Olivetti Alive
Olivetti
KindCompany
Founded1908
StatusAlive
FoundersCamillo Olivetti
FieldBusiness machines
Sourcewww.olivetti.com ↗
Italy's design-led office-machine maker — the Programma 101 (1965), arguably the first desktop personal computer, and a controlling stake in Acorn during the ARM years.
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Camillo Olivetti's Ivrea typewriter firm became design's conscience under son Adriano — the Lettera 22, the Valentine, the Summa 19. The Programma 101 (1965), a desktop programmable calculator with printer, is arguably the first personal computer sold.
Olivetti controlled Acorn from 1985–91 and made the M20 and M24 PCs; Telecom Italia absorbed it in 2003. The brand survives on niche Italian products.