Altos Advert - April 1987
From Practical Computing
Altos Computer Systems offer you the drive to succeed absolutely free
Altos was one of relatively few microcomputer manufacturers that made the transition from the 1970s through the era of the IBM PC and was still around on the other side.
From 1978 until at least 1980 it was selling its ACS 8000 Z80-based multi-user computer. After that it seemed to stop advertising completely - at least in the UK - although it did continue to ship micros, including the ACS 8600 and the ACS 68000, based on Intel's 8086 and Motorola's 68000 respectively.
The company then released several systems running the Pick operating system - a database system created by Dick Pick in the early 1970s.
This advert doesn't mention any particular machine, but it does mention that its systems were still multi-user. This format - with a more-powerful central micro accessed by terminals - was becoming increasingly irrelevant as IBM PC clones were approaching commodity prices and networks were getting more reliable, standardised and cheaper.
Altos was bought by Acer in 1990.
Date created: 15 February 2024
Text and otherwise-uncredited photos © nosher.net 2024. Dollar/GBP conversions, where used, assume $1.50 to £1. "Now" prices are calculated dynamically using average RPI per year.
