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An [[Image:Apricot_f1.jpg|thumb|Apricot F1|right|250px]] [[Image:Apricot_xen.jpg|thumb|Apricot XEN|right|250px]] The Apricot PC has been an early PC, dated around 1985. For the CPC history it is important because it was used by the [[PDS development system]] (a PC based devkit that was used to create many 8bit commercial games), later versions of that devkit worked also with "normal" IBM PCs.

'' Apricot Computers was a British company that manufactured business personal computers. It was originally founded in 1965 as "Applied Computer Techniques (ACT)". === Company History=== ACT released their first microcomputer in 1982. Although the computer was built by another company, it was marketed under the ACT brand. Towards the end of 1982, ACT signed a deal with Vistor to distribute the '''Victor 9000''', but under the name '''Sirius 1''' in Europe. Its price tag in the UK was £2754 and was a commercial success. In the US, however, it was not popular, possibly because was not an IBM-compatible PC. In September 1983 the '''Apricot PC''' was released, based on an Intel 8086 microprocessor running at 4.77MHz. It ran MS-DOS or CP/M but was not compatible at a hardware level with the IBM PC. The graphics quality was critically acclaimed, with a 800 x 400 resolution and a keyboard with 8 "normal" and 6 flat programmable function keys along with a built-in LCD screen (40 characters / 2 lines) which displayed the function of the keys. Microsoft Word and Multiplan were supplied with the Apricot PC.

''In 1984 ACT released their first microcomputer in 1982. Although the a home computer was built by another company, it was marketed under the ACT brand'''Apricot F1'''. Towards the end of 1982, ACT signed a deal It ran MS-DOS with Vistor to distribute the "Victor 9000Activity", but under a GUI front end; like the name "Sirius 1" in EuropeApricot PC, it was not IBM PC compatible. Its price tag The machine was only successful in the UK . It was £2754 bundled with software for graphics, communication, word processing and was a commercial successsystem tools. In The same infra-red trackball pointing device used with the US, however, it Apricot Portable was not popularalso available for the F1. Also in 1984, possibly because the Apricot Portable was not released, with an IBMinfra-compatible PCred keyboard, a voice system, 5MHz CPU, 640 x 200 LCD display for £1965.''

In 1985 ACT was renamed '''In September 1983 the Apricot PC was released, based on an Intel 8086 microprocessor running at 4Computers'''.77MHz. It ran MS-DOS or CP/M but was not compatible at By this time, the F1 had become one model in the '''F Series'''; other machines in the series were the F1e (a hardware level cheaper F1 with less RAM); the IBM PC. The graphics quality was critically acclaimed, F2 (with a 800 x 400 resolution two floppy drives) and a keyboard the F10 (with 8 "normal" a 10Mb hard drive and 6 flat programmable function keys along with a builtmore conventional-in LCD screen (40 characters / 2 lineslooking infra-red keyboard) which displayed the function of the keys. Microsoft Word and Multiplan were supplied with the Apricot PCThe Activity GUI was replaced by GEM.''

The last Apricot computer not to be IBM compatible was the ''In 1984 ACT released 'XEN''' (October 1985), a home computer, the "Apricot F1". It ran MS286-DOS based system intended to compete with "Activity", a GUI front end; like the Apricot PC, it was not IBM PC compatibleAT and running Windows 1. The machine was only successful in the UK0. It was bundled with software for graphics, communication, word processing and system tools. The same infra-red trackball pointing device used with the Apricot Portable was also available for the F1. Also superseded in 1984, 1986 by the Apricot Portable was released, with an infraXEN-red keyboardi, the first in a voice system, 5MHz CPU, 640 x 200 LCD display for £1965line of IBM compatible systems.''

Although Apricot''In 1985 ACT was renamed "Apricot Computers". By this times proprietary computers were successful in the UK, the F1 IBM PC had become one model achieved critical mass in the F Series; other machines in the series were the F1e (a cheaper F1 with less RAM); the F2 (with two floppy drives) and the F10 (with a 10Mb hard drive and US market before Apricot could make a more conventional-looking infra-red keyboard)dent. The Activity GUI Eventually, Apricot switched to production of IBM compatibles, but was replaced eventually bought by GEMMitsubishi and closed down.''

''Although *[https://apricot-archive.co.uk/ Apricot's proprietary computers were successful in the UK, the IBM PC had achieved critical mass in the US market before Apricot could make a dentArchive]*[https://youtu. Eventually, be/igjh-Dpf8yQ Apricot switched to production of IBM compatiblesF1: Histoire, but was eventually bought test, démos et jeux] by Mitsubishi and closed down. ''[[Olipix]]