Basically, the PC-1245 was a low-cost version of the PC-1251.
The following features were affected: First, it had only 2.2 KB RAM instead of 4 KB, thus only 1486 bytes were available for programming. Second, the display
provided only 16 characters instead of 24. Third, the RESERVE mode, which had
allowed to assign BASIC commands or functions to 18 of the alphanumeric keys,
had been eliminated. Instead, these keys were assigned BASIC shortcuts for
easier program entering.
As a cosmetical difference, the colour scheme of the keyboard had been reversed, that is the alphanumeric part was brown and the numeric keypad grey for the PC-1245.
Internally, the electronics were more or less the same, except for an updated
ROM chip and the eliminated RAM chip. The SC61860 microprocessor, the display
driver chip SC43536, the LH532920 ROM and one HM6116 2k x 8 RAM chip were all
mounted on a single PCB. The 146 bytes of additional RAM were located in the
display driver chip.
Needless to say, that the PC-1245 could use the same peripherals as the PC-1251: The CE-125 thermal printer and micro cassette recorder unit, the CE-126P thermal printer and the CE-124 tape recorder interface.
Seiko sold a slightly modified versions of the PC-1245, named MC-2200
Thanks to Roman von Wartburg and his site for information.
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.).
NAME
PC-1245
MANUFACTURER
Sharp
TYPE
Pocket
ORIGIN
Japan
YEAR
1983
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
BASIC interpreter
KEYBOARD
52 keys, QWERTY calculator type with numeric key-pad
CPU
Sharp SC61860 CMOS 8-bit
SPEED
576 KHz
RAM
2.2 KB - 1486 bytes available for BASIC programs
ROM
24 KB
TEXT MODES
LCD display - 1 line x 16 char. 5x7 dot matrix
GRAPHIC MODES
None
COLORS
monochrome grey LCD
SOUND
CPU controlled piezo buzzer, fixed frequency and duration via BASIC statement
SIZE / WEIGHT
135 (W) x 70 (D) x 9.5 (H) mm / 115 g with batteries