Sharp PC-1211

The SHARP PC- 1210 Sharp was the first commercially available in Germany BASIC- programmable pocket computer. At launch towards the end of 1980, the computer through the low entry price (from about 330 DM ) and the high availability was (the device could be ordered, for example, by mail order at source ) is also a cost-effective alternative for computer beginners. Immediately after its introduction to the to the larger memory ( 1.9 KB) appeared identical sister model SHARP PC- 1211.

One for SHARP PC -1211 identical device was marketed by Tandy / Radio Shack under the name Tandy TRS -80 Pocket Computer. These computers were up on a white screen, black (instead of brown ) plastic parts and a different nameplate top right of the display identical to the SHARP models.

Programmability

Until the appearance of this calculator the 'languages' of programmable calculators were (eg TI -59 ) is always manufacturer or model- bound. The SHARP PC -1210 was able to handle vendor-independent programs that were created in the then very popular programming language BASIC.

The usable memory shared with the PC -1210 in a program memory with 400 steps and 26 data logger with 8 steps ( AZ) and a spare memory with up to 18 expressions with a total of 48 steps on. In addition, a further 50 were flexible ' data memory with 8 steps each (A ( 27) -A ( 76) ), but this was at the expense of the program memory. The larger PC -1211 had 1424 steps program memory, identical data and spare memory and max. 178, flexible " data memory A (27) - A ( 204).

With the interpreter comprehensive roughly two dozen BASIC commands themselves were so create at least on the PC -1211 is already relatively complex programs. A BASIC command took just one byte. Who did not shrink from soldering, could transform the PC -1210 for about $ 80 with a memory upgrade in a PC -1211.

Equipment and peripherals

Included with the computer was located next base unit, Einsteckhülle (Hard Case), German instruction manual and keyboard templates and an extensive English-language collection. In addition to numerous programs in the field of physics, statistics or geometry were also about a dozen games included.

Both computers were equipped on the left side with an interface. In the hand-held computer able to be connected to a tape drive for data storage or to a printer. The computers were doing virtually ' put there ' in the interface. The illustrated interface CE -121 was a pure interface to a standard tape recorder and had two 3.5 mm mono jack for audio transmission and a 2.6 mm jack to control the recorder. The printer CE -122 printed on a ribbon on plain paper rolls with 16 characters per line. Later combined devices were offered that had next to a printer also integrates a miniature tape drive that chronicled on mini - cassettes ( a dictaphone ).

Specifications

  • RAM: 0.9 KB of which 0.4 KB available (PC -1210 ); 1.9 KB of which 1.4 KB available (PC -1211 )
  • ROM: 11 KB
  • CPU: CMOS SC- 43177 (A) and SC- 43178; 4 bits; Clock frequency: 256 kHz
  • Operating System: SHARP - house development
  • Programming language: BASIC with partially manufacturer-specific dialect
  • Display: monochrome 24-character dot matrix display in LCD technology (5 × 7 matrix ), can be represented on the numbers, uppercase letters and special characters, but no graphics. Calculations are shown with a maximum of ten-digit mantissa and two-digit exponent.
  • Sound: piezoelectric buzzer for simple beeps, accessible via the BASIC command ' BEEP '.
  • Keyboard: QWERTY keyboard and a numeric keypad, and special function keys
  • Interfaces: 9 -pin expansion port for a cassette interface and / or printer
  • Power supply: 5.4 volts DC with four round cells type MR -44 for an operating life of 300 hours of use (consumption: 0,009 W).
  • Dimensions: 175 mm × 70 mm × 15 mm
  • Weight: about 170 g
  • Programmable Calculators
  • Calculators Sharp
Computer memory
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