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Notes |
Manufacturer |
Sharp (Japan) |
Model |
MZ-80K |
Date Launched |
December 1978 as a kit |
Price |
£400 in 1982, ready-assembled |
Microprocessor type |
LH-0080 @ 2 MHz |
ROM size |
4 kilobytes |
Standard RAM |
20 kilobytes |
Maximum RAM |
48 kilobytes |
Keyboard type |
Square moving keys with a pad for graphics symbols. |
Supplied language |
Sharp BASIC (loaded from tape) |
Text resolution |
40 x 25 characters |
Graphics resolution |
No high resolution graphics as standard but the character set contained a wide variety of predefined shapes, line segments and curves. |
Colours available |
Monochrome |
Sound |
Single channel through internal speaker |
Cassette load speed |
1200 baud |
Dimensions (mm) |
410 x 470 x 270 |
Special features |
A self contained unit with 10 inch monitor, cassette and keyboard all in one. |
Good points |
Other languages could be loaded instead of BASIC. |
Bad points |
Keyboard was confusing. |
How successful? |
Sold well in Europe. |
Comments |
The Sharp MZ-80K was one of the earliest desktop computers and was clearly designed to compete with the Commodore PET. The later MZ-80A model had a similar specification but incorporated a standard keyboard. In 1982 came the MZ-80B with a restyled case, a 4MHz Z80A, 32 KB of RAM as standard and high resolution graphics (though still in monochrome via a 9 inch green monitor). |
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