This business computer has a monitor and two 5.25" drives built-in. The drives had a door lock so the disk could not be removed while a file was open. The CX-1 uses MCX (Media for Canon X series) as its operating system, which is similar to CP/M.
The character matrix consists of 5x7 dots for normal characters, and of 7x9 for semi-graphic characters. There was a graphic option in Japan (300 x 260), but it never became available in the US.
The Canon BX-3 was the same machine except the CRT was replaced by a Fluorescent Display and a thermal printer.
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.
Please consider donating your old computer / videogame system to Old-Computers.com or one of our partners.
CX-1 was one of the first computer I worked on, just after Olivetti P6060 and Apple II. I wrote a disassembler to understand how MCX and the utilities worked. It was very instructive, and it was a lot of time ago.
Friday 10th July 2015
Alberto Pellizzari (Italy)
My first Computer too. Everything start with this. Had no acknowledge of how a Computer works. We had this on board mv Finnarctis 1982. My original job was wireless operator and I was very curios of the Computers. So, I learned the OS and looked at code in the programs and finally I managed to program some on board needed porgs. I also have a fully functioning CX-1 at home, nice piece.
I remember this computer well, I was working at Canon Australia at the time writing software. I wrote a word processor for it which was sold with it. This was back in the days that the hardware supplier also had to have a library of software because each system had their own unique OS version.
Friday 12th April 2013
Steve (Australia)
NAME
CX-1 / BX-3
MANUFACTURER
Canon
TYPE
Professional Computer
ORIGIN
Japan
YEAR
december 1981
KEYBOARD
Full-stroke keyboard with separated numeric keypad.
CPU
6809
SPEED
1 Mhz
RAM
64 KB (up to 128 KB)
ROM
4 KB
TEXT MODES
80 x 24
GRAPHIC MODES
Optional (300 x 260)
COLORS
monochrome (green & black)
SOUND
plain one tone beep
SIZE / WEIGHT
56 (W) x 64 (L) x 33 (H) cm (20-7/8
I/O PORTS
36 Pin Centronics Parallel connector, 3 x optional RS232 ports, optional GP-IB port
