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.
2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 9 | E | F | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | @ | P | ┌ | ◯ | ┘ | ||
1 | ! | 1 | A | Q | ♠ | ▁ | ▗ | ▏ |
2 | “ | 2 | B | R | ♥ | ▂ | ▞ | ▎ |
3 | # | 3 | C | S | ♦ | ▃ | ▙ | ▖ |
4 | $ | 4 | D | T | ♣ | ▄ | ▛ | ▌ |
5 | % | 5 | E | U | ⬣ | ▅ | ▎ | ▊ |
6 | & | 6 | F | V | ← | ▆ | ▜ | ▟ |
7 | ' | 7 | G | W | ↓ | ▇ | ▚ | ▟ |
8 | ( | 8 | H | X | ↑ | ├ | ▐ | ▘ |
9 | ) | 9 | I | Y | → | ┤ | ┼ | ▊ |
A | * | : | J | Z |