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{{Short description|Personal computer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020|cs1-dates=y}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020|cs1-dates=y}}
{{Infobox information appliance
{{Infobox information appliance
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| image = Apricot portable.png
| image = Apricot portable.png
| caption =
| caption =
| developer = [[ACT Ltd.]]<ref name="advert1984">{{cite web |url=http://actapricot.org/history/apricot_adverts.html |title=1984 advertisement for Apricot Portable}}</ref>
| developer = [[ACT Ltd.]]<ref name="aao-adverts" />
| manufacturer =
| manufacturer =
| family =
| family =
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| unitsshipped =
| unitsshipped =
| media =
| media =
| os = [[MS-DOS 2.11]], [[Concurrent CP/M]]<!-- Concurrent CP/M-86 --><!-- Version 3-->, [[CP/M-86]]
| os = [[MS-DOS 2.11]], [[Concurrent CP/M]], [[CP/M-86]]
| power =
| power =
| soc =
| soc =
| cpu = [[Intel 8086]] CPU @ 4.77&nbsp;MHz
| cpu = [[Intel 8086]] CPU @ 5&nbsp;MHz<ref name="pcw" />
| memory = 256&nbsp;KB [[RAM]], expandable to 768&nbsp;KB
| memory = 256&nbsp;KB [[RAM]], expandable to 768&nbsp;KB
| storage = 3.5" [[floppy drive]]
| storage = 3.5" [[floppy drive]]
| memory card =
| memory card =
| display = 80-column/25-line [[LCD]]
| display = Built-in monochrome [[LCD]], optional external 16-colour display
| graphics =
| graphics =
| sound =
| sound =
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| camera =
| camera =
| touchpad =
| touchpad =
| connectivity = [[Infrared]] Wireless keyboard / Optional wireless mouse
| connectivity = [[Infrared]] wireless keyboard, optional wireless mouse
| platform =
| platform =
| service =
| service =
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| successor =
| successor =
| related =
| related =
| website = <!-- {{URL|example.org}} -->
| website =
}}
}}
The '''Apricot Portable''' was a computing device manufactured by [[ACT Ltd.]], and was released to the public in November 1984. It was ACT's first attempt at manufacturing a portable computer, which were gaining popularity at the time. Compared to other portable computers of its time like the [[Compaq Portable]] and the [[Commodore SX-64]], the Apricot Portable was the first computer to have an 80-column and 25-line LCD screen and an input/output speech recognition system.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title = Apricot Portable - Computing History |url = http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/2143/apricot-portable/ |website = www.computinghistory.org.uk |access-date = 2016-01-29}}</ref>
The '''Apricot Portable''' was a personal computer manufactured by [[ACT Ltd.]], and was released to the public in November 1984. It was ACT's first attempt at manufacturing a portable computer, which were gaining popularity at the time. Compared to other portable computers of its time like the [[Compaq Portable]] and the [[Commodore SX-64]], the Apricot Portable was the first system to have an 80-column and 25-line LCD screen and the first with a [[speech recognition]] system.<ref name="cho">{{cite web | title = Apricot Portable - Computing History | url = http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/2143/apricot-portable/ | website = www.computinghistory.org.uk | access-date = 2016-01-29}}</ref>


The Apricot Portable was designed to be transportable, but powered by mains electricity only. It consisted of a cased system unit with a motherboard, 640 × 256 [[pixel]] (80 × 25 character) monochrome display, a single [[floppy disk drive]], and memory, and a separate wireless (infrared) keyboard. Software was bundled with it.
The Apricot Portable was designed to be easily carried in its case, but was powered by mains electricity only. It consisted of a central unit containing the motherboard, monochrome display and a [[floppy disk drive]]. It also came with a wireless keyboard and bundled software.


== Design ==
==Design==
[[File:Apricot Portable 1984.jpg|thumb|Apricot Portable 1984]]
[[File:Apricot Portable 1984.jpg|thumb|Apricot Portable 1984]]
The Apricot Portable was contained inside a hard charcoal gray carrying case and consisted of two main parts: the central unit (monitor) and the keyboard. An optional mouse-like track board was also available. It was used by either pointing the track board at the computer and moving the [[trackball]] around with one's thumb or rolling the trackball on a flat surface.<ref name=":0" /> A basic Microsoft mouse could have also been used in place of the track board via the [[RS-232]] serial port located in the back within the computer.<ref name=":1" /> The mouse and the keyboard are both battery-powered. However, the central unit itself must be plugged into a three-wire wall outlet.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=[[InfoWorld]] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4C4EAAAAMBAJ |publisher=[[InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.]] |date=1985-06-10|title = InfoWorld}}</ref>
The Apricot Portable was contained inside a hard charcoal gray carrying case and consisted of two main parts: the central unit (with built-in monitor) and the keyboard. An optional mouse-like track board was also available. It was used by either pointing the track board at the computer and moving the [[trackball]] around with one's thumb or rolling the trackball on a flat surface.<ref name="aao-adverts">{{cite web | title = ACT/Apricot - Apricot (and related) advertisements | url = http://actapricot.org/history/apricot_adverts.html | website = actapricot.org | access-date = 2016-02-09}}</ref> A standard serial mouse could also be used via the [[RS-232]] port on the back of the computer.<ref name="occ">{{cite web | title = OLD-COMPUTERS.COM: The Museum | url = https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=492 | website = www.old-computers.com | access-date = 2016-01-29}}</ref> The mouse and the keyboard were both battery-powered, but the computer itself did not run on batteries and needed to be plugged into a wall outlet.<ref>{{cite news | newspaper = [[InfoWorld]] | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4C4EAAAAMBAJ | publisher = [[InfoWorld Media Group, Inc.]] | date = 1985-06-10 | title = InfoWorld}}</ref>


Being 450&nbsp;mm long × 172&nbsp;mm wide × 200&nbsp;mm high, the Portable's size was designed to be not too big nor small, making it easier for it to be portable.<ref name=":2" /> It massed an overall weight of 13 pounds.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = ACT/Apricot - Apricot (and related) advertisements|url = http://actapricot.org/history/apricot_adverts.html|website = actapricot.org|access-date = 2016-02-09}}</ref>
The system was 450&nbsp;mm long, 172&nbsp;mm wide and 200&nbsp;mm high,<ref name="aao-review">{{cite web | title = ACT/Apricot - Apricot history | url = http://actapricot.org/history/apricot_review_1.html | website = actapricot.org | access-date = 2016-02-02}}</ref> weighing a total of 13 pounds.<ref name="aao-adverts" />


The Portable's overall design was thought to be very unusual because the model's central unit and keyboard were not connected at all physically with any sort of wire. Instead, the connection between the keyboard and the central unit was made by [[Infrared|infrared signals]] passing between the two parts. If an object blocked the space in between the two, the communication between them would become disconnected. ACT chose to use an infrared signal communication system because it was cheaper than using a cable connection.<ref name=":3" />
The Portable's overall design was unusual in that the computer and keyboard were not connected physically, but rather by [[infrared]] signal. If an object blocked the space in between the two components, their communication would be disrupted. ACT chose to use an infrared signal communication system because it was cheaper than using a cable connection.<ref name="cho" />


⚫
==Features==
⚫
The Portable was known for being the first to harness a full 25-line [[liquid-crystal display]] (LCD) screen on a portable computer. The LCD screen called "MicroScreen" was originally made by [[Hitachi]] in Japan however, ACT was not satisfied with parts of its design. Specifically, the speed of its [[Memory controller|controller chip]], which is responsible for adjusting certain parts of the screen like the contrast, was too slow. This prompted the company to design its own controller chip for the screen that operated very fast.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=OLD-COMPUTERS.COM: The Museum |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=492 |website=www.old-computers.com |access-date=2016-01-29}}</ref>
⚫
The Apricot Portable contained a variety of features including a built-in disk drive, a speech recognition system, and a software bundle.


===Display===
⚫
Apricot computers used versions of the [[MS-DOS]] [[operating system]] not constrained to the maximum 640kB of RAM supported by the [[IBM PC]] and true clones; it could make use of up to 768&nbsp;kB.<ref name="muh">{{cite book |author1=Dennis Longley |author2=Michael Shain |title=Microcomputer User's Handbook: The Complete and Up to Date Guide to Buying a Business Computer |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-DFdDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA214 |date=11 November 1985 |publisher=Macmillan International Higher Education |isbn=978-1-349-07237-8 |pages=214}}</ref>
⚫
The Portable was known for having the first 25-line [[liquid-crystal display]] (LCD) screen on a portable computer. The LCD screen was originally made by [[Hitachi]], however ACT was not satisfied with the speed of its [[Memory controller|controller chip]], prompting the company to design its own faster controller.<ref name="occ" /> This screen could also display graphics at a resolution of 640x200 pixels.


The optional colour monitor could display up to 8 colors at a time out of a possible 16 colors, and could run at either 640x200@60Hz or 640x256@50Hz.<ref name="manual" /> The Portable could continue to use its LCD display while also driving the colour display, allowing separate information to be shown on each screen.<ref name="pcw">{{cite magazine | last = Bright | first = Peter | date = November 1984 | title = Checkout: ACT Apricot Portable | magazine = Personal Computer World | location = U.K. | publisher = Incisive Media | url = https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1984-11 | access-date = 2022-09-10 }}</ref>
⚫
== Features ==
⚫
The Apricot Portable contained a variety of features including a built-in disk drive, an input/output voice speech recognition system, and a software bundle.


=== Disk drive ===
===Disk drive===
A single double-sided 720&nbsp;KB 3.5" floppy disk drive was built into the right-hand side of the enclosure.<ref name=":0" /> An external 10&nbsp;MB [[Rodime]] 3.5" [[hard disk drive|hard drive]] was available.<ref name=":1" />
A single double-sided 720&nbsp;KB 3.5" floppy disk drive was built into the right-hand side of the enclosure.<ref name="aao-adverts" /> An external 10&nbsp;MB [[Rodime]] 3.5" [[hard disk drive|hard drive]] was available.<ref name="occ" />


=== Voice recognition system ===
===Voice recognition system===
The Apricot Portable was the first portable computer to utilize an input/output voice speech recognition system. A microphone was clipped to the front of the unit that was used specifically for this system. It could have been used while clipped to the unit or it could be unclipped and used in hand. The voice recognition system had the ability to hold a vocabulary file up to 4096 words, of which only 64 could be held in [[Random-access memory|RAM]] at a time.<ref name=":2" />
The Apricot Portable was the first portable computer to utilize a voice speech recognition system. A microphone was clipped to the front of the unit that was used specifically for this system. It could be used while clipped to the unit or it could be unclipped and used in-hand. The voice recognition system had the ability to store a vocabulary up to 4096 words, of which only 64 could be held in memory at a time.<ref name="pcw" />


The speech recognition system could be trained to associate a command with a recorded word (not necessarily English).<ref name=":0" /> Words were recorded in a file (with .voc extension) and associated with commands. The system was then trained by the user repeating the words into a microphone to cater for normal slight variations in speech. The more times a word was repeated, the better the result.<ref name=":2" />
The speech recognition system could operate in a dictation mode where spoken words were transcribed as text, or it could associate a spoken term with a command to be run. The system was then trained by the user repeating the words into a microphone to allow for normal variations in speech. The more times a word was repeated, the better the result.<ref name="pcw" />


=== Software ===
===Software===
The Apricot Portable was bundled with both the MS-DOS and [[CP/M-86]] operating systems, software including a word processor called SuperWriter, SuperPlanner, a personal diary called ACT Diary, the [[SuperCalc]] spreadsheet and ACT Sketch.<ref name=":1" /> An interactive tutorial disk was provided.<ref name=":0" />
The Apricot Portable was bundled with both the MS-DOS and [[CP/M-86]] operating systems, software including a word processor called [[SuperWriter]], SuperPlanner, a personal diary called ACT Diary, the [[SuperCalc]] spreadsheet and ACT Sketch.<ref name="pcw" /> An interactive tutorial disk was provided.<ref name="aao-adverts" />


⚫
Apricot computers used versions of the [[MS-DOS]] [[operating system]] not constrained to the maximum 640 KB of RAM supported by the [[IBM PC]] and true clones, allowing the Portable to make use of 768 KB.<ref>{{cite book | author1 = Dennis Longley | author2 = Michael Shain | title = Microcomputer User's Handbook: The Complete and Up to Date Guide to Buying a Business Computer | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-DFdDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA214 | date = 11 November 1985 | publisher = Macmillan International Higher Education | isbn = 978-1-349-07237-8 | pages = 214}}</ref>
The Portable could run most software for MS-DOS. although software directly accessing PC hardware, for increased speed, was becoming available for IBM PC clones. Like other Apricot computers, it could be started up from a CP/M-86 or [[Concurrent CP/M]]<!-- Concurrent CP/M-86 --> boot disc, and would then run CP/M-86 software in single- or multi-user mode.<ref name="ACT_1984_Apricot-Portable"/>


⚫
The Portable could run most software for MS-DOS. Like other Apricot computers, it could be started up from a CP/M-86 or [[Concurrent CP/M]] boot disc, and would then run CP/M-86 software in single- or multi-user mode.<ref name="manual">{{cite book | title = Apricot Portable - Technical Reference Manual | volume = Section 3: Software | publisher = [[ACT (International) Limited]] | date = 1984 | url = https://archive.org/details/hack42_Apricot_Portable_Technical_Reference_Manual_Sections | access-date = 2020-01-13 }} (228 pages)</ref>
⚫
== Price ==
⚫
A basic model of the Apricot Portable with 256&nbsp;KB of RAM (expandable to 768&nbsp;KB) was sold for [[£]]1695 (approximately [[US$]]2460). An additional colour display with 128&nbsp;KB RAM and a mouse added an extra £300 ($435) to its price.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title = ACT/Apricot - Apricot history|url = http://actapricot.org/history/apricot_review_1.html|website = actapricot.org|access-date = 2016-02-02}}</ref> The price of the original model was lowered in 1985 when a new version was released with 512&nbsp;KB of RAM.<ref name=":1" />


In addition, a GUI program called "Activity" was provided as a more convenient way to manipulate the file system with the keyboard or the optional mouse. It presented an icon-based interface reminiscent of the [[Apple Macintosh]], allowing the user to manage files, format disks, create new icons, keyboard layouts and characters. Help pages and a tutorial mode were also available.<ref name="pcw" />
⚫
== See also ==

⚫
==Price==
⚫
A basic model of the Apricot Portable with 256&nbsp;KB of RAM (expandable to 768&nbsp;KB) was sold for [[£]]1695 (approximately [[US$]]2460). The additional colour display with 128&nbsp;KB RAM and a mouse added £300 ($435) to its price.<ref name="pcw" /> The price of the original model was lowered in 1985 when a new version was released with 512&nbsp;KB of RAM.<ref name="occ" />

⚫
==See also==
* [[Timeline of portable computers]]
* [[Timeline of portable computers]]


== References ==
==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
{{Reflist}}
⚫
<ref name="ACT_1984_Apricot-Portable">{{cite book |title=Apricot Portable - Technical Reference Manual |volume=Section 3: Software |publisher=[[ACT (International) Limited]] |date=1984 |url=https://archive.org/details/hack42_Apricot_Portable_Technical_Reference_Manual_Sections |access-date=2020-01-13 }} (228 pages)</ref>
}}


==External links==
==External links==

Latest revision as of 07:29, 10 May 2024

Apricot Portable
DeveloperACT Ltd.[1]
Typeportable computer
Release date1984; 40 years ago (1984)
Introductory price£1,965 (equivalent to £7,978 in 2023)
Operating systemMS-DOS 2.11, Concurrent CP/M, CP/M-86
CPUIntel 8086 CPU @ 5 MHz[2]
Memory256 KB RAM, expandable to 768 KB
Storage3.5" floppy drive
DisplayBuilt-in monochrome LCD, optional external 16-colour display
ConnectivityInfrared wireless keyboard, optional wireless mouse
Dimensions45 cm × 20 cm × 17.2 cm
Mass5.8 kg

The Apricot Portable was a personal computer manufactured by ACT Ltd., and was released to the public in November 1984. It was ACT's first attempt at manufacturing a portable computer, which were gaining popularity at the time. Compared to other portable computers of its time like the Compaq Portable and the Commodore SX-64, the Apricot Portable was the first system to have an 80-column and 25-line LCD screen and the first with a speech recognition system.[3]

The Apricot Portable was designed to be easily carried in its case, but was powered by mains electricity only. It consisted of a central unit containing the motherboard, monochrome display and a floppy disk drive. It also came with a wireless keyboard and bundled software.

Design

[edit]
Apricot Portable 1984

The Apricot Portable was contained inside a hard charcoal gray carrying case and consisted of two main parts: the central unit (with built-in monitor) and the keyboard. An optional mouse-like track board was also available. It was used by either pointing the track board at the computer and moving the trackball around with one's thumb or rolling the trackball on a flat surface.[1] A standard serial mouse could also be used via the RS-232 port on the back of the computer.[4] The mouse and the keyboard were both battery-powered, but the computer itself did not run on batteries and needed to be plugged into a wall outlet.[5]

The system was 450 mm long, 172 mm wide and 200 mm high,[6] weighing a total of 13 pounds.[1]

The Portable's overall design was unusual in that the computer and keyboard were not connected physically, but rather by infrared signal. If an object blocked the space in between the two components, their communication would be disrupted. ACT chose to use an infrared signal communication system because it was cheaper than using a cable connection.[3]

Features

[edit]

The Apricot Portable contained a variety of features including a built-in disk drive, a speech recognition system, and a software bundle.

Display

[edit]

The Portable was known for having the first 25-line liquid-crystal display (LCD) screen on a portable computer. The LCD screen was originally made by Hitachi, however ACT was not satisfied with the speed of its controller chip, prompting the company to design its own faster controller.[4] This screen could also display graphics at a resolution of 640x200 pixels.

The optional colour monitor could display up to 8 colors at a time out of a possible 16 colors, and could run at either 640x200@60Hz or 640x256@50Hz.[7] The Portable could continue to use its LCD display while also driving the colour display, allowing separate information to be shown on each screen.[2]

Disk drive

[edit]

A single double-sided 720 KB 3.5" floppy disk drive was built into the right-hand side of the enclosure.[1] An external 10 MB Rodime 3.5" hard drive was available.[4]

Voice recognition system

[edit]

The Apricot Portable was the first portable computer to utilize a voice speech recognition system. A microphone was clipped to the front of the unit that was used specifically for this system. It could be used while clipped to the unit or it could be unclipped and used in-hand. The voice recognition system had the ability to store a vocabulary up to 4096 words, of which only 64 could be held in memory at a time.[2]

The speech recognition system could operate in a dictation mode where spoken words were transcribed as text, or it could associate a spoken term with a command to be run. The system was then trained by the user repeating the words into a microphone to allow for normal variations in speech. The more times a word was repeated, the better the result.[2]

Software

[edit]

The Apricot Portable was bundled with both the MS-DOS and CP/M-86 operating systems, software including a word processor called SuperWriter, SuperPlanner, a personal diary called ACT Diary, the SuperCalc spreadsheet and ACT Sketch.[2] An interactive tutorial disk was provided.[1]

Apricot computers used versions of the MS-DOS operating system not constrained to the maximum 640 KB of RAM supported by the IBM PC and true clones, allowing the Portable to make use of 768 KB.[8]

The Portable could run most software for MS-DOS. Like other Apricot computers, it could be started up from a CP/M-86 or Concurrent CP/M boot disc, and would then run CP/M-86 software in single- or multi-user mode.[7]

In addition, a GUI program called "Activity" was provided as a more convenient way to manipulate the file system with the keyboard or the optional mouse. It presented an icon-based interface reminiscent of the Apple Macintosh, allowing the user to manage files, format disks, create new icons, keyboard layouts and characters. Help pages and a tutorial mode were also available.[2]

Price

[edit]

A basic model of the Apricot Portable with 256 KB of RAM (expandable to 768 KB) was sold for £1695 (approximately US$2460). The additional colour display with 128 KB RAM and a mouse added £300 ($435) to its price.[2] The price of the original model was lowered in 1985 when a new version was released with 512 KB of RAM.[4]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "ACT/Apricot - Apricot (and related) advertisements". actapricot.org. Retrieved 2016-02-09.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Bright, Peter (November 1984). "Checkout: ACT Apricot Portable". Personal Computer World. U.K.: Incisive Media. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
  3. ^ a b "Apricot Portable - Computing History". www.computinghistory.org.uk. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
  4. ^ a b c d "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM: The Museum". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 2016-01-29.
  5. ^ "InfoWorld". InfoWorld. InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. 1985-06-10.
  6. ^ "ACT/Apricot - Apricot history". actapricot.org. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
  7. ^ a b Apricot Portable - Technical Reference Manual. Vol. Section 3: Software. ACT (International) Limited. 1984. Retrieved 2020-01-13. (228 pages)
  8. ^ Dennis Longley; Michael Shain (1985-11-11). Microcomputer User's Handbook: The Complete and Up to Date Guide to Buying a Business Computer. Macmillan International Higher Education. p. 214. ISBN 978-1-349-07237-8.
[edit]

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