The Albert is an Apple II clone released by Albert Computers, Inc., in 1983. Six models, comparable to the Apple IIe, were ultimately produced.
Description
Albert Computers, Inc. offered a "complete system"[1] for approximately the price of a basic Apple IIe. This included 64k of RAM (192k max), upper and lower case, 256 colors (as opposed to the Apple IIe’s 16 colors), enhanced graphics, Analog RGB support, serial and parallel ports, a graphics digitizer tablet, voice recognition, a software package (including word processor, spreadsheet, data manager, mailing list, word speller), 110/220v AC/DC power, and even an integrated battery backup (option).
The Albert had an unusual "two-piece design" which the company termed "stereo" styling.
History
Albert computer system, 1983
Albert Computers, Inc., based in Thousand Oaks, California, modeled its line of Apple clones on the Apple IIe and aimed at home and business consumers.
The company, which insisted that the Albert was not an Apple clone but an improvement, said, "It’s a next-generation computer with more than a dozen advanced hardware features and software capabilities."
The base model of the Albert was $1,595, while the base price of the Apple IIe was $1,395. The options that came standard with the Albert were over $3,000.
Albert's marketing featured an image of Albert Einstein and copy which read: "When you're ready to buy a personal computer, it's easy to see why Albert is smarter than Apple." However, Albert Computers, Inc. quickly ran afoul of Apple Computer, Inc., which sued for copyright infringement.
PC Magazine (April 11, 1989) "Dvorak's Hall of Infamy": The Order of the White Elephant ("Products that were ill-timed or flawed, but somewhat interesting.")
