The Mysterious Affair at Olivetti

Explore the never-before-told true account of the design and development of the first desktop computer by the world's most famous high-styled typewriter company. This book delves into the human, business, design, engineering, cold war, and tech story of how the Olivetti company came to be, including its survival during two world wars and its significant role in bringing a ravaged Italy back to life. Follow along as Olivetti enters the fierce electronics race and develops its first desktop computer, catching up with and surpassing IBM within 18 months. Learn how Olivetti made inroads into the US market by taking control of Underwood of Hartford CT as an assembly plant for Olivetti's own typewriters and future miniaturized personal computers, and how the legendary idealist, socialist, visionary, heir to the company, Adriano Olivetti, built the company into a fantastical dynasty while his brilliant young engineer, who had assembled Olivetti's superb team of electronic engineers, was killed in a suspicious car crash.