This early japanese computer seems quite strong with its metal case. The machine has a very sober look. The keyboard is minimalist too, no CTRL or ESC keys...
There is apparently no graphical high-resolution but the computer offers 253 predefined characters including graphic symbols.
The power switch is placed on the front case just above the keyboard.
The MB6880 formal name was "Basic Master" but it was called as "Basic Master Level 1" after MB-6880L2 "Basic Master Level 2" was released.
Basic Master Level 1 was shipped with 4KB RAM with Level 1 BASIC language that only integer value supported.
Basic Master Level 2 was shipped with 8KB RAM with Level 2 BASIC that support floating value.
These product line made great success at the beginning of Japanese microcomputer market. By the success of Basic Master serie, the three company - Hitachi, NEC and Sharp -were called "The Big Three".
Hitachi continued to release variation of Basic Master Level2 series such as MB6881(Basic Master Level II 2) and the MB6885 (Basic Master Jr).
However "Basic Master Level 2" series lacked Hi-resolution graphics or Kanji characters. Hitachi's microcomputer continued to decline until Basic Master Level 3 was released.
Thanks to Hisayuki Nomura for the info
Please consider donating your old computer / videogame system to Old-Computers.com or one of our partners from anywhere in the world (Europe, America, Asia, etc.).
(I''ll write this as a message because "Add Info" does not work)
MB6880 , formal name was "Basic Master" but it called as "Basic Master Level 1" after MB-6880L2 , "Basic Master Level 2" was released.
Basic Master Level 1 was shipped with 4KB RAM with Level 1 BASIC language that only integer value supported.
Basic Master Level 2 was shipped with 8KB RAM with Level 2 BASIC that support floating value.
These product line made great success at the beginning of Japanese microcomputer market.
By the success of BasicMaster , the three company - Hitachi , NEC and Sharp - was called "The Big Three".
Hitachi continued to release variation of Basic Master Level2 series such as MB6881(Basic Master Level II 2) , MB6885 (Basic Master Jr) .
However "Basic Master Level 2" series was lack of Hi-resolution graphics or Kanji characters. Hitachi''s microcomputer continue declined until Basic Master Level 3 released.
Thursday 10th December 2020
Hisayuki Nomura (Japan)
I love this machine I still own one at this day. But it died yesterday!!!!