This mini forum is intended to provide a simple means of discussion about the Franklin  ACE 1000 computer. If you want to share your own experience or memories, or add relevant information about this system: post a message!

My first computer. It got me through law school, 1984-1987. I digested and summarized my notes from classes on it each night, and ended up with about a 50 page synopsis of each class to study for finals. For final in Constitutional Law, prof assigned a paper on the morning of the final, and paper had to be done and delivered to him by 8 AM the next morning. I composed mine at the keyboard, and was done and in bed by 10. Roommate wrote his out, and he and his girlfriend started typing it at about 9 PM. Neither were very good typists. They finally got done about 3. He and I were both sold on those new-fangled computers at that point.

The 80 column card was what made it so great. Apple, at that time, only showed 40 columns on the monitor, so 2 columns on the monitor equaled one column on paper- very confusing, especially for formatting titles, etc. Franklin actually showed only 70 columns (the other 10 were the margins on both sides). They did it by showing letters in graphics- very strange looking little letters, but once you got used to it, they were fine. What you saw was what you got on paper.

I think the name of the ''Z'' game you are thinking of was Zork.. they had a Zork I, II, and III.

Franklin Ace 1000''s also came standard with an 80 column card...

This was the first computer that my parents ever bought. My grandfather got my dad the hookup on it. My grandfather also did some soldering magic and also hookedup a hard drive and added a speech card as well. My friend and I would call McDonald's and prank them with the Stephen Hawking-type voice that it made. I sure miss Miner 2049r. There was another game that began with a Z as well. I don't remember what it was called but it was fun.

Oh Yeah, I remember hitting that orange reset button under the front side with my toe a couple times as well (I'd tip the seat back and put my foot up on the edge of the desk). Nothing like having to recreate a 5 page report when you don't know how to type :\ Other than that though it was a great computer!

I had one and the dealer misrepresented it as color ready when I had to buy the chip separately. I never had any compatibility issues which is understandable as its bios was copied directly from the Apple (bios disassembly revealed Apple Computer still present within the code). Although larger than the Apple ][ it had a handy rock solid case that served as a monitor stand. Its slots were completely apple compatible and I added an apple language card which which provided additional ram for use with MS Basic. Unfortunately mine died when a rented duplex formed a roof leak directly above where the computer sat causing the mainboard and hardware to rust.