ACFA, Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Founder | Andrew M. Veronis |
| Headquarters | Annapolis , United States |
| Products | ACFA-8 microcomputer |
The ACFA-8 (standing for Affordable Computers for All-8) was a microcomputer introduced in 1979 by Andrew M. Veronis, a computer science Ph.D. recognized for his technical writings, and it was built around the Motorola 6808 processor.
Description and history
This single-board microcomputer utilized the Motorola 6808 CPU and featured a memory configuration with eight chip sockets compatible with either 3 KB or 6 KB DRAM modules, enabling a maximum of 48 KB RAM. The standard configuration included 16 KB of RAM. It incorporated a cassette interface adhering to the Kansas City standard, and an 8-KB version of BASIC was provided on cassette tape. The circuit board contained an integrated color RF modulator; purchasers in the United States were supplied with a color video monitor included in the purchase price. Both domestic and international buyers received the system complete with a case, keyboard, and power supply.
The ACFA-8 was distinctive for employing the 6808 microprocessor, a cost-effective variant within the Motorola 6800 family, and it found its primary application in embedded industrial control environments. The product came with detailed documentation that Electronics Today International praised as essentially serving as "a computer course." ACFA, Inc., established by Veronis, offered the assembled unit at $695 or an unassembled kit for $595 in the U.S. market. Nonetheless, industry observers pointed out that an additional investment of approximately $300 in peripheral hardware was generally necessary to achieve functionality comparable to rival systems. The ACFA-8 also featured an RS-232C serial interface to connect devices such as teletype machines.
Located at 130 Main Street, Annapolis, Maryland, ACFA, Inc. occupied premises previously used by Wicker Basket Ltd., a retail business acquired by Veronis in 1977. Shortly after founding ACFA, Veronis transferred ownership but continued his professional pursuits in computer science and academia at the University of Maryland, College Park.