PC-8000 Series

PC-8001
Developer Nippon Electric
Manufacturer New Nippon Electric[1]
Type Home computer
Release date September 1979 (1979-09)[1][2]
Introductory price 168,000 yen
Discontinued January 1983 (1983-01)[3]
Units sold 250,000[3]
Operating system DISK-BASIC, CP/M
CPU NEC μPD780C (Z80 compatible) @ 4 MHz
Memory ROM 24 KB, RAM 16 KB
Graphics text 80 x 25, graphics 160 x 100, 8 colors
Power AC 100 V 50/60 Hz 20 W
Dimensions 430(W) × 260(D) × 80(H) mm
Weight 4 kg
Predecessor COMPO BS/80
Successor NEC PC-6001
NEC PC-8801

The PC-8000 series was a line of personal computers developed for the Japanese market by NEC. The PC-8001 model was also sold in the United States [4] and in the UK as the PC-8001A.[5]

PC-8001

Advert in ASCII June 1979. "A dramatic story with the computer will begin. The Personal Computer comes out from NEC."

The first member of the PC-8000 series, the PC-8001 was first introduced on May 9, 1979,[6] and went on sale September 1979 for ¥168,000.[1][2] Its design combined the keyboard and the mainboard into a single unit. At a time when most micro-computers were sold as "semi-kits" requiring end user assembly, the fully assembled PC-8001 was a rarity in the market. Peripherals included a printer, a cassette tape storage unit, and a CRT interface. Although it is often believed to be the first domestically produced personal computer for the Japanese market, in reality it was preceded by the Hitachi Basic Master.

Specification

PC-8001mkII

A higher-performance, more graphically capable revision of the PC-8001, the Mark II debuted in March 1983 for a price of 123,000 yen.

While its most obvious improvement was in its graphical capabilities, the Mark II also included an internal 5.25" floppy disk interface as well as two internal expansion slots, doing away with the need for an "expansion box" to permit upgrades. The internal BASIC was changed as well, from the 24KB N-BASIC to a 32KB "N80-BASIC" that added new conditional statements as well as graphics commands.

While the price of the PC-8001mkII was comparable with other 8-bit computer offerings at the time, its graphics were notably worse than its competitors (most likely an attempt on NEC's part to avoid competing with their own, higher-powered PC-8800 series). This led to a relative dearth of software produced for it, particularly games.

PC-8001mkIISR

A games-oriented revision of the PC-8001mkII with significantly better graphics and sound, making its debut in January 1985 for 108,000 yen.

The mkIISR increased the frame-buffer memory from 16KB to 48KB, allowing for 640×200-pixel graphics or 320×200-pixel double-buffered graphics modes. Additionally, the primitive PC speaker was replaced by an FM synthesis audio system. Its internal BASIC was also updated to allow usage of this new hardware, as well as providing mkII and PC-8001 compatibility modes (although a significant proportion of older software would not run properly under these modes). Other changes included the change of one general-purpose expansion slot to a Kanji character ROM expansion slot, a PC-8800 series keyboard connector, and an Atari-style joystick connector.

Reception

Although handicapped by the lack of English documentation, BYTE's American reviewers concluded in January 1981 after evaluating a unit purchased in Japan that "the PC-8001 appears to be an attractive, well-planned, and well-made personal computer ... Most people who have seen our PC-8001 feel that, if it were sold in our country, it would provide strong competition for any of the color-based home computers currently being sold".[8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 日本電気社史編纂室 (2001-12-25). 日本電気株式会社百年史 [100 year history of NEC]. 日本電気. pp. 653–654.
  2. 1 2 Forster, Winnie (2005). The encyclopedia of consoles, handhelds & home computers 1972 - 2005. GAMEPLAN. p. 33. ISBN 3-00-015359-4.
  3. 1 2 小林紀興 (1987). 富士通の大逆襲計画 [The big counterattack plan by Fujitsu]. 講談社. p. 93. ISBN 4-06-192807-4.
  4. ↑ Webster, Tony (1981). Microcomputer Buyer's Guide. p. 208.
  5. ↑ "Buyer's Guide". Which Micro?: 104. April 1983.
  6. ↑ "日電と日本マイクロコンピュータ、低価格パソコン相次ぎ新製品発表" [NEC and Nippon Microcomputer announced new products Low-priced personal computer',' one after another.]. Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun. The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Ltd. 1979-05-10. p. 14.
  7. ↑ http://www.1000bit.it/ad/bro/nec/NECpc8000number2.pdf
  8. ↑ Keith, Michael; Kocher, C P (January 1981). "The NEC PC-8001: A New Japanese Personal Computer". BYTE. pp. 72–88. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
Preceded by
COMPO BS/80		 NEC Personal Computers Succeeded by
NEC PC-6001
NEC PC-8801
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