Acorn Electron Computer with Games and Accessories

Acorn Electron computer, in original packaging, with games, accessories and guide book, Malaysia, 1984.

"The Electron was a low-cost home computer, released in 1983 by Acorn Computers of Cambridge.

In 1982 Acorn had won a contract to supply home computers as part of BBC Computer Literacy Project, the The Acorn BBC Microcomputer. This was an excellent educational computer, but quite expensive at about £400. The Electron was developed as a cheaper, cut down version of the BBC Microcomputer. It was smaller, simpler, cheaper (at around £200), and aimed more at the videogames market than education.

Amongst its most important components, and the source of many problems at first, was an Uncommitted Logic Array (ULA) microchip, made by Ferranti in Greater Manchester. This single chip had several functions, allowing the Electron to be manufactured more cheaply than the BBC Micro.

Although a competitive design when it was developed, problems with ULA manufacture and the collapse of the home computer market in 1984 led to many Electrons going unsold."