To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the October Revolution in 1986, the Party decided to give the delegates of the 27th Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union pocket PCs instead of the traditional pocket notebooks. The development was assigned to Zelenograd’s Research Institute of Fine Technology (now Angstrem), with L. Otrokhov as Lead Designer.
In 1987, using MK-85 as the foundation, the scientists came out with the first Russian personal microcomputer — the Elektronika MK-87. It had a built-in power supply, non-volatile memory, digital notebook and a digital clock. The microcomputer was a limited edition run of just 7,000 units and retailed for 160 RUB. The device was based on Casio’s PF-3000.
In calculator mode, the MK-87 can perform the four arithmetic operations, calculations with a constant, square rooting, percentage calculations and memory-related processes. It can also store up to 100 phone numbers. The memory mode enables the user to save 30 lines of any text with 60 symbols per line. Finally, the card index mode can store several tables with up to 20 columns. The user can protect the device’s memory with a special password, set by pressing the key symbol button.
The microcomputer could also erase all data with a special control command, search surnames, and sort phone contacts alphabetically. The device’s twelve-digit LCD scrolled horizontally.
The MK-87 ran on four STs-0,18 batteries and one FL-2016 battery; the clock was powered by a single STs-59battery.
Dimensions: 140×82×14 mm (closed), 140×175×9.5 mm (open)
Weight: up to 200 g
