Does Olivetti still exist?

Olivetti still exists, but these days it is a small office machinery company. Its former factories, jewels of 20th-century industrial architecture, have been refashioned as museums.

What is the Programma 101?

Organisers. 1965 New York World Fair. Long before Microsoft and Apple and at a time when computers were big and expensive machines largely unknown to the general public, the Olivetti industries presented the Programma 101, the world’s first desktop computer.

Who designed the Olivetti Programma that became the first commercial personal computer?

engineer Pier Giorgio Perotto
The Programma 101 takes its nickname, Perottina, from that of its inventor – Italian electrical engineer Pier Giorgio Perotto, then 32 years old – to whom Olivetti assigned the direction of the project in 1962.

What kind of display did the Programma 101 have?

By Apollo 11 we had a desktop computer, sort of, kind of, called an Olivetti Programma 101. It was a kind of supercalculator. It was probably a foot and a half square, and about maybe eight inches tall.

How much is an Olivetti typewriter worth?

On average, fully serviced and restored typewriters can be worth up to $1,000, and the earlier the model, the higher its estimated value. For example, a functional Olivetti Studio 42 from the 1940s is listed for $850, whereas a working Olivetti Lettera 32 is only listed for a little over $200.

Who bought Olivetti?

In 2003 Olivetti was absorbed into the Telecom Italia group. The PC in the 1980s was no match to Apple’s Mac with its graphical user interface. Apple’s Steve Jobs had more tricks up his sleeve after he left the company. >> The journey to modern computing has involved several companies, each making a vital contribution.

What did Olivetti invent?

Almost 50 years ago, a small team at the Italian company Olivetti managed to do what no one had done before them; they created a computer small enough to fit on a desk, and could be used by regular people. It was the Programma 101, what many consider to be the world’s first personal computer.

What happened to Olivetti computers?

According to its entry on Wikipedia, Luxembourg-based Bell acquired a controlling stake in Olivetti in 1999, but sold it to a consortium including the Pirelli and Benetton groups two years later. In 2003 Olivetti was absorbed into the Telecom Italia group.

Are old typewriters worth money?

Typewriters that were made in the 1940s or earlier, especially those manufactured in the 19th century, may be worth some money if they’re still in working order. Non-working antique typewriters are typically worth about $50, but refurbished models can earn $800 or more.

Where are Olivetti typewriters made?

The Olivetti company, an Italian manufacturer of computers, tablets, smartphones, printers and other such business products as calculators and fax machines, was founded as a typewriters manufacturer by Camillo Olivetti in 1908 in the Turin commune of Ivrea, Italy.

When did Olivetti go out of business?

Adriano Olivetti’s death in 1960 brought to an end the Olivetti family’s direct management of the corporation. The company employed some 40,000 people, less than half of whom worked in Italy, in 1960, and its capital had reached L 40 billion.