Olivetti Envision

The Olivetti Envision (400/P75) was an Italian multimedia personal computer produced in 1995.^[1][2][3] It came with a choice of two processors: Intel 486 DX4 100 MHz or Intel Pentium P75.^[2]

Olivetti Envision (400/P75)

Manufacturer	Olivetti
Type	Multimedia personal computer
Release date	1995; 30 years ago (1995)
Discontinued	1996; 29 years ago (1996)
Operating system	Windows 95
CPU	Intel 486 DX4 100 MHz or Intel Pentium P75 processor
Memory	8 MB
Storage	Floppy disk; Hard drive; CD-ROM
Removable storage	1.4 MB 3.5" floppy disk; CD-ROM
Display	VGA monitor, TV; 1024x768, 800x600
Graphics	Trident TGV9470
Sound	Crystal Semiconductor Corporation CS4231 + Oak Mozart OTI 605
Input	Keyboard, remote
Connectivity	Parallel, Serial, Modem

It had an infrared keyboard and internal modem, and it was compatible with audio CDs, CD-ROMs, Photo CDs and Video CDs.^[4] Preinstalled software allowed the computer to work as a fax or answering machine when connected to a telephone line.^[5]

The Envision had three possible operating modes:

• Simple (limited to the use of an infrared remote control to control the volume and the reproduction of photo, video or audio CDs);
• Intermediate (a simplified Windows shell replacement called Olipilot that gave access to a limited set of programs);
• Advanced (standard Windows 95 graphical user interface).^[3]

Designed by M. De Lucchi,^[1] the declared goal for this device was to convince non-computer-savvy people that computers are not impossibly hard to use and can be bought and used like normal home appliances. For this reason, it was intentionally designed to resemble a videocassette recorder more than a computer, and it was equipped with two SCART sockets (to connect it to a TV set),^[1] a TV-like remote control, and a slot that could host a satellite TV decoder card.^[6]

The Olivetti Envision was discontinued in 1996 due to poor sales caused by its excessive price, many software bugs and limited expandability.^[7][2]

Technical specifications

Sources:^[1][8]

• CPU: Intel 486 DX4 @ 100 MHz or Intel Pentium @ 75 MHz
• RAM: 8 MB
• Graphics: Trident TGV9470^[9] (1 MB, integrated into the motherboard, compatible with Number Nine GXE Graphics Accelerator, Infotronic IPG 64 and Spea Video 7 Mercury)
• Resolutions: 1024 x 768 with 256 colors (monitor), 800 x 600 with 65,536 colors (TV)
• Audio: Crystal Semiconductor Corporation CS4231^[10] + Oak Mozart OTI 605^[11] (compatible with the MPC2 multimedia standard, Roland SCC-1 and Sound Blaster 16)
• Connectors: 3 expansion slots, 2 SCART, audio out, MIDI, VGA out, serial, parallel, modem
• Storage: 1.4 MB 3.5” floppy disk; 635 MB hard disk, CD-ROM drive
• Keyboard: 83 keys infrared keyboard