Apricot PC

The Apricot PC, initially advertised as the ACT Apricot, was ACT’s first independently developed computer. It placed an 8086-based business system in a compact, carefully styled case and was among the first computers outside Japan to use Sony 3.5-inch floppy disks.

The detachable keyboard incorporated a two-line LCD Microscreen beside programmable touch keys, while the main display offered unusually sharp 800 x 400 graphics. It ran MS-DOS and CP/M-86 and maintained software compatibility with the Sirius 1, but was not hardware-compatible with the IBM PC.

Notable Features

• Keyboard-mounted two-line Microscreen labelled programmable functions and doubled as a calculator display.
• One or two 3.5-inch floppy drives replaced the era’s usual 5.25-inch media.
• Compact industrial design concealed an 800 x 400 display system and 8087 socket.

Historical Significance

• ACT’s first computer developed in Britain rather than rebadged from an overseas manufacturer.
• Established Apricot as a major British business-computer name during the early 1980s.

Collector’s Notes

• Single- and dual-drive versions belong to the same model family.
• Original Apricot-format disks, the Microscreen keyboard and matching monitor are especially desirable.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Apricot PC
Manufacturer	Apricot Computers
Launched	Thursday, September 1, 1983
Country	United Kingdom
CPU	Intel 8086 at 4.77 MHz
Units Sold
Operating System	MS-DOS 2.11, CP/M-86 and bundled ACT software
I/O	RS-232, parallel, monitor, keyboard and internal expansion
Keyboard	Detached keyboard with LCD Microscreen and programmable touch keys
Storage	One or two 3.5-inch floppy drives, typically 315KB or 720KB
Sound	Internal speaker
Graphics	800 x 400 monochrome graphics
Display	External 9-inch green monochrome monitor; 80 x 25 text
ROM	System firmware and keyboard Microscreen firmware
RAM	256KB standard; expandable to 768KB
CPU Speed	4.77 MHz