The Epson Equity series of
IBM Compatible
An IBM PC compatible is any personal computer that is hardware- and software-compatible with the IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC) and its subsequent models. Like the original IBM PC, an IBM PC–compatible computer uses an x86-based central pro ...
Personal Computer
A personal computer, commonly referred to as PC or computer, is a computer designed for individual use. It is typically used for tasks such as Word processor, word processing, web browser, internet browsing, email, multimedia playback, and PC ...
s was manufactured from 1985 until the early '90s by
Epson
Seiko Epson Corporation, commonly known as Epson, is a Japanese multinational electronics company and one of the world's largest manufacturers of printers and information- and imaging-related equipment. Headquartered in Suwa, Nagano, Japan, t ...
Inc. Epson was well known for its
dot matrix
A dot matrix is a 2-dimensional patterned Array data structure, array, used to represent characters, symbols and images. Most types of modern technology use dot matrices for display of information, including mobile phones, televisions, and pri ...
printers at the time and the Equity series represents their entry into the growing PC compatible market. The Equity I was the first system introduced, equipped with an
Intel 8088
The Intel 8088 ("''eighty-eighty-eight''", also called iAPX 88) microprocessor is a variant of the Intel 8086. Introduced on June 1, 1979, the 8088 has an eight-bit external data bus instead of the 16-bit bus of the 8086. The 16-bit registers ...
CPU and one or two 5.25"
floppy disk drive
A floppy disk or floppy diskette (casually referred to as a floppy, a diskette, or a disk) is a type of disk storage composed of a thin and flexible disk of a magnetic storage medium in a square or nearly square plastic enclosure lined with a ...
s.
The original Equity I
was a no-frills offering. It ran at the PC's standard 4.77 MHz clock rate, came with 256 KB RAM, expansion above 512 KB required an expansion board, displayed
CGA video, had few available expansion slots, only two half-height drive bays, and lacked a socket for an
8087 math chip.
Subsequent versions, the Equity I+ and Apex 100''
'', upped the clock rate to 10 MHz, the standard RAM to 640 KB, supported 3.5-inch floppy drives and hard disks, sported an 8087 socket, and had a ''"MGA - Multi-Graphics Adapter"'' card, offering an
Hercules
Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures.
The Romans adapted the Gr ...
compatible monochrome mode, and a new 160x200 eight colors mode.
Epson bundled some utility programs that offered decent
turnkey
A turnkey, a turnkey project, or a turnkey operation (also spelled turn-key) is a type of project that is constructed so that it can be sold to any buyer as a completed product. This is contrasted with build to order, where the constructor builds ...
functionality for novice users.
The Equity was a reliable and compatible design for half the price of a similarly-configured IBM PC. Epson often promoted sales by bundling one of their printers with it at cost. The Equity I sold well enough to warrant the furtherance of the Equity line with the follow-on Equity II,
Equity III,
and others based on the
i386SX
The Intel 386, originally released as the 80386 and later renamed i386, is the third-generation x86 architecture microprocessor from Intel. It was the first 32-bit processor in the line, making it a significant evolution in the x86 archite ...
.
Models
*Equity I (8088)
*Equity Ie (8086, only known IBM clone with
MCGA video alongside its European model PSE-30)
*Equity I+, Equity Apex 100
*Equity II (
V30)
*Equity II+ (
80286
The Intel 80286 (also marketed as the iAPX 286 and often called Intel 286) is a 16-bit microprocessor that was introduced on February 1, 1982. It was the first 8086-based CPU with separate, non-multiplexed address and data buses and also the fi ...
)
*Equity III (80286)
*Equity IIe (80286)
*Equity III+ (80286)
*Equity LT (V30)
*Equity 286
*Equity 386SX
*Equity 386DX
See also
*
Epson ActionNote
The ActionNote was a series of Notebook (laptop), notebook-sized laptops developed by Epson, Epson America in 1993. The series was Epson's answer to the Small office/home office, small businesses and home office market for laptops and initially ra ...
References
External links
Equity I+ User Guide and DiagnosticsEquity II User GuideEquity 386SX User's Guide*
{{Seiko
IBM PC compatibles
Equity