ACT Apricot F1
ManufacturerACT - Applied Computer Techniques
ModelApricot F1
Announced:July 1984
Price:£1,095, US$1,695 - monitor $300-$600
CPU:Intel 8086 @ 4.67MHz
Memory:256K - 768K RAM
Display:640x256 max graphics, 4-16 colors
Expansion:one internal, one side expansion slot
Storage:one internal DSDD 720K 3.5-inch floppy drive
optional 10MB Winchester hard drive
Ports:video, parallel, serial, system bus
OS:MS-DOS 2.11 with "Activity" GUI front-end
CP/M-86 and Concurrent DOS also supported
Later, GEM GUI interface




ACT - Applied Computer Techniques - was founded in the UK in 1965, as a computer time-share service - to rent working time on its own computers to other companies.
  • In 1982, ACT distributed the Sirius 1 computer, which was built in America as the Victor 9000. The Sirius 1 became the most popular 16-bit business computer in Europe.
  • The next year, in 1983, ACT released their own computer system, the Apricot PC, a business computer for use at the office.
  • The Apricot F1, release in 1984, was designed for home use.
  • In 1985, ACT renames itself Apricot Computers, and enters the US market. At this point, they enjoy 30% of the UK market share, and boast £10.6 million profit, on £92 million sales.

    • The Apricot F1 computer has a very unique design, being much deeper than it is wide. It is even narrower than the small 9-inch monitor which sits on top. The full-size 92-key keyboard has no wires - it runs on batteries, and has a wireless infra-red emitter to communicate with the computer. There is also an optional similarly wireless mouse/trackball. A fibre optic "light pipe" could be attached between the keyboard/mouse and the computer for better light transmission if required. "Freedom of user desk space" was one of the criteria for the cordless link. Additionally, the fan-less convection cooling design provides a quieter and more relaxing work environment.

    Video options include a 9-inch or 12-inch monochrome monitor, or 10-inch colour monitor.


    Included software includes:
  • Tutorial (icon and mouse)
  • ACT Diary time manager
  • ACT Sketch drawing package
  • SuperCalc spreadsheet
  • SuperWriter word processor
  • SuperPlanner activity manager

    • The Birmingham R&D center built every aspect of a F1 (except for the IC chips), from the custom BIOS and system programming, to mechanical assembly and RF testing and of the finished system. The F1 was the first all-in-one computer to use the new Sony 3.5-inch floppy drive.

    The F1 keyboard contains a real-time clock. During the machine's boot sequence, the user would press the TIME/DATE key on the keyboard to send the date and time stored in the battery-backed keyboard to the computer system. The keyboard also has four buttons to perform RESET, REPEAT RATE, SET TIME, KB LOCK.

    The original Apricot F1 had 256K of RAM, and its cheaper education version the F1e had even less 128K of RAM, and a smaller SSDD disk drive - "We have made very little money with these products", ACT said. Both were dropped at the end of 1985, and ACT introduced an improved Apricot F1 with 512K standard memory, and Digital Research's GEM (Graphics Environment Manager) interface for £999.

    In 1985, Apricot also release the F2 (with dual floppy drives) and F10 (with an internal 10MB hard drive) systems.



    Related Links

  • apricotcomputers.com
  • old-computers.com
  • ACT/Apricot Support
  • A history of the microcomputer industry in 300 adverts
  • Classic Tech
  • Popular Computing Weekly magazine from the UK
  • "Britain hopes Apricot computer will blossom in the US market" from CSM
  • Review from Personal Computer News
  • Apricot GEM screenshots
  • "Early Days At Apricot Computers"







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