Sheduled to be released in the U.S. in 1983 summertime, the PC-8201 was expected to compete directly with Tandy Model 100. Both machines were very similar, but the NEC could expand its internal RAM memory from 16 KB to 64 KB (only 32 KB for the Model 100).
The 8201's 32 KB ROM contained the operating system, Microsoft BASIC interpreter, a simple text-editing program and a telecommunication program. It could display the full 128 ASCII character set as well as Japanese Katakana characters and 61 user-definable characters.
Nec produced its own range of peripherals for the 8201, like a floppy disc controller (PC-8233) and various floppy drive units, including the most sold 3.5" unit (PC-8031). A video monitor adapter (PC-8240), an acoustic modem and a bar-code reader were also available.
Same hardware basis, made in fact by Kyocera, was also sold as the Tandy (TRS-80) Model 100 (USA), Olivetti M10 (Europe), and Kyocera Keytronic (Asia).
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Ben adds:
You can sync this computer with a standard PC using a serial cable connection and some terminal program like PROCOMM. I've gotten it to work with ASCII protocol so far.
Something else really cool is that this system should last 20+ hours on a single charge of batteries. That, and a really high-quality keboard for quick note-grabbing during a class or a presentation.
We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system,
please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.
I used the PC8201A for a job in Greenland about 1986. Some Landis $ Gyr substations used for a supervision system should be exchanged to newer models. I used the teletype to save the configuration data, used the wordprocessor for search and replace, and the basic to generate some other conversions. And then the teletype to upload to the new substations. It was simply marveless for the job. Would love have one. I also made a speedpilot-program in basic to calculate time to desination, and a BLOCK game. I really like the basic in it.
Wednesday 11th May 2011
Jesper (Danmark)
I still have one under my bed - it was a Japanese version of PC-8201 in silver color.
It has N82-BASIC, and surprisingly it has a dedicated word processor (text editor should be a more accurate description), and a TTY terminal... really went ahead of its time.
Saturday 15th May 2010
Slowmotion (Hong Kong)
I bought my PC 8201 while living in Tokyo shortly after it came on the market in 1983. I used it for note-taking, correspondence, learning basic and for hooking up to largely unsatisfying mail boxes. After learning basic on it, I wrote a "mastermind" program (including stone-age graphics and sounds) that I stored on audio cassette tape. It worked wonderfully for the entire time I used it. Very long battery life. Very crisp feel to the keyboard. Instant boot-up (no non-volatile memory of any sort). When I moved on to other computers, I could never bring myself to dispose of the PC 8201. I still have it and it still works.
Monday 17th July 2006
Joe (USA)
NAME
PC 8201A
MANUFACTURER
NEC
TYPE
Portable
ORIGIN
Japan
YEAR
1983
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
Microsoft BASIC 1.0
KEYBOARD
Full-stroke 67-key with 5 function keys and arrow keypad
CPU
Intel 80C85
SPEED
2.4 576 MHz
RAM
16 KB up to 64 KB internally, and 128 KB via IC sockets underneath unit
ROM
32 KB (standard, up to 64 KB)
TEXT MODES
40 chars. x 8 lines
GRAPHIC MODES
240 x 64 dots
COLOrsc
Monochrome
SOUND
4 channels, 3.5 octaves
SIZE / WEIGHT
30 (W) x 21.3 (D) x 3.3 (H) cm. / 1.7 kg
I/O PORTS
RS 232 (DSUB 25 pin type), SIO1, SIO2 connectors, 8 pin duPont BERG modular jack - 3 megabytes/minute max transfer CMT socket - 8 pin DIN plug for cassette recorder, Standard centronics printer port, Bar code reader socket - 9 pin DSUB connector, SYSTEM SLOT - for ram cartridges (programs, software etc.)
BUILT IN MEDIA
CMOS battery backup RAM
POWER SUPPLY
4 x AA batteries, NiCad battery pack or AC adaptor (DC 6-8.5V, 600mW)
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