The Olivetti M-10 is basically the same computer as the Tandy 100 or the NEC PC-8201. All these machines were in fact conceived by Kyocera Corporation (Japan). Thus they all have very similar characteristics.
Olivetti is well known for computers with special design, and the M-10 is not an exception. Compared to the Tandy 100 or NEC PC-8201, the M-10 is quite beautiful. The main physical difference is the LCD screen which can be tilted for user's comfort.
Just like its brothers, the M-10 was used a lot by reporters all around the world. This success was mainly due to its excellent keyboard and large battery autonomy.
The M-10 a some built-in software :
- An Extended Microsoft Basic
- A wordprocessor
- A small spreadsheet (adress files)
- An Agenda
- And a communication program.
The M10 had 4 standard RAM/ROM sockets, whereas all other Kyocera machines had specific RAM or ROM sockets.
The french model doesn't seem to have the modem built-in as it is the case for the "normal" M-10. This is maybe because any Modem sold in France had to be "agreed" by the French Post Office (!), which was a difficult task...
NAME
M10
MANUFACTURER
Olivetti
TYPE
Portable
ORIGIN
Italy
YEAR
1983
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
Enhanced version of Microsoft BASIC
KEYBOARD
Excellent QWERTY/AZERTY full-stroke keyboard 4 arrow keys and 8 function keys
CPU
Intel 80c85 CMOS
SPEED
3 MHz
RAM
8 kb, up to 32 KB by incremental 8 kb RAM pack on PCB
ROM
32 kb (up to 64 kb)
TEXT MODES
40 x 8
GRAPHIC MODES
240 x 64
COLORS
Black & white (LCD screen)
SOUND
Built-in speaker capable of generating different pitches and tones
(France, 84)
