Matsushita JR series

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The Matsushita JR series was a line of microcomputers produced by Matsushita Electric Industrial (now Panasonic) during the 1980s. Based on the success of the Sharp MZ and NEC PC-8000 series, it was an attempt by Matsushita to enter the personal computer market.

The JR series included four computer models: the ,^[1] the JR-200,^[2] the ^[3] and the .^[4]

JR-100[]

The JR-100^[5] was released on November 21st, 1981 with a price of 54,800 yen.^[6] Like the Hitachi Basic Master and Sharp MZ-80, it was a low-performance, low-priced personal computer offering basic semi-graphic character based graphics, a monochrome display, and minimal sound ability. The CPU was an 8-bit Panasonic NMOS microprocessor ^[7] (compatible with the Motorola MC6802, a slightly improved version of the Motorola MC6800) running at a slow 0.89 MHz, and it came with 16 KB of RAM (expandable to 32 KB).^[8]

Specifications:

• CPU: MN 1800A (6802 compatible)
• Clock speed: 890 KHz
• RAM: 16-32 KB
• ROM: 8 KB
• Graphics: Monochrome; 32x24 text characters; 64x48 semi-graphic characters with 8x8 pixel matrix
• Sound: Internal speaker
• Connections: Monitor, Expansion, Tape (Frequency-shift keying encoding with 1200Hz for space and 2400Hz for mark; 600 baud)
• OS: JR-BASIC 1.0^[9]

JR-200[]

The JR-200^[2] is made of silver grey plastic, and has a black matte area around the chiclet keyboard area. It used the same MN1800A CPU as the previous model, but added a second processor, the 4-bit MN1544CJR, which is used for I/O and contains 128 bytes of RAM plus four kilobytes of ROM.

The computer received favorable reviews on its launch. Creative Computing wrote "The Panasonic JR-200 is one of the nicest new computers to make the scene in some time."^[10]

A version of the JR-200 called the Panasonic JR-200U was developed for the North American and European markets and was announced in January 1983.^[11]

Specifications:

• CPU: MN1800A + MN1544
• Clock speed: 890 KHz
• RAM: 36 KB
• ROM: 16 KB
• Graphics: 8 colors; 32x24 text characters; 64x48 semi-graphic characters with 8x8 pixel matrix
• Sound: Yamaha 8910 (3 voices, 5 octaves)
• Connections: Composite and RF video, expansion, tape (600/2400 bauds), printer port, floppy drive, joystick
• OS: JR-BASIC 5.0

JR-300[]

The JR-300,^[3] released in 1984, was completely redesigned in comparison with the earlier JR-100 and JR-200 models. The JR-300 had a Zilog Z80A CPU as well as a second MN1800A CPU to allow backwards compatibility with the JR-200.^[12]

Specifications:

• CPU: MN1800A + Z80A
• Clock speed: 4 MHz
• RAM: 82 KB
• ROM: 40 KB
• Graphics: 8 colors; 640x200; 320x200; 640x400
• Sound: Yamaha 8910 (3 voices, 5 octaves)
• Connections: RGB, Composite and RF video, sound out, expansion, tape (600/2400 bauds), printer port, floppy drive, joystick
• OS: JR-BASIC 5.0, Extended Basic

JR-800[]

A handheld model called JR-800 was launched in 1983 with a price of 128,000 yen,^[13] but it was not compatible with the previous JR computers.^[4] It was based around a Hitachi CPU^[14] (MC6801 compatible) running at 4.9152 MHz, with 16 KB of RAM, and featured a 192x64 pixel LCD screen.^[15]

Specifications:

• CPU: HD63A01V
• Clock speed: 4.9152 MHz
• RAM: 16 KB
• ROM: 16 KB
• Graphics: monochrome LCD, 32x8 characters; 192x64 pixels
• Connections: tape, RS-232, printer, sound
• OS: BASIC

JR series character set[]

Semi-graphics character set for the Matsushita JR series, as shown on the operations manual (JR-100U manual, pg.8).^[16] Characters are rendered using modern equivalents, the exact hardware font it not simulated.