Computer1

Computer1 is a family of early personal computers produced by Acme Systems. Launched in the early 1980s, Computer1 was designed to be affordable, expandable, and relatively easy to program, targeting home enthusiasts, schools, and small businesses.

The baseline model used an 8-bit processor and offered several RAM configurations, commonly from 32KB to 128KB, with expandable memory through cartridge or expansion slots. The chassis was modular, allowing users to add disk controllers, additional RAM, or I/O boards.

The display offered monochrome or limited-color text modes suitable for BASIC programming and simple productivity tasks. Storage options included 5.25-inch floppy drives and optional hard disks. It provided RS-232 serial ports, a parallel printer interface, and cartridge slots for software or firmware upgrades.

The system shipped with a built-in BASIC interpreter and a simple monitor program, and offered compatibility with CP/M-80 via a cartridge or emulation layer, enabling access to a broad software ecosystem.

The Computer1 line included Model A and Model B, differing in RAM and processor speed. It played a role in education programs and hobbyist computing, contributing to early software development and hardware tinkering culture, and gradually declined as IBM PC compatibles and more advanced systems dominated the market.

Today Computer1 is remembered as an example of early modular personal computers that prioritized expandability and affordability.