I have four main units, three keyboards, Floppy Disk interface, Floppy Disk,
Printer Cable and Joystick.
type computer
country Taiwan
year 1983
os basic
cpu MOS Technology 6502
speed 1 MHz
ram 64 KB
rom 16 KB
graphic 280 x 192
colors 8
sound 1 channel
ports cartridge, RF, tape printer, keyboard
The Multitech MPF-II — The Apple II Compatible
The Multitech Micro Professor MPF-II was an Apple II-compatible computer produced by Multitech (later Acer) — one of the earliest Apple II clones commercially produced, representing Taiwan’s early participation in the personal computer clone market. Using a 6502-compatible processor and Apple II-compatible architecture, the MPF-II could run Apple II software while being manufactured and priced at a significant discount to the original Apple machines. This made it particularly attractive in Asian markets where Apple’s pricing was prohibitive.
Taiwan’s Role in Personal Computing
The MPF-II represents Taiwan’s early and enormously significant role in the personal computer industry. Taiwanese manufacturers — led by Multitech/Acer and others — were among the first to produce affordable clones of successful American computers, establishing the manufacturing and engineering capabilities that would make Taiwan the dominant force in global PC hardware production for decades. The Apple II clone market was an important early proving ground.
From Clone to Original
Multitech’s trajectory from Apple II clone producer to Acer — one of the world’s largest PC brands — represents one of the most remarkable stories in Taiwan’s technology industry. The MPF-II was an early step in this journey: a company learning the business of personal computers by producing compatible hardware, building the manufacturing expertise that would eventually support entirely original product lines. Stan Shih’s vision of a Taiwanese company competing globally on design drove this transformation.