Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

---

When the Atom launched, Acorn was just a handful of people. How could they afford to build and sell a personal computer? And why, despite this, was the Atom in my opinion the best value computer when it launched?

If you'd like to support what I do please consider supporting me below:
PayPal: paypal.com/paypalme/bigcartv
Big Car merch: teespring.com/stores/bigcartv

Link to my other channel - Big Car:
https://youtube.com/bigcar2

Sources:
Acorn Atom adverts
Acorn Computers: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_Computers
System 1: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_System_1
Chris Curry interview: youtube.com/watch?v=KrTmvqwpZF8
Steve Furber interview: youtube.com/watch?v=Q5BcbwkCSsM
Steve Furber interview: youtube.com/watch?v=W2yDnrYrhR0
Chris Turner interview: youtube.com/watch?v=ZoAXoUMWc90
Chris Turner interview: youtube.com/watch?v=GKHEsp8MYTM
BBC Micro: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Micro
Electron: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acorn_Electron
Review: archive.org/details/PracticalComputing198011AcornAtom
Review: archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1980-07/page/48
User manual: archive.org/details/atomic_theory_and_practice
Prophet 2: archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorld1983-03/page/124
Prophet 2: chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/Busicomputers_Prophet2.html
Prophet 3: chrisacorns.computinghistory.org.uk/Computers/Busicomputers_Prophet3.html

#littlecar