The Micral was a series of microcomputers produced by the French company Réalisation d'Études Électroniques (R2E), beginning with the Micral N in early 1973 [1]. The Micral N is considered one of the first commercially available microprocessor-based computers [1].
Micral N#
The Micral N was designed by French engineer François Gernelle and his company R2E [2]. R2E founder André Truong Trong Thi, a French immigrant from Vietnam, commissioned Gernelle to develop the computer for the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) starting in June 1972 [1]. Alain Perrier of INRA sought a computer for process control in crop evapotranspiration measurements [1]. The software was developed by Benchetrit [1]. Beckmann handled the design [1].The Micral N used the Intel 8008 microprocessor running at 500 kHz [1]. It was introduced in February 1973 with an introductory price of 8,500 French francs [1]. This was about $1,750 at the time [2]. It had a 4 KB memory [2]. Gernelle claimed it was the least powerful yet most reliable computer on the market [2]. The Micral was the first commercial, non-kit microcomputer [3]. R2E sold 500 Micrals in France that year [3].
The Micral-N’s design focused on accessibility and functionality, incorporating a user-friendly interface and expandability options [2]. It featured a modular design with a front panel for input and output, and it supported various peripheral devices [2]. Its 4 KB of RAM and the Intel 8008 microprocessor allowed for a range of applications from data processing to basic automation tasks [2].