Editing Micro-Professor MPF-I

{{Short description|Microcomputer released by Multitech in 1981}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}

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{{Refimprove|date=April 2024}}
{{Update|date=April 2024}}
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{{Infobox information appliance
| name          = Micro-Professor MPF-I
| title         = 
| aka           = MPF-1<br>MPF-1A<br>MPF-1B
| logo          = 
| image         = Mpf-I.jpg
| caption       = Microprofessor I
| developer     = [[Acer Inc.|Multitech]]
| manufacturer  = [[Acer Inc.|Multitech]] (1981-1993)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acer.com/APP/AKC/INTERNET/AACPubli.nsf/HeadingPagesDisplay/NewsroomMilestones?OpenDocument&ML2.9& |title=Summary of Acer Milestones: Acer America |accessdate=2004-05-01 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030701105315/http://www.acer.com/APP/AKC/INTERNET/AACPubli.nsf/HeadingPagesDisplay/NewsroomMilestones?OpenDocument&ML2.9& |archivedate=1 July 2003 }}, ''1981:MicroProfessor-I becomes the company's first branded product.''</ref><br>Flite Electronics International Limited (1993-)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161231004538/https://www.flite.co.uk/product.asp?numPageStartPosition=16&strPageHistory=&strKeywords=&strSearchCriteria=&PT_ID=1&P_ID=1 Flite Electronics – International Supplier of the Microprofessor Training System (archived content)]</ref><ref>[https://electrickery.nl/comp/mpf1/ Yet another computer museum - Multitech MPF-1]</ref>
| family        = 
| type          = 
| generation    = 
| releasedate   = {{Start date and age|1981}}
| lifespan      = 
| price         = $149
| discontinued  = 
| unitssold     = 
| unitsshipped  = 
| media         = 
| os            = 2&nbsp;KB [[machine code monitor|monitor]] [[read-only memory|ROM]]
| power         = 5&nbsp;V via 7805 from 9&nbsp;V at 500&nbsp;mA mains adapter 
| soc           = 
| cpu           = [[Zilog Z80]] @ 1.79&nbsp;MHz
| memory        = 2&nbsp;KB RAM
| storage       = [[Compact Cassette (data)|Compact Cassette]]
| memory card   = 
| display       = Six digit 7-segment display.
| graphics      = 
| sound         = Beeper
| input         = Hexadecimal calculator-type keyboard (36 keys including, 16 hexadecimal keys, 19 function keys, and one user-definable key)
| controllers   = 
| connectivity  = 
| platform      = 
| dimensions    = 
| weight        = 
| topgame       = 
| successor     = MPF-1 Plus
| related       = 
| website       = <!--{{URL|example.org}}-->
}}

The '''Micro-Professor MPF-I''' is a [[microcomputer]] released by Multitech (later renamed [[Acer Inc.|Acer]]) in 1981. The company's first branded product, it was marketed as a [[Microprocessor development board|training system]] to learn [[machine code]] and [[assembly language]] for the [[Zilog Z80]] [[microprocessor]]. After releasing several iterations of the product, Acer sold the product line to Flite Electronics in 1993.

==History==
In 1981 Multitech released the Micro-Professor MPF-I, a [[Zilog Z80]] microprocessor development board enclosed in a [[vacuum forming|vacuum formed]] plastic bookcase for storage on a bookshelf. Later in 1981 Multitech introduced a Tiny-Basic for the MPF-1. The Monitor and Basic fitted into one 4&nbsp;KB ROM, replacing the 2&nbsp;KB monitor-only ROM. This configuration was marketed as the MPF-1B. As from this moment, the original Micro-Professor was marketed as MPF-1A.

In 1984, Multitech introduced the MPF-1P or MPF-Plus, a successor to the MPF-1 with the same form factor. It featured a single line 20-digit, 14-segment [[vacuum fluorescent display|fluorescent display]] and a click-type [[QWERTY]] keyboard. It had the same expansion connector as the MPF-1 (strictly a Z80-CPU pin-header), so several of the MPF-1 expansion boards could be used on the MPF-1P. It was more a [[BASIC]] computer than the MPF-1, with an [[Assembly_language#Assembler|assembler]] and [[disassembler]] as part of the 8&nbsp;KB firmware. The MPF-1P featured 4&nbsp;KB [[static RAM]], with optional battery backup.

1985 saw the release of the MPF-I/88, the last product in the MPF-I line. It was an [[Intel 8088]]-based single board computer with a two-line [[LCD screen]]. Multitech was renamed Acer Inc. in 1987.

On 24 February 1993, Acer sold the Micro-Professor MPF-I product line to Flite Electronics International Limited, an international distributor for Acer based in [[Southampton]], England. Flite is still{{When|date=April 2024}} manufacturing small batches of the MPF1B at a sub-contract manufacturing facility in [[Havant]], England.

==Product specifications==
Programs are entered into the MPF-I using [[Zilog Z80|Z80]] [[machine code]] in [[hexadecimal]] format. The MPF-I [[Machine code monitor|monitor program]] displays both an address and data stored at that address simultaneously using a [[seven-segment display]]. There is a spare [[Dual in-line package|DIP]] socket for adding additional [[Read-only memory|ROM]] or [[Random-access memory|RAM]] to the MPF-I. There are also two [[Phone connector (audio)|3.5&nbsp;mm audio jacks]] on the top right of the computer, these are to communicate with the audio cassettes that are used to store programs and code typed into the machine. One is used to read the drive and the other is used to write data; on a conventional audio [[cassette deck]] the wires would be connected to the headphone and microphone ports.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.retrotechnology.com/restore/cass_data.html|title=Computer Data Cassette Formats|website=retrotechnology.com|access-date=2019-10-25}}</ref> This type of data storage is similar to that of a [[TRS-80|Radio Shack TRS-80]] or the [[ZX81|Sinclair ZX-81]], which similarly used audio cassettes to store programs the user typed, as well as commercial programs and games the user could buy.

==Modern extensions==
PicoRAM 6116 is a 6116 SRAM emulator and [[SD card]] interface for the Microprofessor based on the [[Raspberry_Pi#Raspberry_Pi_Pico|Raspberry Pi Pico]]. It facilitates store and restore of complete SRAM [[memory dump]]s. PicoRAM 6116 also supports [[Intel HEX|HEX]] files generated by Z80 assemblers, hence facilitating a modern software development tool chain by using PC-based assemblers and file transfer of the generated HEX files to the Microprofessor via SD card.

==See also==
* [[Microprofessor II]] — an unrelated [[Apple II clone]] made by Multitech
* [[Microprofessor III]] — an unrelated [[Apple IIe]] clone made by Multitech

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{cite magazine|magazine=Byte|year=1982|volume=7|issue=8|publisher=McGraw-Hill|title=The Micro-Professor|page=127|url=https://ia600605.us.archive.org/14/items/byte-magazine-1982-08/1982_08_BYTE_07-08_Logo.pdf}}
*[https://www.flite.co.uk/ Flite Electronics – International Supplier of  Microprocessor Training Systems and owner of the overall copyright of the MPF range of products]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101121052525/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=479 A tribute to the Microprofessor System]
* [http://www.1000bit.it/support/manuali/multitech/MPF-I-User's-manual.pdf MPF-I User's manual]
* [http://electrickery.nl/comp/mpf1/doc/ PDF documentation and ROM dumps for the Multitech MPF-1 computer]
* [https://www.flite.co.uk/uploads/pdfs/Elektor_MicroProfessor_EN.pdf Elector Magazine May/June 2021]
{{Acer Inc.}}

[[Category:Acer Inc. computers]]
[[Category:Early microcomputers]]
[[Category:Z80-based home computers]]
[[Category:Z80]]