Research Machines was founded in 1973 by Mike Fischer and Mike O'Regan. Beginning with scientific instruments and a mail-order components business called Sintel, the Oxford company moved into microcomputers and supplied its first machine to a local education authority in 1977.
The Z80-based 380Z became a familiar sight in British schools, followed by systems such as the Link 480Z and the RM Nimbus range. Research Machines built its identity around dependable hardware, networking and support for education, becoming one of the longest-lived names associated with classroom computing in the United Kingdom.