The MBC-1000 was the bottom-of-the-range system of a series of "Creative Computer" CP/M machines which was also comprised of the 11xx and 12xx ranges.
Although its design wasn't revolutionary, it was a well-built and reliable machine featuring a detachable keyboard, a 12-inch green monochrome screen and a single built-in 5.25, 327 KB floppy drive.
It ran CP/M 2.2 OS with a very fast boot up sequence. The OS was ready to run in less than five seconds after the machine was switched on. The whole family of Micropro software - WordStar, CalcStar, DataStar, ReportStar... was specially modified to fit MBC-1000 features. Sbasic, an extended Basic interpreter, was included into the CP/M master diskette.
Sanyo CP/M machines had a discreet life in business world and were gradually replaced by PC compatible systems.
Extracts from the marketing brochure:
- Compact design integrating all the functions for multi-purpose applications
- Z-80A CPU ensures high-speed processing with no-wait mode
- A substantial library of business software has been developed in the United States to Sanyo's specifications. Sanyo will also offer word-processing, electronic spread-sheets, and related software to its distributor and dealer network. A user encyclopedia for the extensive, powerful SBASIC II is supplied with the machine. The Sanyo computer will support all CP/M compatible software and along with the appropriate interpreter or compiler, programs can be run in C-Basic, M-Basic, Fortran, Cobol, Forth and others. Sanyo will support and publish a list of approved software products to its dealers, distributors and end users.
- SBASIC II adds several additional commands and statements to those featured by Microsoft BASIC. The disket supplied includes a set of Check programs and Utilities allowing extra programming flexibility.
- Built-in floppy disk drive with file copy procedure can be expanded to incorporate up to three 5"1/4 or two 8" additional floppy disk drives. The expandability to over 2.3 MB of disk storage assures the capacity to meet your needs.
- Easy-to-operate typewriter-style keyboard with numeric pad and five function keys for easy program execution
- 12" non-glare green phosphor video display screen showing up to 256 standard and graphic characters. For special graphic or alpha-numeric needs, programmable character generator allows you to change any character to meet these requirements.
- Centronics parallel printer port, RS-232C serial port, and additional 5"1/4 floppy expansion disk port are standard.
- Additional interface cards are available for a parallel port or RS-232 port.
- The interface card for the EFD860F (additional 8" external drives) is packaged with the EFD860F
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 from anywhere in the world (Europe, America, Asia, etc.).
Special thanks to Murry Augenstein who donated us this computer !
I wrote a motor insurance quotation system for the mbc-1000. It had all the cars, 40 insurers and all the age ranges etc. How I fitted it all on one floppy disk frightens me now. It worked and sold loads of them - made someone else (my boss) a fortune!
The user manuals were interestingly written. A friend opined that a nephew of the Sanyo president who was taking English in Tokyo High School, and not doing well, wrote them. I still chuckle at the memories of deciphering them.
Thursday 18th October 2018
James Smith (Idaho, USA)
NAME
MBC-1000
MANUFACTURER
Sanyo
TYPE
Professional Computer
ORIGIN
Japan
YEAR
1982
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
SBASIC II (Microsoft Basic with additional commands specific to the system)
KEYBOARD
Typewriter type, 83 keys with numeric keypad, 5 function keys & arrow keys
CPU
Z80A
SPEED
4 MHz
RAM
64 KB
VRAM
2 KB (video) + 2 KB (character generator)
ROM
2 KB
TEXT MODES
80 columns x 25 lines (8x8 dots character matrix. Programmable character generator)
GRAPHIC MODES
None
COLORS
Monochrome green phosphore (12'' non-glare monitor)
SOUND
built-in Buzzer
SIZE / WEIGHT
Main unit: 40.5 (W) x 31.7 (H) x 35.7 (D) cm / 14 kg Keyboard: 41 (W) x 7.6 (H) x 21.1 (D) cm / 3.5 Kg
I/O PORTS
Parallel printer, external FDD unit, Serial RS232 (1200-8500 BPS baud rate)
BUILT IN MEDIA
Built-in 5.25'' 327 KB floppy-disk drive
OS
CP/M 2.2
POWER SUPPLY
Built-in, switching power supply unit (45 W)
PERIPHERALS
Up to 5 expansion cards, up to three 5''1/4 or two 8'' drives can be added
PRICE
$1500 (fall 1982, USA) $3,995 (1983, USA) - includes a second 5 1/4 inch drive, a daisy wheel printer, the software package and 8 hours of instructions in WordStar, CalcStar and installation
Special thanks to Murry Augenstein who donated us this computer !
