The MPF-1 (MicroProFessor 1) was a computer system specifically designed by Multitech (now known as Acer!) as a learning tool for use in the teaching of microprocessor, microelectronics, and control technology. In the 80's it was sold as an Z80 CPU learning and initiation system, and believe it or not, it is still in production and sold by www.flite.co.uk !! at the time this article is written.
The capacities of the system were quite poor. The standard model could be programmed only in machine code through the small hexadecimal keyboard. When sold in it's original package it had the particularity to look like a book when closed.
There was an EPROM socket which can be compared to a cartridge slot. A mini-Basic EPROM and some other utilities and languages were available as options.
There are in fact two models : MPF-1 (later called MPF-1A) and MPF-1B. The MPF-1(A) is machine code programmed only whereas the MPF-1B offers a really crude version of BASIC (one button = 1 command, as per the early TRS-80) in addition to the machine code capabilities.
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Chris remembers:
After teaching myself 6510 machine code on the C64 (well Commodore Basic was useless) aged 15, I 'formally' learnt machine code programming at college (aged 16) on one of these things when I was aged 16~18 during my Ordinary National Diploma in Electronics Engineering.
I can remember the abject frustration of typing in Machine Code in Hex, I suppose it could of been worse - ie binary
It was an excellent teaching tool though. No distractions in the way of fancy GUIs and you had to concentrate on the job in hand.
Everyone should be made to learn machine code programming first before high level languages. It makes you break problems down into the lowest level possible. It certainly makes you more concious that you are writing sloppy code in hll's such as C.
David Shepherd reports:
The picture you have is not of this board as it was in 1979-84. I suspect that this is of the modern version which was clearly re-designed at what point in time I do not know. Although, the specification does appear to be identical; hopefully they have replaced the power regulator, which on the originals heated up to 70°C and you were advised not to touch it!
We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system,
please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.
Please consider donating your old computer / videogame system to Old-Computers.com or one of our partners from anywhere in the world (Europe, America, Asia, etc.).
I never owned an MPF-1, but I did have the EPROM programmer and the printer. I bought these as a job lot from either Bull Electrical or Greenweld in the early 90s for a few pounds. The printer was pretty useless without the MPF-1. The EEPROM programmer on the other hand was easily adapted to work with a ZX Spectrum and I was able to burn 27-series EEPROM chips using it.
