 Sharp PC-1211 | |
| Manufacturer | Sharp Corporation |
|---|---|
| Generation | First |
| Release date | March 1980 |
| CPU | SC43177/SC43178 processors at 256 kHz |
| Memory | three TC5514P 4 Kbit RAM modules |
| Display | 24 digit dot matrix LCD |
| Input | Full QWERTY-style keyboard |
| Power | four MR44 1.35 V Mercury button cells |
| Successor | Sharp PC-5000 |
| Related | Sharp PC-1500 Sharp PC-1251 |
The Sharp PC-1211 is the first pocket computer ever released, marketed by Sharp Corporation in March 1980.[1][2] The computer was powered by two 4-bit CPUs laid out in power-saving CMOS circuitry. One acted as the main CPU, the other dealt with the input/output and display interface. Users could write computer programs in BASIC.
A badge-engineered version of the PC-1211, the TRS-80 Pocket Computer (model PC-1), was marketed by Radio Shack in July 1980 as the first iteration of the TRS-80 Pocket Computer with just a marginally different look (outer plastic parts in black, not brown, gray display frame)
Technical specifications
[edit]- 24 digit dot matrix LCD
- Full QWERTY-style keyboard
- Integrated beeper
- Connector for printer and tape drive
- Programmable in BASIC
- Uses four MR44 1.35 V Mercury button cells
- Battery life in excess of 200 hours
- 1424 program steps, 26 permanent variable locations (A-Z or A$-Z$) and 178 variables shared with program steps
- Built out of off-the-shelf CMOS components, including SC43177/SC43178 processors at 256 kHz and three TC5514P 4 Kbit RAM modules
Accessories
[edit]- CE-121 Cassette Interface
- CE-122 Printer
TRS-80 Pocket Computer ("PC-1")
[edit]A badge-engineered version of the Sharp PC-1211 was marketed by Radio Shack as the original TRS-80 Pocket Computer. (This was later referred to as the "PC-1" to differentiate it from subsequent entries (PC-2 onwards) in the TRS-80 Pocket Computer line.)[3]
Introduced in July 1980, the "PC-1" measured 175 × 70 × 15 mm and weighed 170 g, and had a one-line, 24-character alphanumeric LCD.[4][5]
The TRS-80 Pocket Computer was programmable in BASIC, with a capacity of 1424 "program steps". This memory was shared with variable storage of up to 178 locations, in addition to the 26 fixed locations named A through Z. The implementation was based on Palo Alto Tiny BASIC.
Programs and data could be stored on a Compact Cassette through an optional external cassette tape interface unit. A printer/cassette interface was available, which used an ink ribbon on plain paper.
-
Sharp PC-1211. This example exhibits a display that is failing, a very common problem with Sharp's displays of the time. -
CE-122 printer in a travel case. -
Rebadged "TRS-80 Pocket Computer" version.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Hayes, Frank (December 16, 2002). "The Story So Far". Computerworld. 36 (51). IDG Publications: 28 – via the Internet Archive.
- ^ Barry, John (September 1, 1980). "Japanese Retailer Pursues U.S. Market". InfoWorld. 2 (15). IDG Publications: 26–27 – via Google Books.
- ^ "TRS 80 PC-1". old-computers.com. Retrieved 2015-03-05.
Nowadays, it is often referred to as the TRS-80 PC-1, so as to differentiate it from its successor, the TRS-80 PC-2 (and following)
- ^ "Radio Shack Pocket Computer". Retrieved 4 August 2011.
- ^ "TRS-80 Pocket Computer PC-1". Personal Computer Museum. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
External links
[edit]
- Sharp PC-1211 on MyCalcDB (database about 1970s and 1980s pocket calculators)
- www.promsoft.com/calcs Sharp Pocket Computers
- Daves Old Computers - TRS-80 Pocket Computer
- The TRS-80 Pocket Computer
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