This website is an archived copy of "Chris's Acorns", now hosted by The Centre for Computing History as part of The Chris Whytehead collection.
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Acorn Atom Computers

[System Computers]    [Computers]     [BBC Micro

Introduction

The Atom was released in March 1980. The Atom is based on a System 3 in a new case with keyboard. It was sold in kit (£120) or assembled (£170) form, a full expanded model with 12K RAM and floating point ROM cost over £200. System computer eurocards can be used to expand it via the 64-way ribbon cable attached to the expansion bus..

In addition to the standard Acorn Atom, Acorn made some OEM models in particular the Busicomputers Prophet and the Hobbit which was made for a Dutch computer magazine. Because the Atom is easily expandable and hardware was relatively simple, if expensive, to make for yourself there are/were may Atoms with custom modifications.

Manuals and documents

Atomic Theory and PracticeThe book "Atomic Theory and Practise" is the Atom User Manual.
 
Here is the Acorn Atom Technical Manual .
 
Here is the Aconsoft catalogue "Programs for the Atom " .
 
Here is the Atom Reference Card:
Atom reference card side 1Atom reference card side 2

Atom and OEM Atom computers