Triumph Adler makes it all refreshingly simple with the Alphatronic micro

Triumph-Adler, originally of Germany, was first bought out by the US Royal Typewriter Co. in 1969 and then, more implausibly, by German car-giant Volkswagen, which acquired a majority stake in 1979[source: https://homecomputerguy.de/en/2022/04/14/ta-alphatronic-pc-a-pretty-german-personal-computer/].

Before it was sold again, to Italian typewriters-to-computers company Olivetti in 1986, the company launched several computers including this one, the Alphatronic P3 micro - part of its Alphatronic series.

By 1984, it had released a "home" or small-business version of the P3, called the Alphatronic PC. 

December 1984's A-Z of Personal Computers reckoned that it was "cleanly styled and would look equally good at home or in the office", and thanks to its support for <nobr>CP/M</nobr> and its large range of software, it should "appeal widely and satisfy the demands of the intended market"[source: A-Z of Personal Computers, December 1984, p. 72].

[picture: alphatronic_pc.webp|The Alphatronic PC - the home-computer version.  From the A-Z of Personal Computers, December 1984]

In Europe, the Alphatronic PC home computer was known as the Volksmicro - a kind-of "people's computer". 

PCN seemed unimpressed saying that the "unexceptional CP/M machine" had most of the attributes of the original Volkswagen in being "a little on the ugly side, utilitarian and selling relatively cheaply".

A spokesman for Triumph Adler UK suggested that the joint VW/TA marketing deal which gave rise to the name "does not currently extend to the UK", and that he saw "no likelihood that it will in future"[source: "The people's computer misses UK", PCN, May 19th 1984, p. 7].

The entry-level P3 micro retailed for £1,895, which is around [[1895|1983]] in [[now]] money. 

It was based on the 8-bit Intel 8085A, but could be upgraded to 16-bit operation by adding an 8088 co-processor card and extra memory, turning it into a P30[source: https://forums.bannister.org/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=110755].
