX
D33 1991 Laptop Intel 80386 33 MHz Triumph-Adler Walkstadtion 386
Quaderno 1992 Netbook NEC V30HL 16MHz Mario Bellini

Hagai Shvadron[citation needed]

precursor to the netbooks[39] 1992, 25th SMAU Industrial Design Prize (Italia)

1993, IF Auszeichnung fur gutes Design[citation needed]

Philos 1992 Laptop photo
Echos 1995 Laptop Intel Pentium I 75MHz Socket 5 P75 and P100d
Envision 1995 Multimedia Intel Pentium I 75MHz Socket 5 Michele De Lucchi Model P75. Innovative product but a commercial failure. Proprietary multimedia OS[31]
M4 1992 Personal computer Intel 80486 SX 25 MHz M4-M40
1992 Pentium 75 MHz M4-M464
1993 M4-P75
1996 Intel Pentium-S 75 MHz M4-P75S
1996 Intel Pentium 100 MHz M4-P100
M8500 1999 Personal computer Intel Pentium III 500 MHz DT desktop, MT minitower

Peripherals

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  • PR40, PR2, PR2-e, PR2+, PR2-10 Scanner Printer which was used in banking sectors
  • PG-series and PGL-series – black and white digital printers
  • d-Color p-series color digital printers
  • A3 and A4 series MFP

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Programma 101 Memory of the Future: Quando Olivetti Inventò il PC" [When Olivetti invented the PC] (Google You tube). History Channel (in Italian). June 26, 2011.
  2. ^ "Olivetti M20 D - Computer - Computing History". Computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Olivetti M24 - Computer - Computing History". Computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  4. ^ InfoWorld (Google Books). 1986-12-01. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  5. ^ "Logabax Persona 1600". silicium.org.
  6. ^ "Logabax histoire". www.silicium.org.
  7. ^ "Olivetti M10 - Computer - Computing History". Computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  8. ^ "The Olivetti M10". Yet Another Computer Museum. fjkraan.
  9. ^ "Olivetti Prodest PC 128S - Computer - Computing History". Computinghistory.org.uk.
  10. ^ "Uncle Miod's machineroom". Retrieved 2012-12-02.
  11. ^ Faden, Michael (February 1988). "Olivetti: Biting the Hand that Feeds It?". UNIX Review. pp. 14, 16, 20, 22–23. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  12. ^ "Olivetti M380/C (Pandora Project) - Computer - Computing History". Computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Olivetti PC1 Prodest - Computer - Computing History". Computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Olivetti Prodest PC1 HD - Computer - Computing History". Computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Olivetti M290S - Computer - Computing History". Computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  16. ^ Lavin, Paul (July 1991). "Olivetti Broadens Its Product Line". Byte. pp. 72IS-55, 72IS-56, 72IS-58, 72IS-59. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  17. ^ Software spectrum acquires Australia, New Zealand supplier of PC... (article), The free library.
  18. ^ "Olivetti - Company - Computing History". Computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Olivetti's RISC Line". Electronic News. 4 May 1992. p. 6. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  20. ^ Lineback, J. Robert (6 July 1992). "Olivetti Sets First Alpha Offering". Electronic News. p. 25. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  21. ^ Haber, Carol (29 August 1994). "DEC Sells Olivetti Stake As Alpha Struggle Festers". Electronic News. pp. 1, 2, 4. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  22. ^ "Data Topics". Electronic News. 13 September 1993. p. 14. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Olivetti Envision". Ultimate Console Database. Retrieved 2012-03-10.
  24. ^ Pederson, Jay P., ed. (2004). International Directory of Company Histories. Vol. 63. St. James Press. ISBN 9781558623248 – via Google Books.
  25. ^ "Programma P101/P102 Olivetti". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  26. ^ "Catalog - Olivetti P203 - A.Museum". amuseum.bg. Retrieved 2022-08-18.
  27. ^ a b "Un computer su ogni scrivania: la Olivetti and i primi PC". Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  28. ^ "Olivetti P 6040, 1977". Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  29. ^ Davide Fornari; Davide Turrini (2022). Olivetti Identities : Spaces and Languages 1933-1983 (1. Auflage ed.). ISBN 978-3-03863-060-9. OCLC 1226308831.
  30. ^ a b Emilio. "L'avventura Olivetti". Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Olivetti - Company - Computing History". www.computinghistory.org.uk.
  32. ^ "OLIVETTI M 20, 1981". Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  33. ^ "OLIVETTI M 10, 1983". Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  34. ^ "1980 1970 Sowden Olivetti System L1". George Sowden. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  35. ^ a b "TiBo's Retro Computers".
  36. ^ "Italian Compact set for success". Acorn User. November 1986. p. 7. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  37. ^ "Olivetti M290-30".
  38. ^ "M290-30 characteristics" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-06-11.
  39. ^ Quaderno vs EeePC Archived 2015-12-10 at the Wayback Machine Olivetti Quaderno images
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