W > WELECT  > W86   

W86

The W86 is a french computer released in 1983 by Welect. It's the second computer released by Welect after the W80.2.

The W86 is powered by an Intel 8086 (hence its name) to catch up with the IBM PC compatible trend of the moment and is thus able to run MS-DOS. But the W86 is also equipped with a Z80A to also be CP/M 86 compatible. It's thus an hybrid machine typical of the mid-80s when the professional industry was moving from CP/M to MS-DOS.

There are 128 KB RAM available that can be expanded up to 1 MB. The two built-in 8'' floppy drives (double sided, double density) can store 1 MB each, for a total of 2 MB data storage. They were marketed as identical to the IBM 3600 standard... Up to six 20 MB Cynthia hard disks could also be connected to the computer.

The display features are basic with a 24x80 text resolution. Semi-graphics and blinking characters are in option. The monitor is monochrome (green phosphor).

The Welect W86 apparently had no success as it is very difficult to find a specimen nowadays. Its exaggerated price (65 230 FF in June 1983) must have prevented a lot people from buying one. But Welect was used to have big french companies as clients, often nationalized ones (PTT, INSEE, Météorologie Nationale, Charbonnage de France, Renault, Éducation Nationale, Ministère des Équipements et des Transports, etc). They thought that they could continue to sell them average systems to a very high price, which was apparently not the case...