Engineering:ACFA-8
| Developer | Andrew M. Veronis |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | ACFA, Inc. |
| Type | |
| CPU | Motorola 6808 |
| Memory | Up to 64 KB |
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.[1] As stock it came with 16 KB of RAM.[2] The computer's cassette interface supports the Kansas City standard, and the computer came shipped with 8-KB BASIC on cassette.[1] The board features a built-in color RF modulator; American buyers got shipped a color video display for the price of the computer.[3]:52 Both American and overseas buyers however both got the board with an enclosure, a keyboard, and the power supply unit.[1][2][3]: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.[4] The computer came shipped with manuals describing the principles of operation, which Electronics Today International described as "really a computer course on their own".[2] 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.[2] 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.[3]:52
ACFA, Inc. was incorporated at 130 Main Street in Annapolis, Maryland.[5] 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.[6] Veronis forfeit ACFA shortly after its incorporation.[5] He continued working in the computer industry in the following decades while also teaching computer science at the University of Maryland, College Park.[7]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Staff writer (September 1979). "Bits and pieces". Personal Computer World (Sportscene Publishers) 2 (5): 29. https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1979-09/page/29/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Budgett, Henry (October 1979). "MicroCoup". Electronics Today International (Modmags) 8 (10): 53. https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Electronics-Today-UK/70s/ETI-1979-10-79.pdf#page=52.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ruckdeschel, Fred (June 1979). "A Personal Computer Directory". On Computing (McGraw-Hill) 1 (1): 50–61. https://archive.org/details/sim_oncomputing_summer-1979_1_1/page/n55/.
- ↑ Nadeau, Michael (2002). Collectible Microcomputers. Schiffer Book for Collectors (Illustrated ed.). Schiffer Publishing. p. 8. ISBN 9780764316005. https://books.google.com/books?id=WXZNAAAACAAJ.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "A.C.F.A., Incorporated". Maryland.gov. Government of Maryland. n.d.. https://egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/EntitySearch/BusinessInformation/D00958108.
- ↑ Staff writer (December 30, 1977). "Wicker basket's new owner". The Evening Capital: p. 24. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117364026/wicker-baskets-new-owner/.
- ↑ Sioris, Dennis (March 2000). "RADM Sirois on CG Training Initiatives". Navigator: The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Magazine (Coast Guard Auxiliary Association) 27 (1): 34. https://books.google.com/books?id=13DzwE7Kjx8C.
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