Radio Shack decided to sell the PC-1500 with it’s own face.
Look at the keys, they are perfectly ordered !
But i don’t think it’s very useful.
The CPU board is not different.
TRS-80 PC2
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CE-150
The CE-150 is part of PC-1500’s success.
In 1981 getting a plotter for pocket computer was an event.
4 colors, with tape input/output, full expansion bus… all to make the PC-1500 a powerful system.
PC-1500A
And now the updated version arrives in USA and Europe.
With it’s dark brown paint you can make the difference.
PC-1501
Now there is enough memory : the PC-1501 is a really usable system.
The display board is new, with the expanded memory.
PC-1500
The European and USA version released in 1982.
The board is final, the production runs !
PC-1500 Japan
Family’s first, born in 1981.
You can see the Katana codes near the keys.
They are only available with CE-157 or after loading CE-156 tape.
You can see many straps on these early boards.
Was it a design problem ? Production problem ?
New paper or plastic keyboard tool
Here are my new paper and plastic tool for the keyboard.
The difference with Sharp ones is that these cover the function keys.
The magnificent seven…
The story tell about seven… pocket computers based on the Sharp PC-1500.
Yesterday i received the PTA-4000 and PTA-4000+16 with printers KA-160.
With my screwdriver i opened the PTA-4000 : PC-1500 like. Just have to check the ROM version.
And opened the PTA-4000+16 : WOW !!! Was it produced “as-is” by Sharp ? Modified by Hungarian company ?
Incredible… will write a paper about this…
Here are the seven :
PC-1500 / PC-1500A
PC-1500 japan / PC-1501
PTA-4000 / PTA-4000+16
TRS-80 PC2
Some nice parts
Here are some nice parts received today :
128KBx8 static RAM
PC-1500 male connectors… extremly rare item
192×64 LCD
All needed to expand the PC-1500
The project
You all own a Sharp PC-1500 ? The nicest pocket computer produced by Sharp is a real success and 30 years after production end you can ever buy it on auction websites. Incredible ? No !
The system is build with good design and robust materials. Do you know lot of pocket computers with full signals expansion bus ? I don’t…
It’s an expandable machine. Its ROM too. All is done to comfortably add functions and build a big small system. But… not enough RAM, small display, no communication ports !
It’s time to renew this machine, take the best of it’s components, add missing parts and functionalities and build the PC-1560 ! That’s the project !
Christmas ? Yes !!! Wow two 192×64 LCD ! Wow some 128x8Kb RAMs ! Wow some 60 pins male connectors ! Wow new LH5801 and LH5811 chips ! Nice hardware !
Wow a skilled developer with PC-1500 ROM knowledge ! Welcome CGH !
Ideas are welcome too !
Follow the PC-1560 project…