Olivetti Envision

Olivetti Envision (400/P75)
Manufacturer	Olivetti
Type	Multimedia personal computer
Release date	1995
Discontinued	1996
Operating system	Windows 95
CPU	Intel 486 DX4 100 MHz or Intel Pentium P75 processor
Memory	8 MB
Storage	Floppy disk; Hard drive; CD-ROM
Removable storage	1,4MB 3,5" floppy disk; CD-ROM
Display	VGA monitor, TV; 1024x768, 800x600
Graphics	Trident TGV9470
Sound	Crystal Semiconductor Corporation CS4231 + Oak Mozart OTI 605
Input	Keyboard, remote
Connectivity	Parallel, Serial, Modem

The Olivetti Envision (400/P75) was an Italian multimedia personal computer produced in 1995.[1][2][3] It came with a choice of two processors: Intel 486 DX4 100 MHz or Intel Pentium P75.[2]

It had an infrared keyboard and internal modem, and it was compatible with audio CDs, CD-ROMs, Photo CDs and Video CDs.[4] Preinstalled software allowed the computer to work as a fax or answering machine when connected to a telephone line.[5]

The Envision had three possible operating modes:

Simple (limited to the use of an infrared remote control to control the volume and the reproduction of photo, video or audio CDs);
Intermediate (a simplified Windows shell replacement called Olipilot that gave access to a limited set of programs);
Advanced (standard Windows 95 graphical user interface).[3]

Designed by M. De Lucchi,[1] the declared goal for this device was to convince non-computer-savvy people that computers are not impossibly hard to use and can be bought and used like normal home appliances. For this reason, it was intentionally designed to resemble a videocassette recorder more than a computer, and it was equipped with two SCART sockets (to connect it to a TV set),[1] a TV-like remote control, and a slot that could host a satellite TV decoder card.[6]

The Olivetti Envision was discontinued in 1996 due to poor sales caused by its excessive price, many software bugs and limited expandability.[7][2]

Technical specifications[1][8]

CPU: Intel 486 DX4 @ 100 MHz or Intel Pentium @ 75 Mhz
RAM: 8 MB
Graphics: Trident TGV9470[9] (1 MB, integrated into the motherboard, compatible with Number Nine GXE Graphics Accelerator, Infotronic IPG 64 and Spea Video 7 Mercury)
Resolutions: 1024 x 768 with 256 colors (monitor), 800 x 600 with 65536 colors (TV)
Audio: Crystal Semiconductor Corporation CS4231[10] + Oak Mozart OTI 605[11] (compatible with the MPC2 multimedia standard, Roland SCC-1 and Sound Blaster 16)
Connectors: 3 expansion slots, 2 SCART, audio out, MIDI, VGA out, serial, parallel, modem
Storage: 1,4 MB 3,5” floppy disk; 635 MB hard disk , CD-ROM drive
Keyboard: 83 keys infrared keyboard

References

"OLIVETTI ENVISION, 1995". Laboratorio-Museo Tecnologicamente (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-11-11.
"Olivetti Envision - Obscure Italian Multimedia device". Ultimate Console Database. 2009. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
Wim, Wubs (2010). "Olivetti Envision P75". Klassieke computers (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-11-11.
Grimwood, Jon Courtenay (23 October 1995). "On the sofa with your favourite program". The Independent. Retrieved 2010-12-24.
Nicola, Saldutti (September 8, 1995). "Olivetti rilancia sui computer". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). p. 23.
Ciardelli, Paolo (December 1995). "Olivetti Envision". MC Microcomputer. No. 157. p. 204.
Pedrazzini, Fabrizio (2001). "OLIVETTI ENVISION". The Strange (and Rare) Videogame Pics Page. Retrieved 2011-03-16.
ENVISION 400/P75/P100 (PDF).
TVG9470 TV Accelerator. Trident Microsystems. September 1995.
CS4231A - Parallel Interface, Multimedia Audio Codec (PDF). Crystal Semiconductor Corporation. 1994.
"Olivetti Personal Computers Mozart OTI 605 driver. Driver for Olivetti Educator PCS P/90 E/En original sound card". www.soundcard-drivers.com. Retrieved 2022-11-11.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.

[:0-1] "OLIVETTI ENVISION, 1995". Laboratorio-Museo Tecnologicamente (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-11-11.

[:1-2] "Olivetti Envision - Obscure Italian Multimedia device". Ultimate Console Database. 2009. Retrieved 2022-11-11.

[:2-3] Wim, Wubs (2010). "Olivetti Envision P75". Klassieke computers (in Dutch). Retrieved 2022-11-11.

[4] Grimwood, Jon Courtenay (23 October 1995). "On the sofa with your favourite program". The Independent. Retrieved 2010-12-24.

[corriere-5] Nicola, Saldutti (September 8, 1995). "Olivetti rilancia sui computer". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). p. 23.

[mc157-6] Ciardelli, Paolo (December 1995). "Olivetti Envision". MC Microcomputer. No. 157. p. 204.

[strangeraregames-7] Pedrazzini, Fabrizio (2001). "OLIVETTI ENVISION". The Strange (and Rare) Videogame Pics Page. Retrieved 2011-03-16.

[8] ENVISION 400/P75/P100 (PDF).

[9] TVG9470 TV Accelerator. Trident Microsystems. September 1995.

[10] CS4231A - Parallel Interface, Multimedia Audio Codec (PDF). Crystal Semiconductor Corporation. 1994.

[11] "Olivetti Personal Computers Mozart OTI 605 driver. Driver for Olivetti Educator PCS P/90 E/En original sound card". www.soundcard-drivers.com. Retrieved 2022-11-11.

Olivetti computers
Mainframes and Calculators	Elea series (1957–1964) Programma 101 (1965) TC800 (1974) TC1800 (1977)
Personal computers	Olivetti P6040 (1975) Olivetti P6060 (1975) Olivetti P6066 (1975) Olivetti M20 (1982) Olivetti M24 (1983) Olivetti Prodest PC128 (1985) Olivetti M28 (1986) Olivetti M19 (1986) Olivetti LSX (1987) Olivetti LSX 520 (1989) Olivetti M300-100 (1990) Olivetti Envision (1995)
Laptop computers	Olivetti M10 (1983) Olivetti M21 (1983) Olivetti M15 Olivetti M111 Olivetti M211 Olivetti S20 Olivetti D33 (1991) Olivetti Philos (1992) Olivetti Quaderno (1992) Olivetti Echos (1995)
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