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NAME  

Attache

MANUFACTURER  

Otrona

TYPE  

Transportable Computer

ORIGIN  

U.S.A.

YEAR  

April 1982

END OF PRODUCTION 

1984

KEYBOARD  

Full stroke QWERTY

CPU  

Zilog Z-80A

SPEED  

4 MHz

RAM  

64 KB

ROM  

4 KB

TEXT MODE 

80 x 24

GRAPHIC MODES 

320 x 240

COLORS 

Monochrome

BUILT IN LANGUAGE 

Unknown

SOUND  

None

I/O PORTS 

Expansion slot, Keyboard connector, Two RS-232c ports, Composite video out

POWER SUPPLY 

Built-in PSU or optional battery pack

SIZE / WEIGHT 

12 x 5.75 x 13.6 inches / 19 lbs

STORAGE  

Built-in 5.25" FDD 360 Kb

PEREPHERIALS  

Second 5.25" floppy disk drive, 10 MB hard disk, parallel interface, carrying case, battery pack

PRICE  

$3995

 

Attache

Otrona Attache was the most wanted transportable computer at the time as it was the smallest of its category. Preceded by the Osborne and Kaypro II, the Attache was also more expensive than its competitors.

Attache is a nice little CP/M system. High-resolution graphics, compact keyboard, 64 KB RAM, real time battery-backed clock, composite video output. It was delivered with Wordstar, MBasic, CP/M. Otrona Attache had all that was needed at the time to be efficient.

In 1983 Otrona released a second model, the Attache 8:16 which was in fact a "normal" Attache with an Intel 8086 expansion board built-in, thus offering the MS-DOS capability in addition to the CP/M. The IBM PC was already putting a strong pressure on the market. The rush toward MS-DOS compatibility had begun, announcing CP/M death. Meanwhile, hybrid machines like this one appeared on the market illustrating the transition.

In May 1984, Otrona announced a new transportable model, Otrona 2001, using an Intel 8088 processor. However, the 2001 wasn't completely IBM PC compatible and the production costs were high. Like its predecessor (Attache), the 2001 had real assets, but was too expensive compared to other portables. As Otrona didn't want to exceed the $3000 price limit to stay competitive against IBM and Compaq, they had to throw in a towel. In september 1984 Otrona Advanced Systems announced that it was ceasing production. It gave notice to all its 175 employees and said that it had decided that is was not able to reorganize under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Act.

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