Micro-Professor MPF-II: The 64K Computer That Spans Generations

First launched in 1982, the Micro-Professor MPF-II was Multitech Corporation's update to its earlier MPF1 machine, although this time it was aimed more at the home and Apple II market than at developers.

It was launched at a time when Apple was becoming much less tolerant of clones of its machines, having seen off the Pearcom [#Pear II] in 1981 and Franklin's [#Ace 1200] in 1982, the latter in a landmark case which finally established that software was copyrightable.

However there were still some Apple II clones floating around, largely originating from the Far East, including one from Peanut Computers of Dewsbury in West Yorkshire.

Designed to run Apple software and to take many of the plug-in boards built for the Apple II, Peanut launched its clone - via mail order - around March 1983 at a retail price of around  £345 ([[345|1983]] in [[now]]), or about half the £675 price of an actual Apple II[source: "The difference between an Apple and a Peanut is just £300", YC, April 1983, p. 30].

Meanwhile, Because the MPF II was also an [#Apple II] clone, at least at the software layer, it had also switched away from the previous model's [!Z80] CPU to MOS Technology's [!6502] processor. 

However, although much regular Apple software would work, there were differences in the video and keyboard memory mapping, meaning that Apple games which used graphics wouldn't function. 

Multitech seems to have got around this by either porting existing games or writing some of its own, as the advert nevertheless claims some 120 games were available. 

The machine itself was housed in what YC called an "unattractive" casing, which looks very similar to the modems the company became perhaps more famous for. 

It included a Chiclet-style calculator keyboard, which apparently still managed to have a more positive feel than the rubber keys of Sinclair's [#ZX Spectrum|Spectrum], one of its closer competitors. 

In another Spectrum crossover, it was also possible to enter one-key BASIC commands with a Shift+Ctrl+key combination. 

Its 12K BASIC was compatible with Applesoft BASIC, but it was unusual in also having Chinese-localised BASIC available, using the Dragon symbol system for input. 

Tim Langdell's review in the October 1982 edition of YC concluded that:

~"The MPF-II offers excellent value at around £200. The fact that it is compatible with the Apple II means that an enormous amount of software is already available for it. It is the only £200 mirocomputer with true high-resolution colour graphics and offers a BASIC which until now is to be found only on machines as expensive as the Apple II or a BBC Micro. It would make an excellent training machine, especially with its good, built-in monitor, but also a good home computer for the games player or a low-cost computer for the small businessman. Clearly, anyone who has been attracted by the Apple's facilities but not by its price will seriously consider this micro as an inexpensive alternative[source: Review - MPF-II, YC, October 1982, pp. 28-29]".

Despite the positive reviews and its Apple II compatibility, sales of the £200 (about [[200|1983]] in [[now]]) MPF-II in the UK appeared to be minimal[source: https://www.oocities.org/peterochocki/computers/1980comp/mpfiirev.htm].

Multitech, meanwhile, was renamed to Acer in 1987. 

Acer would go on to buy [@Commodore]'s PC division in 1993[source: https://www.os2world.com/wiki/index.php?title=List_of_Hardware_Companies#C], the year before Commodore went bust, and would end up with much of the rest of Commodore's core assets when it bought out Gateway - where the remains of Commodore had ended up - in 2007[source: https://www.cnbc.com/2007/08/27/taiwans-acer-plans-to-acquire-gateway-for-710-million.html].
