Olivetti M240
[vin38]
The Olivetti M240, launched in 1984, was a notable IBM-compatible personal computer featuring an 8 MHz Intel 8086 processor (faster than the IBM PC’s 8088), 640 KB of RAM, support for high-density floppy drives, and a larger case with expanded ISA slots for greater customization and peripheral support. Its claim to fame was its enhanced performance and expandability, positioning Olivetti as a major European innovator in the PC market and contributing to the widespread adoption of IBM-compatible systems by offering both technical improvements and design versatility.
- Manufacturer: Olivetti, an Italian company that was one of Europe’s leading computer makers during the 1980s
- Type: Desktop computer
- Release Date: 1984
- Cost at release: USD $2,500 (CAD ~$6,000 adjusted for inflation)
- MIPS: 0.6 (600 KIPS)
Hardware Specifications
- CPU: Intel 8086 processor running at 8 MHz
- Memory: Up to 640 KB RAM (standard for the era)
- Storage: Hard disk drive options (typically 10 MB or 20 MB)
- Video: CGA graphics compatibility (Color Graphics Adapter)
- Parallel and serial ports for printer and modem connections
- Detachable keyboard
- Large desktop case design for expandability
- IBM PC compatibility
Operating System & Programming Languages
- Operating System:
- primarily ran MS-DOS (versions such as 3.20 and 3.30), which ensured compatibility with a wide range of IBM PC software.
- It could also run alternative operating systems including CP/M-86, UCSD-P, PCOS, Xenix, and UNIX System V (on certain models)
-
Supported Languages: GW-BASIC, Pascal, and other languages available for MS-DOS and CP/M-86 environments, such as C, Fortran, and Assembly
Notables
- The Olivetti M240 was an improved successor to the M24, featuring a faster Intel 8086 CPU at 8 MHz and a full 16-bit data bus, making it notably quicker than many IBM PCs of the era.
- Its large, expandable case and extra ISA slots made it highly customizable; enthusiasts have retrofitted them with modern upgrades like SCSI hard drives, VGA cards, and Sound Blaster audio.
- The M240 was sometimes humorously referenced for being “all made in Italy,” and its scarcity today makes it a prized collector’s item among vintage computing enthusiasts.
- Olivetti-branded peripherals, such as mice made by Logitech, added to its unique international flavor.
- While it didn’t have a widely recognized nickname, it was sometimes called a “super XT” by hobbyists due to its advanced features for an XT-class machine.
- The M240’s significance lies in its role as a leading European IBM-compatible PC, cementing Olivetti’s reputation for innovation and helping to drive the adoption of open PC architectures in the 1980s
Donated by: Arlen Michaels