{"id":20753,"date":"2025-03-19T14:19:42","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T18:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=20753"},"modified":"2025-06-13T15:58:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-13T19:58:45","slug":"vin39","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin39\/","title":{"rendered":"Olivetti M28"},"content":{"rendered":"

Olivetti M28<\/h2>\n

[vin39]<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Olivetti M28, launched in 1986, was notable as Olivetti\u2019s first personal computer to feature the Intel 80286 processor, running at 8 MHz, and it came standard with 512 KB of RAM (expandable to 1 MB), a 20 MB hard drive, and support for both MS-DOS 3.2 and XENIX operating systems. Its claim to fame was its advanced graphics capabilities for the time\u2014supporting up to 640\u00d7400 resolution in 16 colors\u2014and expandability, including options for a math coprocessor and up to three disk units, making it a robust and versatile IBM PC-compatible system. It was rebranded and sold in North America as the AT&T PC 6310.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Manufacturer<\/strong>: Olivetti, an Italian company renowned for its innovative computer and electronics products<\/li>\n
  • Type<\/strong>: Desktop computer<\/li>\n
  • Release Date<\/strong>: 1986<\/li>\n
  • Cost at release<\/strong>: USD $3,000 (CAD ~$10,000 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n
  • MIPS<\/strong>: 1.7<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Hardware Specifications<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n
      \n
    • CPU<\/strong>: Intel 80286 CPU at 8 MHz<\/li>\n
    • Memory<\/strong>: 512 KB standard RAM, expandable to 1 MB<\/li>\n
    • Storage<\/strong>: 20 MB hard drive (standard), 5.25″ floppy disk drive<\/li>\n
    • Graphics<\/strong>: Enhanced CGA, up to 640\u00d7400 resolution in 16 colors<\/li>\n
    • Expansion<\/strong>: Three internal drive bays, optional Intel 80287 math coprocessor<\/li>\n
    • Ports<\/strong>: Serial, parallel, keyboard, video, and expansion slots<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Operating System & Programming Languages<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Operating System<\/strong>:\u00a0 MS-DOS 3.2, XENIX<\/li>\n
      • Supported Languages<\/strong>: Assembly language for Intel 80286, C, Pascal, FORTRAN, PL\/M (PL\/M 86 and PL\/M 286), BASIC (widely available for MS-DOS systems), and other high-level languages compatible with MS-DOS and XENIX environments, such as COBOL and dBASE<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Notables<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • The Olivetti M28 was the company\u2019s first PC to use the Intel 80286 processor, marking a significant technical leap for Olivetti and positioning it as a strong IBM PC-compatible system in the mid-1980s.<\/li>\n
        • It was known for its expandability, allowing up to three disk drives and support for a math coprocessor and enhanced graphics, which was unusual for its time.<\/li>\n
        • The M28 was rebranded as the AT&T PC 6310 in the US and as the LogAbax Persona 1800 in France, reflecting its international reach and adaptability.<\/li>\n
        • Its design philosophy emphasized both technical innovation and modernist aesthetics, reinforcing Olivetti\u2019s reputation for stylish, user-centric computers.<\/li>\n
        • The M28 helped bridge the gap between earlier PCs and more powerful AT-class systems, securing Olivetti\u2019s place as a leader in European computing during the 1980s.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          <\/p>\n

          Donated by<\/strong>: Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Olivetti M28 [vin39] The Olivetti M28, launched in 1986, was notable as Olivetti\u2019s first personal computer to feature the Intel 80286 processor, running at 8 MHz, and it came standard with 512 KB of RAM (expandable to 1 MB), a 20 MB hard drive, and support for both MS-DOS 3.2 and XENIX operating systems. Its […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"yoast_head":"\nOlivetti M28 - School of Computer Science<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Olivetti M28 The Olivetti M28, launched in 1986, was notable as Olivetti\u2019s first personal computer to feature the Intel 80286 processor, running at 8 MHz,\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin39\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin39\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin39\/\",\"name\":\"Olivetti M28 - 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