This mini forum is intended to provide a simple means of discussion about the Sord  IS 11 computer. If you want to share your own experience or memories, or add relevant information about this system: post a message!

I was in charge of the Japanese word processor development for the IS-11. We had to make our own Japanese Kanji character font ROM, and our own Japanese dictionary to be used in parsing sentences and automatically converting to Kanji characters.
The operating system had an API for displaying Kanji, but it was too slow so we always accessed the hardware directly.

I worked at SORD Computer in the 1980''s in the USA, then in Japan at their factory in Kemegawa, Chiba Prefecture.

I did some development in Z80 Assembler on the IS-11 and IS-11C.

I wish I still had one. It was far more advanced than the Epson, or Radio Shack portables of the time. None of the US computer magazines ever spent the time to learn just how powerful and far ahead of the competing units it really was. PIPS was amazing.

I have an IS-11, which is actually working, even though the casette recorder is a bit sensitive regarding how and when the recording took place, it can be hard to read from an old tape..
I also got the I-BASIC cartridge, together with it''s manual, and in the manual that is claimed to be Microsoft Basic compliant! It is working really great though! :)
I have also a WordProcessor cartridge, which is working great as well.
I am looking for the System development manual, since I was playing with the thought of using this as a controlling unit for an old plastic Robot-arm I bought about 20 years ago... I will try to scan the I-Basic manual to make it available on the web, if someone is interested...
So Keep up the good work and keep the old systems running!!