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About Us
AltairMini was created with a simple mission: to preserve the history of early personal computing by designing and building high-quality, fully functional miniature replicas of the computers that changed the world.
Inspired by legendary systems such as theALTAIR 8800andIMSAI 8080our products allow today’s enthusiasts to experience the excitement of operating the pioneering computers of the 1970s—without sacrificing the reliability and convenience of modern technology.
The Altair Mini project was born from a lifelong passion for vintage computers, electronics, and the history of personal computing.
What started as a personal engineering challenge soon evolved into a project dedicated to recreating some of the most iconic computers ever built, with the goal of making them accessible to collectors, educators, makers, museums, and retro-computing enthusiasts around the world.
Every product reflects countless hours of research, design, testing, and refinement to deliver an authentic user experience while taking advantage of modern electronic components.
2023 – First AltairMini prototype
2024 – First public release
2025 – IMSAI Mini introduced
2026 – Worldwide customer community
Altair Mini was founded and is developed by Pino Convertino, an electronics enthusiast and retro-computing designer with a passion for preserving the legacy of classic microcomputers.
The project combines hardware design, embedded software, mechanical engineering, and historical research to recreate the experience of using the world’s first personal computers.
This emulator is based on Arduino Due and the open source project created by David Hansel, you can find all the information and codes here:
https://www.hackster.io/david-hansel/
Every product is designed with the same philosophy:
Respect the original. Improve the experience.
AltairMini systems are built for people who appreciate the origins of modern computing.
Our customers include:
Whether you are learning how early computers worked or expanding your collection, our systems are designed to deliver an authentic and enjoyable experience.
Our products are not static display models.
Depending on the model, they include features such as:
These features allow users to experience classic computing while benefiting from modern reliability.
Every AltairMini product is developed around four core principles:
We carefully study original hardware to preserve the appearance and operating experience of these historic machines.
Contemporary electronics provide dependable operation while remaining faithful to the original design philosophy.
Our systems are ideal for learning how early microcomputers worked and how personal computing evolved.
We regularly refine our hardware, software, firmware, and documentation based on customer feedback and new ideas.
We believe that every customer should be able to enjoy their system immediately.
That’s why we provide:
Our goal is to help every customer get the most from their AltairMini system.
The Altair Mini project continues to grow with new hardware, software, accessories, and educational resources.
Our vision is to become one of the leading references for functional miniature replicas of historic computers while supporting the worldwide retro-computing community.