View source for PC-98

{{Short description|Series of PCs by NEC, sold primarily in Japan}}
{{Redirect|PC 98|the 1998 computer guideline by Microsoft and Intel|PC System Design Guide|the gene|Pc98 (gene)}}
{{distinguish|Windows 98}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = PC-9800 series
| logo = [[File:PC9800_logo_1982.svg|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| image = PC-9801-1st-001.jpg
| caption = PC-9801 with 8-inch floppy drives
| manufacturer = [[Nippon Electric]] (NEC)
| type = [[Personal computer]]s
| release date = {{Start date and age|1982|10}}
| price = 
| units shipped = 18.3 million<ref name="ozawa_2004" />
| discontinued = {{End date and age|2003|09|30}}<ref name="renamed_from_03_on_20241120230953">{{cite web|url=http://support.express.nec.co.jp/care/pctechinfo/pc9800.html|script-title=ja:PC-9800シリーズ受注終了のお知らせ|trans-title=PC-9800 Series Discontinuation Notification|publisher=[[NEC]]|date=7 August 2003|access-date=7 June 2016|language=ja}}</ref>
| processor = [[Intel 8086]], [[Intel 80286|80286]], [[i386]], [[i486]], [[NEC V30]], [[Pentium]]
| memory = 
| OS = N88-BASIC(86), [[CP/M-86]], [[MS-DOS]], [[Windows]], [[OS/2]], [[PC-UX]]
| predecessor = [[PC-8800 series]]
| display = 
| sound = 
| language = [[Japanese language]]
| power = 
}}

The {{nihongo foot|'''PC-9800 series'''|PC-9800シリーズ|Pī Shī Kyūsen Happyaku Shirīzu|lead=yes|group=note}}, commonly shortened to '''PC-98''' or simply {{nihongo|'''98'''|キューハチ|Kyū-hachi}},<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:用語解説辞典【キューハチ】|url=https://www.nttpc.co.jp/yougo/%E3%82%AD%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8F%E3%83%81.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628144244/https://www.nttpc.co.jp/yougo/%E3%82%AD%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8F%E3%83%81.html|archive-date=2015-06-28|access-date=2019-03-24|publisher=[[NTT Communications|NTT PC Communications]]}}</ref> is a lineup of [[Japan]]ese [[16-bit]] and [[32-bit]] [[Personal computer|personal computers]] manufactured by [[NEC]] from 1982 to 2003.<ref name="renamed_from_03_on_20241120230953"/> While based on [[Intel]] processors, it uses an in-house architecture making it incompatible with [[IBM PC–compatible|IBM clones]]; some PC-98 computers used NEC's own [[NEC V30|V30]] processor. The platform established NEC's dominance in the Japanese [[personal computer]] market, and, by 1999, more than 18 million units had been sold.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Computing Japan|journal=Computing Japan|year=1999|volume=54-59|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oP61AAAAIAAJ|access-date=6 February 2012|page=18|publisher=LINC Japan|quote=...its venerable PC 9800 series, which has sold more than 18 million units over the years, and is the reason why NEC has been the number one PC vendor in Japan for as long as anyone can remember.}}</ref> While NEC did not market these specific machines in the West, it sold the NEC [[APC series]], which had similar hardware to early PC-98 models.

The PC-98 was initially released as a business-oriented personal computer which had [[backward compatibility]] with the successful [[PC-8800 series]]. The range of the series was expanded, and in the 1990s it was used in a variety of industry fields including education and hobbies. NEC succeeded in attracting third-party suppliers and a wide range of users, and the PC-98 dominated the Japanese PC market with more than 60% market share by 1991. [[IBM clone]]s lacked sufficient graphics capabilities to easily handle Japan's multiple writing systems, in particular [[kanji]] with its thousands of characters. In addition, Japanese computer manufacturers marketed personal computers that were based on each proprietary architecture for the domestic market. Global PC manufacturers, with the exception of [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], had failed to overcome the [[language barrier]], and the Japanese PC market was [[Galápagos syndrome|isolated]] from the global market.<ref name=":2" />

By 1990, average CPUs and graphics capabilities were sufficiently improved. The [[DOS/V]] operating system enabled IBM clones to display Japanese text by using a software font only, giving a chance for global PC manufacturers to enter the Japanese PC market. The PC-98 is a non-IBM compatible [[x86]]-based computer and is thus capable of running ported (and localized) versions of [[MS-DOS]] and [[Microsoft Windows]]. However, as Windows spread, software developers no longer had to code their software separately for each specific platform. An influx of cheaper clone computers by American vendors,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mccarroll |first=Thomas |date=1993-08-02 |title=Crashing Prices |url=https://time.com/archive/6723609/crashing-prices/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}</ref> and later the popularity of [[Windows 95]] reducing the demand for PC-98 legacy applications, led to NEC abandoning compatibility with the PC-98 platform in 1997 and releasing the {{Interlanguage link|PC98-NX series|ja|PC98-NXシリーズ}} of [[Wintel]] computers, based on the [[PC System Design Guide]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=SE編集部|script-title=ja:僕らのパソコン30年史|publisher=[[Shōeisha]]|year=2010|isbn=978-4-7981-2189-5|pages=95–115|language=ja|chapter=4. DOS/VとWindowsの時代}}</ref>

== History ==
=== Background ===
NEC developed [[mainframe]]s since the 1950s. By 1976, the company had the 4th highest mainframe sales (10.4%) in Japan after [[IBM]] (29.6%), [[Fujitsu]] (20.1%) and [[Hitachi]] (15.8%).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m-repo.lib.meiji.ac.jp/dspace/handle/10291/19556|script-title=ja:コンピュータ企業における国際化と国際競争力(1950年代～1990年代まで) -IBMと富士通のメインフレーム事業を中心に-|last=高橋|first=清美|date=2018|website=Meiji Repository|publisher=[[Meiji University]]|page=91|trans-title=Internationalization and International Competitiveness in Computer Companies (the 1950s to the 1990s) -Focusing on the Mainframe Business of IBM and Fujitsu-|access-date=2019-06-23|archive-date=2019-06-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623151811/https://m-repo.lib.meiji.ac.jp/dspace/handle/10291/19556|url-status=dead}}</ref> NEC did not have a presence in the consumer market, and its subsidiary, New Nippon Electric (later NEC Home Electronics), had limited success with consumer products. NEC's Information Processing Group, which developed mainframes and [[minicomputers]], had not developed a [[personal computer]] because they assumed microprocessors were not suitable for computing as they suffered from a lack of performance and reliability. However, the Electronic Device Sales Division developed the microprocessor evaluation kit [[TK-80]], which became unexpectedly popular among hobbyists. {{nihongo|Tomio Gotō|後藤 富雄}}, a developer of the TK-80, observed the rise in popularity of personal computers at the 1977 [[West Coast Computer Faire]] in [[San Francisco]]. Goto and his section manager, {{nihongo|Kazuya Watanabe|[[jp:渡辺和也 (コンピュータ技術者)|渡邊 和也]]}}, decided to develop a personal computer despite criticism from the Information Processing Group. The division only had a small distribution network of electronic parts stores, so they asked New Nippon Electric to sell the personal computers through their consumer distribution network.<ref name="tomita_1995" /><ref name="watanabe_2004">{{cite book|script-title=ja:蘇るPC-9801伝説 永久保存版 第1弾|publisher=[[ASCII Corporation|ASCII]]|year=2004|isbn=4-7561-4419-5|pages=98–103|language=ja|script-chapter=ja:秋葉原ビットイン誕生秘話 : 渡邊和也氏インタビュー}}</ref>

The Electronic Device Sales Division launched the [[PC-8001]] in 1979, and it dominated 40% of the Japanese personal computer market in 1981.<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:パソコン大図鑑 最新・人気パソコン目的別全カタログ|publisher=[[Kodansha]]|year=1981|isbn=4-06-141673-1|pages=30–31|language=ja}}</ref> The vice president of NEC, {{Nihongo|Atsuyoshi Ōuchi|[[jp:大内淳義|大内 淳義]]}}, stated:
{{blockquote|It is sure that we cannot deny contributions of Electronic Devices Group as a parent of the personal computer. However, if personal computers are considered computers, Information Processing Group should handle them in NEC. Also, if personal computers are considered home electronics, we cannot deny a proposal from New Nippon Electric.<ref name="NEC_2001">{{cite book|script-title=ja:日本電気株式会社百年史|author=日本電気社史編纂室|date=2001-12-25|publisher=[[NEC]]|pages=654|language=ja|oclc=676485242}}</ref>}}

In April 1981, NEC decided to expand their personal computer lines into three groups: New Nippon Electric, the Information Processing Group, and the Electronic Devices Group, with each specializing in a particular series. New Nippon Electric made 8-bit home computers ([[PC-6000 series]]), while the Information Processing Group made 16-bit business personal computers and the Electronic Devices Group made other personal computers such as the [[PC-8000 series|PC-8000]], the [[PC-8800 series|PC-8800]] and the [[NEC PC-100|PC-100 series]].

=== Development ===

[[File:NEC personal computers advert in 1982.jpg|thumb|upright|Advert of NEC personal computers in 1982. From upper left, PC-6001, PC-8001, PC-8801, N5200, and PC-9801. The headline says "New release but useful right away."]]

In the Information Processing Small Systems Division, {{Nihongo|Shunzō Hamada|浜田 俊三}} directed the project and {{Nihongo|Noboru Ozawa|小澤 昇}} did the product planning. The development team initially planned for the new personal computer to be a small version of the business computer line which originated from the 1973 NEAC System 100. Kazuya Watanabe stated that the personal computer must have [[Microsoft BASIC]], considered compatibility of peripheral devices with previous NEC PCs, and disclosed specifications of its expansion slot. In September 1981, Hamada requested [[ASCII Corporation|ASCII]]'s [[Kazuhiko Nishi]] to rewrite [[N88-BASIC]] to run on the [[Intel 8086]] processor, and Nishi replied, saying that he wanted to talk with [[Bill Gates]]. Three months later, Nishi rejected Hamada's request because Microsoft was busy with the development of [[GW-BASIC]], and they did not want to produce more variants of Microsoft BASIC. Nishi told him, "Microsoft is rewriting a BASIC that has the same function with more structured internal code, and it will be sold as the definitive 16-bit version named GW-BASIC. We'll provide a BASIC sooner if you choose the Japanese adoption of GW BASIC." Hamada replied, "As I said, we want a BASIC that is compatible with the previous ones." They could not make an agreement.

Hamada could not decide which plan they should develop, a small business computer or a personal computer, because the possibilities of Watanabe's plan was uncertain. While they were visiting software companies to collect and research applications for the PC-8001 and PC-8801, Hamada and Watanabe discovered that the consumer market wanted a 16-bit machine compatible with both PCs. Hamada decided to adopt two plans for different markets. In April 1982, the small business personal computer became the NEC System 20 model 15, which used a proprietary 16-bit microprocessor. The machine was introduced as a new model of traditional business computers, so it was not notable.<ref name="tomita_1995">{{cite book|url=https://www.aozora.gr.jp/cards/000055/card365.html|script-title=ja:パソコン創世記|last=富田|first=倫生|publisher=ボイジャー|year=1995|access-date=2019-03-11|via=[[Aozora Bunko]]|language=ja}}</ref>

In February 1982, the software development team started [[reverse engineering]] N88-BASIC and designing N88-BASIC(86). After the team finished in March 1982, they started development on the PC-9801 (named ''N-10 Project''). A PC-9801 prototype was completed at the end of July 1982. The code of N88-BASIC (86) was written completely from scratch, but Nishi pointed out that the [[bytecode]] matched Microsoft's. It was unclear if the copyright law could apply to the bytecode. Nishi suggested to Hamada that NEC must have purchased the same amount of Microsoft's product as it corresponded to the license fee, and N88-BASIC(86) must show copyright notification for both [[Microsoft]] and NEC. Hamada approved it.

The team considered third-party developers to be very important for the market's expansion. They provided 50–100 prototypes and technical information for independent companies without a fee.<ref name="tomita_1995" />

In 1981, the Terminal Units Division of the Information Processing Group also launched the personal computer series {{Ill|N5200|ja|}}, which was branded as the "personal terminal". It used an [[Intel 8086]] processor and a [[NEC μPD7220|μPD7220]] display controller. Its architecture was similar to that of the PC-98, but it mostly ran the proprietary operating system ''PTOS''. NEC introduced it as an [[intelligent terminal]] or a [[workstation]] and was distinguished within personal computer lines.<ref name="ozawa_2004">{{cite book|script-title=ja:蘇るPC-9801伝説 永久保存版 第1弾|publisher=ASCII|year=2004|isbn=4-7561-4419-5|pages=114–120|language=ja|script-chapter=ja:PC-9800シリーズの生みの親が語る「日本標準機」の誕生秘話 : NEC 小澤昇インタビュー}}</ref> For this market, Fujitsu released the {{Ill|FACOM 9450|ja|}} in 1981, and IBM Japan released the [[IBM 5550|Multistation 5550]] in 1983.

=== Release and growth ===
[[File:PC-9801 computer set.jpg|thumb|PC-9801]]
[[File:NEC PC-9801F Motherboard with V30.jpg|thumb|PC-9801F motherboard]]

The first model, the PC-9801, launched in October 1982,<ref name=Retro>{{cite web|author=John Szczepaniak|url=https://hg101.kontek.net/JPNcomputers/Japanesecomputers.htm|title=Retro Japanese Computers: Gaming's Final Frontier|page=2|publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101|access-date=2011-03-16}} Reprinted from {{citation|title=Retro Japanese Computers: Gaming's Final Frontier|work=[[Retro Gamer]]|issue=67|year=2009}}</ref> and employs an 8086 [[Central processing unit|CPU]]. It runs at a [[clock speed]] of 5&nbsp;MHz, with two μPD7220 display controllers (one for text, the other for video graphics), and was shipped with 128 KB of [[Random-access memory|RAM]] that can be expanded to 640&nbsp;KB. Its 8-color display has a maximum resolution of 640×400 pixels.

When the PC-9801 launched in 1982, it was initially priced at 298,000 yen (about US$1,200 in 1982 dollars). It can use PC-88 peripherals such as displays and [[floppy disk]] drives, and it can run software developed for N88-BASIC with a few modifications. For new buyers, it required either an expensive 1232 KB 8-inch floppy drive or a smaller capacity 320 KB 5¼-inch floppy drive. The basic system can display [[JIS X 0201]] characters including numbers, English characters, and [[half-width kana]], so most users added an optional [[kanji]] [[Read-only memory|ROM]] board for using a Japanese [[word processor]]. Its successor, the PC-9801F, employs an 8086-2 CPU, which can selectively run at a speed of either 5 or 8&nbsp;MHz. The F2 model contains two 640 KB 5¼-inch 2DD (quad density) floppy drives, a [[JIS X 0208|JIS]] level 1 kanji (2,965 characters) font ROM, and was priced at 398,000 yen (about US$1,700 in 1983). It was positively received by engineers and businesses.<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:100万人の謎を解く ザ・PCの系譜|last=神永|first=裕人|publisher=コンピュータ・ニュース社|year=1988|isbn=4-8061-0316-0|editor-last=コンピュータ・ニュース社|pages=94–105|script-chapter=ja:NECのハード開発戦略 ユーザーをとらえた「互換性と継承性の追求」優先の製品開発|language=ja}}</ref> Ozawa explained the reason why the PC-9801F used a 640 KB floppy drive, "For Japanese business softwares, 320 KB is small, 640 KB is just barely enough, and 1 MB is preferable. We want to choose a 1 MB floppy drive, but its 8-inch drive is expensive, and its 5-inch drive lacks reliability. So, we think 640 KB is the best choice. Also, it can read a 320 KB floppy disk".<ref>{{cite journal|year=1984|title=LOAD TEST: PC-9801F / E|journal=[[ASCII (magazine)|ASCII]]|language=ja|volume=8|issue=3|pages=174–190|issn=0386-5428}}</ref>

The Electronic Devices Group launched the [[PC-100]] in October 1983 and attempted to present a [[Graphical user interface|GUI]] similar to the [[Apple Lisa]]. The PC-100 did not sell well due to its time and high cost. Moreover, the marketing competed with the PC-98 of the Information Processing Group, which did not assure distributors. In December 1983, Ouchi decided that NEC would consolidate their personal computer business into two divisions: NEC Home Electronics to deal with the 8-bit home computer line, and Nippon Electric's Information Processing Group to deal with the 16-bit personal computer line. The Electronic Device Group passed off their personal computer business to NEC Home Electronics.<ref name="NEC_2001" /><ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:100万人の謎を解く ザ・PCの系譜|last=田中|first=繁廣|date=1988-02-17|publisher=コンピュータ・ニュース社|isbn=4-8061-0316-0|pages=76–89|language=ja|script-chapter=ja:ドキュメント・NECのPC戦略―市場制覇への道を切り拓いた戦士達 その決断と挑戦の歴史}}</ref>

Fujitsu released the {{ill|FM-16β|ja|}} in December 1984. It has an [[Intel 80186]] CPU at 8&nbsp;MHz and a 1.2 MB 5¼-inch 2HD (high density) floppy drive. The FM-16β failed because it bundled [[CP/M-86]], not MS-DOS, and was marketed by Fujitsu's Electronic Devices department instead of the Computers department. They modified their policies in mid-1985, but it was too late.<ref name="kobayashi_1988">{{cite book|script-title=ja:100万人の謎を解く ザ・PCの系譜|last=小林|first=紀興|publisher=コンピュータ・ニュース社|year=1988|isbn=4-8061-0316-0|editor-last=コンピュータ・ニュース社|pages=58–59|script-chapter=ja:NECがパソコン王国になった理由|language=ja}}</ref> In another incident, Fujitsu bundled a business software package with the [[FM-11]] (predecessor to FM-16β) which discouraged users from purchasing third-party software and forced them to use it for a specific purpose, which caused Fujitsu to fail to expand their platform.<ref name="uchida_1988">{{cite book|script-title=ja:100万人の謎を解く ザ・PCの系譜|last=内田|first=保廣|publisher=コンピュータ・ニュース社|year=1988|isbn=4-8061-0316-0|editor-last=コンピュータ・ニュース社|pages=128–129|language=ja|script-chapter=ja:一番"遊戯性"の高いPCをユーザーは選択した}}</ref>

[[File:NEC PC-9801VM Front.jpg|thumb|PC-9801VM (1985)]]
NEC introduced the PC-9801M2 that has two 5¼-inch 2HD floppy drives against the release of FM-16β. This model cannot read 2DD floppy disks. The PC-9801VM uses an [[NEC V20|NEC V30]] CPU clocked at 10&nbsp;MHz, and was released in July 1985. The VM2 model shipped with two 5¼-inch 2HD floppy drives and supports both 2DD and 2HD floppy disks.<ref name="ASCII_198509">{{cite journal|year=1985|title=PC-9801VM/VF徹底研究|journal=ASCII|volume=9|issue=9|pages=249–256|issn=0386-5428}}</ref> It became the best-selling computer in Japan, with annual sales of 210,000 units.<ref>{{cite news|script-title=ja:日電ビジネス用パソコン好調―単一モデル1年で21万台出荷。|date=1986-08-18|work=[[Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun]]|publisher=[[Nihon Keizai Shimbun]]|page=7|language=ja}}</ref>

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| caption1 = Usage share of personal computers at home as of 1989, 509 Japanese businessmen answered
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| caption2 = Usage share of 36165 personal computers in 937 Japanese companies as of 1989<ref name="NikkeiPC_19890410">{{cite journal|last1=松岡|first1=資明|last2=中川|first2=貴雄|last3=礒田|first3=温之|last4=西村|first4=裕|journal=Nikkei-Pasokon = Nikkei Personal Computing|date=1989-04-10|script-title=ja:調査：パソコン・シェア 企業はPS/55、家庭はPC-9800|script-journal=ja:日経パソコン|language=ja|publisher=[[Nikkei Business Publications]]|pages=280–281|issn=0287-9506}}</ref>
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NEC permitted software companies to bundle a subset of [[MS-DOS]] 2.11 without a license fee between 1983 and 1987. ASCII and Microsoft allowed it to enter the market and compete with CP/M-86.<ref>{{cite journal|last=服部|first=雅幸|journal=Nikkei-Pasokon = Nikkei Personal Computing|date=1991-01-21|script-title=ja:トピック・レポート ソフト：機能不足が表面化，老兵「MS-DOS2.11」|script-journal=ja:日経パソコン|publisher=Nikkei Business Publications|volume=136|pages=178–182|issn=0287-9506|language=ja}}</ref> NEC also let users buy a self-contained application package.<ref name="lotus_123r2j" /> It occupied half of the Japanese personal computer market at the end of 1983. As of March 1984, 700 software packages were available for PC-98. In 1987, NEC announced one million PC-98s were shipped, and about 3,000 software packages were available. [[Masayoshi Son]] recalled in 1985 that:<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:インテル・マイクロソフト ウィンテル神話の嘘|last=小林|first=紀興|publisher=[[Kobunsha]]|year=1997|isbn=4-334-00599-3|pages=119|language=ja}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=The gap in share of the personal computer market is growing. Even though the start was not limited to NEC only, why did this gap cause? It can be said that NEC has taken a positive attitude towards disclosing hardware and operating systems since the early period, and free for third parties to develop software and peripherals. While the competitors adopted the same Microsoft's BASIC, they didn't disclose them. This difference in attitude is reflected in today's share.|sign=|source=}}

NEC took care to maintain compatibility and inheritance. The PC-9801VM can select a [[clock frequency]] between 8 and 10&nbsp;MHz and also offers an optional 8086 card because the V30 has different instruction cycles.<ref name="ASCII_198509" /> The V30 has unique instructions which are not implemented in other [[Intel x86]] processors. Some PC-98 applications use them, so the PC-9801VX (1986) was designed to run [[Intel 80286]] and V30 selectively. The PC-9801RA (1988) has an [[Intel 80386]] and a V30. The PC-9801DA (1990) does not have this, but its clock speed is configurable.<ref name="ozawa_2004" />

NEC focused heavily on financing advertisements and exhibitions, from {{yen|1000000000}}<!--1,000,000,000; commas must be removed for the formatnum parser function to work--> in the 1970s, to over {{yen|25000000000}}<!--25,000,000,000--> in 1985.<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:100万人の謎を解く ザ・PCの系譜|last=佐野|first=真一|date=1988-02-17|publisher=コンピュータ・ニュース社|isbn=4-8061-0316-0|pages=90–91|language=ja|script-chapter=ja:NECのイメージアップ作戦を指揮した3人の男}}</ref>

While NEC did not market these specific machines in the West, it sold the NEC [[APC III]], which had similar hardware as early PC-98 models.<ref name=Old-computers>{{cite web|title=Old-Computers.com|url=http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=996&st=1|access-date=5 May 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423045719/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=996&st=1|archive-date=April 23, 2011}}</ref> However, NEC began selling an IBM clone (APC IV) outside Japan in 1986.<ref name="matsuo_1988" /> By 1990, {{Nowrap|2 million}} PC-9800/9801 units were sold in Japan.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Datenverarbeitung|first1=Gesellschaft für Mathematik und|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NB7rpaaBmmwC&pg=PA502|title=Japanese Information in Science, Technology, and Commerce: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference Held by Gesellschaft Für Mathematik und Datenverarbeitung in Co-operation with Japanisch Deutsches Zentrum Berlin, Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz on 23-25 October 1989, in Berlin (West)|last2=Berlin|first2=Japanisch Deutsches Zentrum|date=1990|publisher=[[IOS Press]]|isbn=978-90-5199-022-5|pages=502}}</ref>

=== Race with laptops and PC-98 clones ===
[[File:NEC PC-9801LS.jpg|thumb|PC-9801LS (1988)]]

[[Toshiba]] had developed [[laptop computer]]s since the autumn of 1983, while their desktops were a failure in the Japanese PC market. In October 1986, they introduced the {{ill|J-3100|ja|}} which allowed the [[Toshiba T3100|T3100]] to handle Japanese text. NEC did not expect it to become the first successful laptop computer. In Japan, a typical office layout is an open office that is made up of rows of tight desks, so laptop computers received a good reception from corporate customers. In the same month, NEC introduced the PC-98LT laptop computer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/computer/personal/0019.html|script-title=ja:【日本電気】 PC-98LT|script-website=ja:コンピュータ博物館|publisher=[[Information Processing Society of Japan]]|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> This model had poor compatibility with the PC-9801 and could not gain a significant profit. NEC understood, despite difficulties, that the PC-98 needed a new custom chipset to make the motherboard smaller.<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:パソコン革命の旗手たち|last=関口|first=和一|publisher=[[Nihon Keizai Shimbun]]|isbn=4-532-16331-5|date=2000-03-06|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9784532163310/page/203 203–236]|script-chapter=ja:"挑戦者たち"|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9784532163310/page/203}}</ref>

In March 1987, [[Epson]] announced the first PC-98 clone [[desktop computer]] and named it the PC-286 series. NEC investigated and sued Epson on the claim that its [[BIOS]] infringed their copyright. Epson canceled their PC-286 model 1-4 and released the PC-286 model 0 whose BIOS was made by another team under a [[clean room design]]; it did not have a built-in [[BASIC interpreter]]. NEC countered that the PC-286 model 0 lacked compatibility with the PC-98. Although it seemed NEC would not be able to win the lawsuit, Epson settled with NEC in November 1987 after considering the damage that would be done to their reputation.<ref name="matsuo_1988">{{cite book|script-title=ja:100万人の謎を解く ザ・PCの系譜|last=松尾|first=博志|publisher=コンピュータ・ニュース社|year=1988|isbn=4-8061-0316-0|editor-last=コンピュータ・ニュース社|pages=130–137|script-chapter=ja:パソコン産業"互換機元年" 真の「ユーザー利益」は、「企業利益」追求の互換機ビジネスから|language=ja}}</ref>

[[File:PC-9801VX 10 MHz models advert.jpg|thumb|Advert in ''[[ASCII (magazine)|ASCII]]'' August 1987 issue. The headline says "Offices know the real thing."]]
The PC-286 model 0 employs an Intel 80286 processor operating at 10&nbsp;MHz - 25% faster than NEC's PC-9801VX using the same CPU at 8&nbsp;MHz. In June 1987, NEC released a 10&nbsp;MHz version of the PC-9801VX (VX01, VX21 and VX41 models). They added a BIOS signature check to their operating systems to prevent non-NEC machines from booting the OSes; it was commonly called an "EPSON check". In September 1987, Epson introduced the PC-286V and the PC-286U and also released the BASIC Support ROM to add a BASIC interpreter to their computers. Epson also bundled the Software Installation Program which was a patch kit to remove the EPSON check. Both machines were received well due to their reasonable prices and better compatibility.<ref name="matsuo_1988" /> In 1988, Epson made annual sales of 200,000 units and successfully established PC-98 clones in the Japanese PC market.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://japan.zdnet.com/article/20357346/6/|script-title=ja:業界タイムマシン19XX--Trip11：セイコーエプソン vs. NEC PC-98互換機騒動|last=大河原|first=克行|date=2007-09-28|website=[[ZDNet]] Japan|access-date=2019-03-30}}</ref>

In October 1987, Epson released the PC-286L which was a PC-98 compatible laptop before NEC started development of their own laptop.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/computer/personal/0025.html|script-title=ja:【セイコーエプソン】 PC-286L|script-website=ja:コンピュータ博物館|publisher=[[Information Processing Society of Japan]]|access-date=2019-03-21}}</ref> In March 1988, NEC released the PC-9801LV which was a 100% PC-98 compatible laptop. It was accomplished by three custom [[VLSI Technology|VLSI]] chips.<ref name="ASCII_198804">{{cite journal|year=1988|script-title=ja:ASCII EXPRESS : 日本電気がPC-9800シリーズの新機種を発表、PC-9801UV21互換のラップトップを含む3機種。|journal=ASCII|language=ja|volume=12|issue=4|issn=0386-5428}}</ref> These chipsets are also used in other desktops such as the PC-9801UV11 and the PC-9801RA.<ref name="ASCII_198809">{{cite journal|year=1988|script-title=ja:PRODUCTS SHOWCASE : 低価格386マシン&ソフトも一新 PC-9801RAシリーズ|journal=ASCII|language=ja|pages=189–195|volume=12|issue=9|issn=0386-5428}}</ref>

In July 1989, Toshiba released the J-3100SS branded as the ''DynaBook'', a true laptop computer which was light and battery operated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/computer/personal/0034.html|script-title=ja:【東芝】 DynaBook J-3100SS|script-website=ja:コンピュータ博物館|publisher=[[Information Processing Society of Japan]]|access-date=2019-03-21}}</ref> It made annual sales of 170,000 units. Four months later, NEC released the PC-9801N and branded it as the "98NOTE".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/computer/personal/0032.html|script-title=ja:【日本電気】 PC-9801N（愛称98NOTE）|script-website=ja:コンピュータ博物館|publisher=[[Information Processing Society of Japan]]|access-date=2019-03-21}}</ref> The DynaBook started off well but the 98NOTE outsold it in 1990.<ref name=":1">{{cite journal|script-title=ja:特集 : 追う98、追われる98|script-journal=ja:日経パソコン|language=ja|publisher=Nikkei Business Publications|date=1993-03-15|pages=130–145|issn=0287-9506|journal=Nikkei-Pasokon = Nikkei Personal Computing}}</ref>

Microsoft and other PC manufacturers developed the [[AX architecture|AX]] specification in 1987. It allowed [[IBM PC clones]] to handle Japanese text by using special video chips, the Japanese keyboard, and software written for it. However, the AX could not break into the Japanese PC market due to its higher cost and less compatible software.

Sharp [[X68000]] and Fujitsu [[FM Towns]] intended to offer a [[multimedia]] platform for home users. Both have rich graphics and sound capabilities in comparison to the basic configuration of PC-98. They enjoyed modest success, but not enough to threaten the domination of the PC-98.

The Nikkei Personal Computing magazine stated in January 1992 that "users choose a PC with considering compatibility and expandability. The PC-9800 compatibles is the most popular, and the IBM PC/AT compatibles also gains their strong support. PC users are stubborn and conservative. We conclude these opinions are related to the slump in other PC sales including Fujitsu FMR, Sharp X68000, AX machines, Canon Navi and rapidly declining 8-bit machines like MSX."<ref name=":0" />

=== As a PC game platform ===
{{see also|List of PC-98 games}}
[[File:Japanese PC Shipments by bit designs 1983-1993.svg|thumb|Japanese domestic PC shipments by bit designs from 1983 to 1993<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:パソコン白書94-95|author=[[Japan Electronic Industries Development Association]]|publisher=コンピュータ・エージ社|year=1995|isbn=4875661479|page=31|language=ja}}</ref>]]
In the early 1980s, home users chose 8-bit machines rather than 16-bit machines because 16-bit systems were expensive and designed exclusively for business. By the mid-1980s, the Japanese home computer market was dominated by the [[NEC PC-8801|NEC PC-88]], the [[Fujitsu FM-7]], and the [[Sharp X1]]. In this era, [[Simulation video game|simulation games]] was the most popular genre for PC-98, which took advantage of higher clock speed and larger memory reserves. The ''[[Daisenryaku]]'' series and the ''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms (video game series)|Romance of the Three Kingdoms]]'' series were particularly popular and they established PC-98 as a PC game platform.<ref name="uchida_1988" />

Towards the end of the 1980s, the Japanese PC game platform slowly shifted from PC-88 to PC-98, as the X68000 and the FM Towns also had a niche market. In the 1990s, many [[computer role-playing games]] were developed for the PC-98 or imported from other platforms, such as ''[[Brandish (video game)|Brandish]]'', ''[[Dungeon Master (video game)|Dungeon Master]]'' and the ''[[Alone in the Dark]]'' series. The higher display resolution and higher storage capacity allowed better graphics, but because of the PC-98's lack of hardware sprites, most of the games made for the system were slow-paced. As a result of this limitation, adult [[dating sim]]s and [[visual novel]]s appeared as a revival of 1980's [[adventure game]]s and gained popularity, such as ''[[Dōkyūsei (video game)|Dōkyūsei]]'' and ''[[YU-NO]]''. After the PC-98 declined, many Japanese PC game developers shifted the game platform to [[video game console]]s, except for [[eroge]] distributed by computer stores.<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:蘇るPC-9801伝説 永久保存版 第1弾|last=阿部|first=広樹|publisher=ASCII|year=2004|isbn=4-7561-4419-5|pages=121–125|language=ja|script-chapter=ja:PC-9801 魂の名作ゲームの旅}}</ref>

=== Price war with DOS/V PCs ===
[[File:NEC PC-9821Ap 5-inch FDD model.jpg|thumb|PC-9821Ap (1993)]]
In the 1980s and early 1990s, NEC dominated the Japanese domestic PC market with more than 60% of the PCs sold as PC-9801 or PC-8801.<ref name=":2">{{cite journal|last=Alsop|first=Stewart|date=1991-07-29|title=U.S. computer companies: Get off your high horse|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mVAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4|journal=[[InfoWorld]]|volume=13|issue=30|page=4|access-date=2019-08-23|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> In 1990, [[IBM]] Japan introduced the [[DOS/V]] operating system which enabled displaying Japanese text on standard [[IBM PC/AT]] [[Video Graphics Array|VGA]] adapters. Other Japanese PC manufacturers joined the [[PC Open Architecture Developers' Group|PC Open Architecture Developer Group]] (OADG) organized by IBM Japan and Microsoft. In October 1992, [[Compaq]] released a DOS/V computer priced at {{yen|128000}} compared to the lowest priced PC-98 at {{yen|248000}}, causing a price war in the Japanese PC market.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kakakumag.com/pc-smartphone/?id=13511|script-title=ja:激動の平成デジタルガジェット史 第2回：平成4～6年（1992～1994年）|last=鎌田|first=剛|date=2019-01-10|script-website=ja:価格.comマガジン|publisher=[[Kakaku.com]]|language=ja|access-date=2019-03-18}}</ref> In 1993, Toshiba introduced DOS/V computers, Epson founded Epson Direct Corporation to sell DOS/V computers, and [[Fujitsu]] started selling DOS/V computers branded as FMV.

[[File:Readers interested PC by machines in Japan 1993.svg|thumb|"Which is the PC you want to buy next?" (May 1993)<ref name="nikkeipc_19930621" />]]
In November 1992, NEC introduced a mid-range [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] PC, the PC-9821 which contained an Intel 386SX processor, a CD-ROM drive, 16-bit [[PCM]] audio playback, MS-DOS 5.0A, and Windows 3.0A. In January 1993, PC-98 desktops were expanded into three lines: a high-performance Windows-based line named "98MATE", a low-priced MS-DOS line named "98FELLOW", and an [[All-in-one PC|all-in-one]] desktop line named "98MULTi". PC-98s were still popular among Japanese users because they had many applications.<ref name="nikkeipc_19930621" />

NEC managed to adopt industrial standards and reduce costs. From 1993 to 1995, the PC-98 adopted 72-pin [[SIMM]]s, the 3.5-inch 1.44 MB [[Floppy disk format|floppy format]], [[Integrated drive electronics|IDE]] storage drives, a 640×480 DOS screen mode, 2D GUI acceleration [[Graphics processing unit|GPU]]s, [[Windows Sound System]], [[Peripheral Component Interconnect|PCI]] slots, and [[Personal Computer Memory Card International Association|PCMCIA]] card slots.<ref name="news_pc98nx" /> NEC had outsourced manufacturing of motherboards to Taiwanese companies such as [[Elitegroup Computer Systems|ECS]] and GVC (acquired by [[Lite-On]]).<ref>{{cite journal|last=木瀬|first=裕次|journal=Nikkei-Pasokon = Nikkei Personal Computing|date=1995-03-13|script-title=ja:第2特集 : 浸透する台湾パソコン（前編）|publisher=Nikkei Business Publications|pages=182–187|script-journal=ja:日経パソコン|issn=0287-9506|language=ja}}</ref>

=== Decline ===
Aside from other Japanese domestic platforms which had disappeared, [[Windows 95]] overturned the dominance of the PC-98. The difference in the architecture was not only ineffective for platform-independent environments but also increasing development resources to adopt them.

During the development of Windows 95, NEC sent an average of 20 engineers to Microsoft's office in [[Seattle]]. Even though the PC-98 uses some IBM clone components, Windows requires the special [[device driver|driver]] or [[Hardware Abstraction Layer|HAL]] to support its IRQ, I/O and C-Bus. The Nikkei Personal Computing magazine wrote, "The PC-98 features a number of MS-DOS applications, but there is no difference between PC-98 and PC/AT clones for using Windows 95. The status of the PC-98 series is not based on its hardware feature or the number of softwares and peripherals, but its strength in promotion, parts procurement and faith in the NEC brand."<ref>{{cite journal|last=本間|first=健司|journal=Nikkei-Pasokon = Nikkei Personal Computing|date=1996-02-12|script-title=ja:NECはWin 95で98らしさをだせたか―ほとんどなくなった98とDOS/Vの違い|publisher=Nikkei Business Publications|pages=160–164|script-journal=ja:日経パソコン|issn=0287-9506|language=ja}}</ref>

In 1997, NEC introduced the PC98-NX series as a main personal computer line that conformed to the [[PC System Design Guide]] and was Windows-based IBM PC compatible but not DOS/V compatible.<ref name="news_pc98nx">{{cite web|url=https://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/article/970926/98NOW5.HTM|script-title=ja:小高輝真の「いまどきの９８」 : PC-9800からPC98-NXへ|last=小高|first=輝真|date=1997-09-26|website=Impress PC Watch|access-date=2019-03-16|language=ja}}</ref> The PC-9801's last successor was the [[Celeron]]-based PC-9821Ra43 (with a clock frequency of 433&nbsp;MHz, using a 440FX chipset-based motherboard design from 1998), which appeared in 2000. NEC announced that the PC-98 would be discontinued in 2003. 18.3 million of PC-98s shipped by the end of shipments in March 2004.<ref name="ozawa_2004" /> The last version of Windows to support PC-98 is [[Windows 2000]].

== Hardware ==
The PC-98 is different from the [[IBM Personal Computer|IBM PC]] in many ways; for instance, it uses its own 16-bit C-bus ([[:ja:Cバス|Cバス]]) instead of the [[Industry Standard Architecture|ISA]] bus; BIOS, [[Memory-mapped I/O|I/O port]] addressing, memory management and graphics output are also different. However, localized MS-DOS, Unix, OS/2, or Windows will still run on PC-9801s.

=== Expansion bus ===
[[File:PC-9801DX expansion slot.jpg|thumb|Expansion slot (C-bus)]]
All PC-98 desktop models use a 100-pin expansion slot. It has 16 data lines and 24 address lines. The bus frequency is fixed at 5, 8 or 10&nbsp;MHz. The PC-H98 and PC-9821A series computers use a proprietary 32-bit local bus slot along with 16-bit slots. The 16-bit expansion bus was also called C-bus (Compatible Bus). The PC-9821Xf introduced in 1994 shipped with C-bus slots and PCI slots on the motherboard, replacing the proprietary local bus slot.

=== Memory ===
[[File:Buffalo EMJ-4000 EMS RAM board.jpg|thumb|4 MB memory board for C-bus]]
Many PC-9801 models can increase system memory by installing expansion boards, daughterboards, or proprietary SIMMs. They are limited to 14.6 MB, due to 24-bit address pins and reserve space. [[Expanded memory|EMS]] memory boards for C-bus are also available. The PC-9821Af introduced in 1993 shipped with standard 72-pin SIMMs, broke the 14.6 MB barrier, and supported memory up to 79.6 MB. Later desktop models shipped with standard SIMM or [[DIMM]] memory.

The PC-98XA (1985) and its successors, called ''high-resolution machine'' or simply ''hi-reso machine'', are capable of 768 KB [[Conventional memory|base memory]], but their I/O ports and memory addressing are quite different from normal PC-98s.

=== Storage ===
Early PC-9801 models supported 1232 KB 8-inch floppy drives and/or 640 KB {{frac|5|1|4}}-inch floppy drives. Each used different [[Interrupt request (PC architecture)|IRQ]] lines and I/O ports. Later models support both interfaces. High density {{frac|5|1|4}}-inch and {{frac|3|1|2}}-inch floppy disks use the same logical format and data rate as 1232 KB 8-inch floppy disks. They became a non-standard format while formats brought by IBM PC/AT and [[IBM Personal System/2|PS/2]] became the industry standard.

The PC-98 supports up to four floppy drives. If the system is booted from a floppy drive, MS-DOS [[Drive letter assignment|assigns letters]] to all of the floppy drives before considering [[hard drives]]; it does the opposite if it is booted from a hard drive. If the OS was installed on the hard drive, MS-DOS would assign the hard drive as drive "A:" and the floppy as drive "B:"; this would cause incompatibility among Windows PC applications, although it can be resolved with the SETUP command in Windows 95 by turning on the "/AT" switch to assign the Windows system drive to the standard "C:" drive.

The PC-98 uses several different interfaces of hard drives. Early models used [[Shugart Associates System Interface]] (SASI) or [[ST506/ST412|ST506]], and later models used [[SCSI]] or IDE drives.

=== Graphics ===
[[File:N88-BASIC(86) color text with graphics.png|thumb|Drawing 8 color characters and 16 color background.]]
A standard PC-98 has two [[NEC μPD7220|μPD7220]] display controllers (a [[master–slave (technology)|master and a slave]]) with 12 KB and 256 KB of [[Video random-access memory|video RAMs]] respectively. The master display controller provides video timings and the memory address for the [[character generator]], and the character generator generates a video signal from two bytes of the character code and a single byte of the attribute. The font ROM contains over 7,000 glyphs including the single-byte character set [[JIS X 0201]] and the double-byte character set [[JIS X 0208]], although early models provided the double-byte character set as an option. Each character has a variety of display options, including bits for secret, blinking, reverse, underline, and three intensity bits ([[grayscale]] or [[RGB color model|RGB]]). The other display controller is set to slave mode and connected to 256 KB of [[Planar (computer graphics)|planar]] video memory, allowing it to display 640 × 400 pixel graphics with 16 colors out of a palette of 4096. This video RAM is divided into pages (2 pages × 4 planes × 32 KB in 640 × 400 with 16 colors), and the programmer can control which page is written to and which page is output. The slave display controller synchronizes with the master, so the text screen can be overlapped onto the graphics.

The high-resolution machines (PC-98XA, XL and PC-H98) offered an 1120 × 750 display mode and aimed for tasks such as CAD and word processing.

The PC-9801U (optional) and VM introduced a custom chipset GRCG (''GRaphic CharGer'') to access several [[Planar (computer graphics)|planar memory]] in parallel. The PC-9801VX introduced a [[blitter]] chip called the EGC (''Enhanced Graphic Charger'').<ref>{{cite journal|year=1986|script-title=ja:新機種緊急レポート : PC-9801VX|journal=ASCII|volume=10|issue=12|pages=130–133|issn=0386-5428}}</ref> It had raster operations and bit shifting.

In 1993, NEC introduced a 2D Windows accelerator card for PC-98, called the ''Window Accelerator Board'', which employed a [[S3 Graphics|S3]] 86C928. Video cards for C-bus, local bus and PCI are also available from other manufacturers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iodata.jp/products/graphics/gas2k32pci.htm|script-title=ja:PCIバス用 S3社Savage2000搭載 DVI出力対応グラフィックアクセラレータ GA-S2K32/PCI|publisher=IO-DATA|access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref> [[DirectX]] 7.0a is the last official supported version for PC-98.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/japan/windows/directx/downloads/default.asp|script-title=ja:DirectX Home Page - ダウンロード|date=2002-04-22|publisher=Microsoft|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020803002656/http://www.microsoft.com/japan/windows/directx/downloads/default.asp|archive-date=2002-08-03|access-date=2019-04-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Sound ===
[[File:NEC PC-9801-26K sound board.jpg|thumb|PC-9801-26K Sound Board]]
The first generation of PC-9801s (the E, F and M models) only have an internal buzzer. PC-9801U2 and later models can change the sound frequency by controlling the [[programmable interval timer]], like the [[PC speaker]]. The PC-8801mkIISR home computer, introduced in 1985, has a [[Yamaha YM2203]] [[FM synthesis]], an [[Atari joystick port]] and BASIC sound commands. The optional PC-9801-26 [[sound card]] is based around these features, although in some PC-9801 models it is integrated with the motherboard. It was replaced by the PC-9801-26K to support the 80286 CPU. This became the most common sound card for playing in-game music on the PC-98.<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:蘇るPC-9801伝説 永久保存版 第2弾|publisher=ASCII|year=2007|isbn=978-4-7561-4883-4|language=ja|script-chapter=ja:PC-9801めくるめく音源ボードの世界}}</ref>

The PC-9801-26K was succeeded by the PC-9801-73 (1991) and PC-9801-86 (1993) sound card, which employs the [[Yamaha YM2608|YM2608]] FM synthesis and adds support for CD-quality PCM playback. The latter has a reasonable price and fully backward compatibility with the 26K sound card, so it gained strong support in PC games. Due to lack of [[Direct memory access|DMA]] support and poor sound drivers, it often has issues in Windows and created popping and clicking sounds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://retropc.net/yasuma/V2/PC/SOUND/pc-9801-118.html|title=PC-9801-118 / NEC|last=Yasuma|first=Sei|access-date=2018-05-24}}</ref> Late PC-9821 models use the [[Crystal Semiconductor]]'s [[Windows Sound System]] [[audio codec]] to resolve this, but the newer sound chip is not compatible with the older conventional sound cards. The PC-9801-118 (1995) sound card has both the YMF297 (hybrid of YM2608 and [[YMF262]]) and the WSS audio, but its PCM playback is not compatible with the 86 sound card.

[[Roland Corporation|Roland]] released a music production starter kit for PC-98, which combines the [[MT-32]] synthesizer module, a [[MIDI]] interface card and a MIDI editing software.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Fujimoto|first=Ken|date=2013-08-22|title=DTMのルーツ、1988年に登場したミュージくんの衝撃｜藤本健の "DTMステーション"|url=https://www.dtmstation.com/archives/51868833.html|access-date=2021-09-04|website=藤本健の “DTMステーション”|language=ja}}</ref> [[Creative Technology|Creative Labs]] developed a C-bus variant of [[Sound Blaster 16]].

=== Keyboard ===
[[File:NEC PC-9800 series keyboard.jpg|thumb|Typical PC-98 keyboard]]
The first PC-9801 model has the same keyboard layout as the PC-8801's except it adds [[Language input keys|conversion key]] XFER and five function keys. Later models have some minor changes: NFER, 15 function keys, [[LED]] status indicators, and replacing [[Caps lock|CAPS]] and {{nihongo|Kana|カナ}} alternate action switches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nkmm.org/yagura/kbd/|title=PC-98 Kībōdo|script-title=ja:PC-98 キーボード|trans-title=PC-98 Keyboard|author=yagura|date=2002-10-18|website=nkmm the Metal|access-date=2018-01-08}}</ref>

=== Mouse ===
The [[bus mouse]] and interface card kit was introduced for PC-98 in 1983. The PC-9801F3 and later models have a mouse interface. Although the [[PS/2 port]] became popular among IBM PC clones in the 1990s, the bus mouse was used until the end of PC-98.

== Epson clones ==
[[File:Epson PC-286L.jpg|thumb|165x165px|Epson PC-286L]]
[[Epson|Seiko Epson]] manufactured {{ill|PC-9801 clones|jp|EPSON PCシリーズ}} between 1987 and 1995, as well as compatible peripherals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.co.jp/SiliconValley/5860/data.html|title=EPSON PC's DATABASE TOP PAGE|access-date =June 10, 2016|language=ja}}</ref>

In the 1980s, Epson's clones preceded NEC's in terms of its features such as performance and portability. In the early 1990s, Epson concentrated a line of low-priced computer which had low profit margins, but it did not sell well. This made resellers negative. Also, NEC had strong sales in the enterprise market, but Epson did not. Manufacturers of DOS/V computers began to get sales channels, and they became competitors for the PC-98 and its Epson clones. Nikkei Personal Computing magazine reported in 1992 that "NEC has various opinions inside the company about the future PC-98, and it is doubtful whether the PC-98 will continue to be the domestic standard. The decline of the 98 compatible machine business may lead to the decline of the PC-98 itself".<ref name=":0" />

In May 1992, Epson released a high performance machine, the PC-486GR. It has a 32-bit [[local bus]] for graphic processing and an [[Intel 80486SX|Intel 486SX]] CPU running at 20&nbsp;MHz, which was faster than NEC's flagship PC-9801FA, which had a 486SX running at 16&nbsp;MHz. In January 1993, NEC released the 98MATE to compete with Epson's clones and DOS/V computers.<ref name=":1" />

From 1992 to 1994, Epson sold about 200,000 units of PC-98 clones every year. As of 1994, Epson expected only 40% growth in their PC sales despite they expected 100% growth in their peripherals sales by 1995. However, Nikkei Personal Computer magazine expected that Epson would continue manufacturing PC-98 clones for a while because NEC had kept a 50% share of the Japanese PC market.<ref>{{cite journal|last=石井|first=智明|journal=Nikkei-Pasokon = Nikkei Personal Computing|script-title=ja:戦略研究 セイコーエプソン: 販売上向くも収益低下で正念場に立つ98互換路線|script-journal=ja:日経パソコン|language=ja|publisher=Nikkei Business Publications|volume=1994-09-12|pages=136–142|issn=0287-9506}}</ref>

[[AST Research]] Japan released the DualStation 386 SX/16 in 1990 which was both PC-9801 and IBM PC compatible,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Li Nakamura|first=Roxanna|date=1990-04-16|title=AST Announces Dual Operating System PC For Japanese Market|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JjsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA20|journal=[[InfoWorld]]|volume=12|issue=15|page=20|access-date=2019-08-23|via=Google Books}}</ref> but it failed because of poor marketing.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal|date=1992-02-03|script-title=ja:なぜ広がらない98互換機ビジネス「幻の98互換機」があった|publisher=Nikkei Business Publications|pages=110–115|script-journal=ja:日経パソコン|issn=0287-9506|language=ja|journal=Nikkei-Pasokon = Nikkei Personal Computing}}</ref>

[[Sharp Corporation|Sharp]], [[Sanyo]] and [[Seikosha]] each worked on PC-98 clones, but all gave up. An executive of Sanyo said, "NEC paid far more attention to its copyright than we had imagined. We decided that the loss of our corporate image would be greater than its profit, and cancelled the 98 compatible machine business."<ref>{{Cite book|last=戸塚|first=正康|title=日本IBMのパソコン新戦略|publisher=日本工業新聞社|year=1991|isbn=4-8191-0856-5|pages=205–206|language=ja|chapter=98互換機の夢}}</ref>

== Software ==
[[File:Lotus 1-2-3 on PC-98 DOS spreadsheet.jpg|thumb|Lotus 1-2-3 for PC-98]]
[[File:ATOK 8 for PC-98 screenshot.png|thumb|Using [[EDLIN]] for typing Japanese with the [[ATOK]] 8 input method editor, running on [[MS-DOS]] 3.3C]]
The PC-98 was primarily used for businesses and industry in Japan from 1980s to mid-1990s. As of September 1992, out of 16,000 PC-98 software applications, 60% of them were corporate [[business software]] applications (including [[Computer-aided design|CAD]]), 10% of them were operating systems and development tools, 10% of them were [[educational software]] applications, with the rest being a mix of graphic design, networking, word processing and games.<ref name="OhPC_1993">{{cite journal|date=15 September 1993|script-title=ja:特別企画 : 98とともに歩く、これからの10年|journal=Oh! PC|language=ja|publisher=[[Softbank]]|volume=12|issue=8|pages=64–164|issn=0910-7606}}</ref> The Nikkei Personal Computing magazine reported in 1993 that most home users purchased PCs to complete office work at home. The publisher sent a questionnaire to 2000 readers, and out of 1227 readers who answered, 82% of users used it for word processing, 72% for [[spreadsheets]], 47% as a [[database]], and 43% for games.<ref name="nikkeipc_19930621">{{cite journal|script-title=ja:パソコンユーザー実態調査 第1部 個人編 他機種を引き離すPC-98|script-journal=ja:日経パソコン|language=ja|publisher=Nikkei Business Publications|date=1993-06-21|pages=132–137|issn=0287-9506|journal=Nikkei-Pasokon = Nikkei Personal Computing}}</ref>

[[Ichitaro (word processor)|Ichitaro]], a Japanese word processor for the PC-98 and considered one of its [[killer application]]s, was released in 1985<ref name="ichitaro_hist" /> and ported to other machines in 1987. A Japanese version of [[Lotus 1-2-3]] was also ported to PC-98 first in 1986.<ref name="lotus_123r2j">{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=by8EAAAAMBAJ&q=infoworld%20lotus%20japan&pg=PA9|title=Lotus Perseveres to Unveil Japanese Version of 1-2-3|author=Edward Warner|date=1986-09-08|access-date=2016-05-02|publisher=[[InfoWorld]]|pages=9}}</ref> 1 million copies of all Ichitaro versions and 500,000 copies of Lotus 1-2-3 were shipped by 1991.<ref>{{cite journal|year=1992|script-title=ja:一太郎累計出荷本数|journal=Maikon|script-journal=ja:マイコン|publisher=電波新聞社|volume=16|issue=2|pages=159|issn=0387-9593}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|script-title=ja:ロータス、「1-2-3」強化版を発売。|date=1991-07-06|work=[[Nikkei Sangyo Shimbun]]|publisher=[[Nihon Keizai Shimbun]]|page=5}}</ref>

PC-98 software generally ran from program and data disks (Disk 0 & 1 or A & B). For example, Ichitaro's system disk contained a runtime version of MS-DOS, main programs, an [[Input Method Editor|input method editor]] ([[ATOK]]) and its dictionary file. It used the entire space of an 1.2 MB floppy disk.<ref name="ichitaro_hist">{{cite book|script-title=ja:蘇るPC-9801伝説 永久保存版 第1弾|publisher=ASCII|year=2004|isbn=4-7561-4419-5|pages=87–92|language=ja|trans-title=Coming back the legend of PC-9801 Volume 1|script-chapter=ja:「一太郎」が知っているPC-9801シリーズの軌跡|trans-chapter=The history of PC-9801 series traced by Ichitaro}}</ref> In 1980s, most machines only had two floppy drives because HDDs were an expensive additional feature.

NEC provided a variety of operating systems including [[CP/M-86]], [[Concurrent CP/M]], [[MS-DOS]], [[PC-UX]], [[OS/2]] and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] (discontinued after [[Windows 2000]]).<ref name="OhPC_1993" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atmarkit.co.jp/fwin2k/insiderseye/20000117finalcd/20000117finalcd.html|script-title=ja:Insider's Eye：速報：Windows 2000製品版CD-ROMの内容 - ＠IT|date=2000-01-18|website=atmarkit.co.jp|access-date=2019-06-10}}</ref> Localized versions of [[NetWare]] and [[FreeBSD]] were also available.

The PC-98 had many game titles designed for it, many of which made creative use of the system's limitations (as it was originally designed as a business machine) to great commercial success. Despite having hardware specifications inferior to the FM Towns and the X68000, the massive install base and steady flow of game titles (in particular "[[dōjin]]" style [[dating sim]]s and [[Role-playing game|RPGs]], as well as games such as ''[[Policenauts]]'', ''[[YU-NO: A Girl Who Chants Love at the Bound of this World]]'', ''[[Koutetsu no Kishi]]'', ''[[Nightwalker: The Midnight Detective|Mayonaka no Tantei Nightwalker]]'', ''[[MechWarrior (1989 video game)|MechWarrior]]'', ''[[Rusty (video game)|Rusty]]'', ''[[Hiōden: Mamono-tachi tono Chikai]]'', ''[[Shūjin e no Pert-em-Hru]]'', ''[[Corpse Party]]'', ''[[List of Slayers video games|Slayers]]'', ''[[J.B. Harold Murder Club]]'' and ''[[Touhou Project]]'') kept it as the favored platform for PC game developers in Japan until the rise of the DOS/V clones.

== Models ==
Partial list of PC-98 models sold in the Japanese market (no 1992–2000 models, no notebook models, etc.).
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 85%;"
|-
! Model
! CPU
! Year
! Features
! Other
|-
|PC-9801 || 8086 @ 5&nbsp;MHz || 1982 || 128 KB RAM, 6 C-bus slots, larger [[DIN connector]] for keyboard || 640×400 8 colors, 2 external 8" floppy drives (optional)<br>298,000yen
|-
|PC-9801E || 8086-2 @ 5 or 8&nbsp;MHz || 1983 || Essentially the same as PC-9801, integrated logical circuits into several [[Application-specific integrated circuit|ASICs]], mini DIN keyboard connector 
| 2 external 8" floppy drives (optional)
|-
|PC-9801F || 8086-2 @ 5 or 8&nbsp;MHz || 1983 || Included [[JIS X 0208|JIS]] level 1 kanji characters in ROM; F1 and F2 came with 128KB of RAM; F3 came with 256 KB of RAM and a 10 MB hard disk || Internal 2DD (640KB/720KB) 5.25" floppy drive
|-
|PC-9801M || 8086-2 @ 5 or 8&nbsp;MHz<ref>{{cite web|title=Photo of motherboard of PC-9801M|url=http://computer-zoo.org/m/n/img/nec_pc9801m_PWD-333.jpg}}</ref> || 1984 || Included a [[bus mouse]] interface
| M1: 2 internal 2HD (1.2 MB) 5.25" floppy drives; M2: 1 internal 2HD 5.25" floppy drive and a 20 MB HD
|-
|PC-9801U ||[[NEC V20|NEC V30]] @ 8&nbsp;MHz || 1985 || Included JIS level 1 and level 2 kanji characters in ROM
| 2 2DD 3.5" floppy drives
|-
|PC-9801VF || NEC V30 @ 8&nbsp;MHz || 1985 || 256 KB RAM, GRCG (Graphic Charger)|| 2 2DD 5.25" floppy drives <br> 640×400 resolution with 8 colors (16 colors optional) chosen from a palette of 4096
|-
|PC-9801VM || NEC V30 @ 10&nbsp;MHz || 1985 || 384 KB RAM, GRCG|| 2 2HD/2DD 5.25" floppy drives <br> 640×400 resolution with 8 colors (16 colors optional) chosen from a palette of 4096
|-
|PC-9801UV || NEC V30 @ 8 or 10&nbsp;MHz || 1986 || Onboard PC-9801-26 sound hardware, GRCG; UV2 (1986) came with 384 KB of RAM; UV21 (1987) came with 640 KB of RAM; UV11 (1988) was 45% the size of the UV21 and had 73% lower power consumption<ref name="ASCII_198804" />
|2 2HD/2DD 3.5" floppy drives
|-
|PC-9801VX || [[Intel 80286|80286]] @ 8 or 10&nbsp;MHz || 1986 || 640 KB RAM, EGC (Enhanced Graphic Charger), [[Voluntary Control Council for Interference by Information Technology Equipment|VCCI]] compliance|| 640×400 resolution with 16 colors chosen from among 4096; VX4/WN bundled MS-DOS 3.1 and [[Windows 1.0]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pc-9800.net/db_98/data/pc-9801vx4wn.htm|title=PC-9801VX4/WN|website=PC-9800.net (With98)|access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref>
|-
|PC-9801UX || 80286 @ 10&nbsp;MHz || 1987 || Onboard 26K sound, EGC
|2 2HD/2DD 3.5" floppy drives
|-
|PC-9801RA || [[Intel 80386|80386]]DX @ 16 or 20&nbsp;MHz || 1988 || Reduced size by 12% in comparison to the 9801VX,<ref name="ASCII_198809" /> covered floppy drives to dampen sound
|2 2HD/2DD 5.25" floppy drives
|-
|PC-9801RS || 80386SX @ 16&nbsp;MHz || 1989 || || 2 2HD/2DD 5.25" floppy drives
|-
|PC-9801RX || 80286 @ 12&nbsp;MHz || 1988 || || 2 2HD/2DD 5.25" floppy drives
|-
|PC-9801ES || 80386SX @ 16&nbsp;MHz || 1989 || ES2: no HD; ES5: 40MB HD ||2 2HD/2DD 3.5" floppy drives
|-
|PC-9801EX || 80286 @ 12&nbsp;MHz || 1989 || Onboard 26K sound
| 2 2HD/2DD 3.5" floppy drives
|-
|PC-9801DA,DA/U || 80386DX @ 20&nbsp;MHz || 1990 || Onboard 26K sound, software menus replaced DIP switches
| /U means 3.5" floppy drives<br> No /U means 5.25" floppy drives
|-
|PC-9801DS,DS/U || 80386SX @ 16&nbsp;MHz || 1990 || Onboard 26K sound
|/U means 3.5" floppy drives<br> No /U means 5.25" floppy drives
|-
|PC-9801DX,DX/U || 80286 @ 12&nbsp;MHz || 1991 || Onboard 26K sound
|/U means 3.5" floppy drives<br> No /U means 5.25" floppy drives
|-
|PC-9801FA,FA/U || [[Intel 80486|80486]]SX @ 16&nbsp;MHz || 1992 || Onboard 26K sound
| F means "File slot", proprietary memory expansion slot
|-
|PC-9801FS,FS/U || 80386DX @ 16&nbsp;MHz || 1992 || Onboard 26K sound
|
|-
|PC-9801FX,FX/U || 80386SX @ 16&nbsp;MHz || 1992 || Onboard 26K sound
|
|-
|PC-9821 || Intel 80386SX || 1992 || 3.6 MB of RAM, [[CD-ROM]] drive, onboard 86 sound hardware || 40 MB hard disk,<br> 640x480 resolution with 256 colors, Windows 3.0A pre-installed
|-
|PC-9821Ap
|80486DX2 @ 66&nbsp;MHz
|1993
|3.6 MB of RAM, onboard 86 sound, supports 1.44 MB 3.5" floppy disks
|Hard disk: none or 120-510 MB with [[Integrated drive electronics|IDE]], 640×480 resolution with 256 colors, MS-DOS 5.0A-H pre-installed
|-
|PC-9801BA
|80486DX @ 40&nbsp;MHz
|1993
|1.6 to 3.6 MB of RAM, 86 sound card (optional), supports 1.44MB 3.5" floppy disks
|Hard disk: none or 80 MB with IDE, MS-DOS 5.0A-H pre-installed
|-
|PC-9821Ce || 80486SX @ 25&nbsp;MHz || 1993 || Essentially the same as PC-9821
|Windows 3.1 pre-installed
|-
|PC-9821Af
|[[P5 (microarchitecture)|Pentium]] @ 60&nbsp;MHz
|1993
|7.6 MB of RAM, broke 14.6 MB memory barrier,<ref name="OhPC_1993" /> JEDEC 72-pin [[SIMM]], [[S3 Graphics|S3]] 928 2D accelerator
|510 MB hard disk, Windows 3.1 pre-installed
|-
|PC-9821Cx || 80486SX @ 33&nbsp;MHz || 1994 ||  || MS-DOS 6.2/Windows 3.1 pre-installed
|-
|PC-9821Cf || Pentium @ 60&nbsp;MHz || 1994 || || Built-in TV tuner, MS-DOS 5.0A-H/Windows 3.1 pre-installed
|-
|PC-9821Xa
|Pentium @ 90&nbsp;MHz
|1994
|7.6 MB of RAM, 1x to 4x CD-ROM drive, [[Matrox]] MGA-II video accelerator, 2x [[Conventional PCI|PCI]] slots, [[Plug and play|Plug and Play]] C-bus, [[Windows Sound System|WSS]] audio
|Hard disk: 270 to 1000 MB
|-
|PC-9821Cx2 || Pentium @ 75&nbsp;MHz || 1995 || 4x CD-ROM drive || 850 MB hard disk, built-in TV tuner, MS-DOS 6.2/Windows 3.1 pre-installed
|-
|PC-9821Cx3 (98Multi Canbe) || Pentium @ 100&nbsp;MHz || 1995 || Includes [[Yamaha XG|Yamaha DB60XG]] [[Daughterboard]] || Windows 95 pre-installed
|-
|PC-9821 Valuestar V Series V166-V233 || [[P5 (microarchitecture)#MMX|Pentium MMX]] @ 166 to 233&nbsp;MHz || 1997 || 8x to 20x CD-ROM, or 2x [[CD-R]], or [[DVD-ROM]] drive, 32 MB of RAM, Matrox [[Matrox Mystique|Mystique]] 3D accelerator, 3 to 6&nbsp;GB hard disk, 2x [[USB]] ports || [[Windows 95|Windows 95 OSR2.1]] pre-installed
|-
|PC-9821 Cereb (C166-C233) || Pentium MMX @ 166 to 233&nbsp;MHz || 1997 || 28 inch (in C200 Model) or optional 32 inch [[Yuri (satellite)|BS]] [[Multiple sub-Nyquist sampling encoding|Hi-Vision]] TV Monitor, 3 or 4 GB hard disk, [[PowerVR|VideoLogic Apocalypse 3D]] 3D accelerator (in C166 Model), DVD and [[MPEG-2]] Decoder (in C200/V and C233/V Model), built-in TV tuner, 13x CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive (read CD-ROM at 6x in C200/V Model and 8x in C233/V Model), 32 MB of RAM, 2x USB ports (in C233 Model) || Windows 95 OSR2.1 pre-installed
|-
|PC-9821Ra43 || [[Celeron]] @ 433&nbsp;MHz || 2000 || 24x CD-ROM drive, 32 MB of RAM, 8 GB hard disk || Last computer of series
|}

=== Timeline of PC-9801 models ===
{{Timeline of PC-9801 models}}

==Reception==

===Marketing===
A journalist{{who|date=January 2025}} explained in 1988 how NEC "established the nation of Japanese personal computers":<ref name="kobayashi_1988" />

* NEC responded quickly to the new demand for business personal computers.
* NEC succeeded in attracting many third-party suppliers and dominated software production and distribution.
* NEC adopted Microsoft's MS-DOS as an operating system for the PC-98.

Western computers lacked Japanese support due to its display resolution and memory,<ref>{{cite journal|last=Freiberger|first=Paul|date=1982-11-08|title=West tries to meet East: Chinese characters on HP 3000|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EjAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22|journal=[[InfoWorld]]|volume=4|issue=44|page=22|access-date=2020-10-19}}</ref> so they could not get into the Japanese PC market until the [[DOS/V]] and faster computers came out; for example, IBM Japan sold the [[IBM 5550]] instead of the [[IBM Personal Computer|IBM PC]]. Yoshihiko Hyodo, a programmer who developed the text editor [[VZ Editor]], said two advantages that the PC-98 had were its kanji character memory and non-[[Interlaced video|interlaced]] monitor. Both provided users with a more comfortable Japanese environment.<ref name="ascii_2004_memory">{{cite book|script-title=ja:蘇るPC-9801伝説 永久保存版 第1弾|publisher=ASCII|year=2004|isbn=4-7561-4419-5|pages=17–21|language=ja|script-chapter=ja:PC業界キーパーソンが語る 思い出のPC-9801}}</ref> A senior vice president of Otsuka Shokai (a computer distributor for enterprises) recalled that "early users such as [[Kao Corporation|Kao]] already had office automation with the PC-8000, but it lacked speed and kanji support. Then, the PC-9800 was released, and it was perfect, so distributors and users immediately switched to it."<ref>{{cite journal|last=服部|first=雅幸|journal=Nikkei-Pasokon = Nikkei Personal Computing|date=1989-05-01|script-title=ja:PC-9800はどこへ行く 第2部 緩やかに進化したベストセラー機|script-journal=ja:日経パソコン|language=ja|publisher=Nikkei Business Publications|pages=180–190|issn=0287-9506}}</ref>

Shunzo Hamada of NEC thought the biggest reason for the success of PC-98 was that NEC could get software companies to cooperate. He said, "Third-party suppliers of Japanese PCs had already grown up to a certain extent. However, it was not because they were organized. They were born by themselves, and hardware manufacturers didn't touch them. When we developed the PC-9800 series, we changed our method to make a conscious effort to grow them up".<ref name="hamada_2004">{{cite book|script-title=ja:蘇るPC-9801伝説 永久保存版 第1弾|publisher=ASCII|year=2004|isbn=4-7561-4419-5|pages=4–9|language=ja|script-chapter=ja:アメリカで辛酸を嘗め思考を180度転換したことがPC-9800シリーズへの成功へつながった}}</ref> PC-98's large software library assured buyers that the machine could be used for all purposes, although most users actually purchased only a few major software.<ref>{{Cite book|last=戸塚|first=正康|title=日本IBMのパソコン新戦略|publisher=日本工業新聞社|year=1991|isbn=4-8191-0856-5|pages=162–167|language=ja|chapter=7万本のソフト資産を持つIBM}}</ref>

Ichiran Kou, a computer consultant, pointed out that IBM influenced NEC's strategy. Since 1982, NEC had four personal computer lines, and they covered a wide price range, similar to IBM's mainframe business. However, NEC's computers had poor backward compatibility and as such was criticized by users and software developers. After reforming personal computer lines in 1983, NEC began expanding the PC-9801 series and its number of models exceeded its competitors.<ref name="kou_1988">{{cite book|script-title=ja:100万人の謎を解く ザ・PCの系譜|last=広|first=一蘭|publisher=コンピュータ・ニュース社|year=1988|isbn=4-8061-0316-0|editor-last=コンピュータ・ニュース社|pages=124–127|script-chapter=ja:IBM大型機の影響が見えるNECのパソコン開発戦略|language=ja}}</ref>

NEC encouraged third-party developers as IBM did for the IBM PC. The basic hardware of PC-98 was also similar to the IBM PC, though it was not IBM compatible. Kou guessed that NEC avoided releasing an IBM compatible PC because the company was proud of developing an original mainframe.<ref name="kou_1988" />

Yasuhiro Uchida, a literature professor, wrote an essay titled "Users chose the most ''playable'' PC". He felt the PC-98 was an "ordinary" 16-bit personal computer, but it had plenty of games because it did not deny the ''playability''. He theorized that Fujitsu did not consider the 16-bit personal computer as a game platform, and considered [[IBM JX]] handling games to be of minor importance, which made personal computers less attractive. He concluded that the actual value of personal computers must be found by not sellers but consumers.<ref name="uchida_1988" />

===Legacy===
A writer of the [[ASCII (magazine)|ASCII magazine]] wrote that the [[Japanese input method]] and the Japanese [[video game industry]] were significantly developed in the PC-98 era. Because the PC-98 had a kanji character ROM, Japanese applications were developed for it, which influenced Japanese input methods being developed for them; the two built on each other. Software companies that developed games for the PC-98 immediately expanded the video game business on the [[Famicom]] platform. He believed most programmers learned [[computer programming]] on the PC-98 at that time.<ref name="ascii_2004_memory" />

===Criticism===
In the late 1980s, competitors accused NEC of [[Monopoly|monopolizing]] the Japanese computer market. Takayoshi Shina, a founder of [[Sord Computer Corporation|Sord]], said, "The Japanese PC market is suffocating because of one company's dominance. There is no freedom. This is why its prices are 3–4 times as expensive as America's. To fulfill the same international price as America's, we really need the era of clone computers." A software company{{which|date=January 2025}} also complained that "although there are few excellent engineers in Japan, the more incompatible machines appear, the more development resources are divided."<ref name="matsuo_1988" />

Unlike IBM PCs and the [[Apple II]], every Japanese personal computer had a short lifespan; NEC released a new model of the PC-98 every year. When the PC-9801VX01/21/41 models brought a new BASIC interpreter which supported the Enhanced Graphic Charger (EGC) chipset, most commercial software did not use it as they were written in [[C (programming language)|C]]. Many developers did not follow it because they wanted to make their software less dependent on a specific platform. A software developer said, "Using the special one (EGC) goes against the trend. I don't want to use it if new machines come out so frequently."<ref>{{cite journal|last=堀川|first=明美|journal=Nikkei-Pasokon = Nikkei Personal Computing|date=1987-08-10|script-title=ja:ハード最前線：日本電気PC-9800VX01/21/41/41WN 互換機巻き返しは高速化マシンで|script-journal=ja:日経パソコン|publisher=[[Nikkei McGraw-Hill]]|pages=77–81|issn=0287-9506|language=ja}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[PC-6600 series]]
* [[X68000]]
* [[FM-7]]
* [[FM Towns]]
* [[MSX]]

== Footnotes ==
{{notelist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* Joel West and Jason Dedrick, "[https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110544if_/http://www.cob.sjsu.edu/WEST_J/Papers/WestDedrick2000.pdf Innovation and Control in Standards Architectures: The Rise and Fall of Japan's PC-98]", ''[[Information Systems Research]]'', Vol. 11, No. 2, June 2000, pp.&nbsp;197–216
* {{cite journal |author-first1=Steven |author-last1=Myers |author-first2=Greg |author-last2=Smith |title=DOS/V: The Soft(ware) Solution to Hard(ware) Problems |date=March 1995 |journal=Computing Japan Magazine |url=http://www.japaninc.com/cpj/magazine/issues/1995/mar95/03dosv.html |access-date=2017-01-15 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115192029/http://www.japaninc.com/cpj/magazine/issues/1995/mar95/03dosv.html |archive-date=2017-01-15}}
* {{cite journal |author-first=John |author-last=Boyd |title=From Chaos to Competition - Japan's PC industry in transformation |date=April 1997 |journal=Computing Japan Magazine |url=http://www.japaninc.com/cpj/magazine/issues/1997/apr97/chaos.html |access-date=2017-01-16 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116023428/http://www.japaninc.com/cpj/magazine/issues/1997/apr97/chaos.html |archive-date=2017-01-16}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://euc.jp/articles/pc9800.en.html Intro to NEC PC-9800 World] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602204607/http://euc.jp/articles/pc9800.en.html |date=2015-06-02 }}
* [http://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/personal/0011.html PC 9801, the first model of the series]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140725224201/http://computer-zoo.org/m/n/nec_pc-9801m.html Info about NEC PC-9801M with uPD8086D-2]
* {{cite web|url=http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA011804/pc9801.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020215205527/http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA011804/pc9801.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 15, 2002|script-title=ja:PC博物館|trans-title=PC Museum|access-date =June 7, 2016|language=ja}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.pc-9800.net/|title=With98 : PC-98 Dētabanku|script-title=ja:With98 : PC-98データバンク|trans-title=With98 : PC-98 Data Bank|publisher=(unofficial)|access-date=June 7, 2016|language=ja}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.jp/retro_zzz/machines/nec/9801/mdl98cpu.html|script-title=ja:モデルナンバー （本体） - PC-9800 - NEC - レトロＰＣ - Retro Computer People|trans-title=Model number (computers) - PC-9800 - NEC - Retro PC - Retro Computer People|access-date=June 10, 2016|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210034057/http://www.geocities.jp/retro_zzz/machines/nec/9801/mdl98cpu.html|archive-date=December 10, 2014|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~NaoCh/cat.html|script-title=ja:なおちま屋 = 昔のカタログ保存館|trans-title=Naochima-ya - Old catalogue museum|access-date =June 10, 2016|language=ja}}
* [http://www.yui.ne.jp/np2/ Neko Project II, a PC-98 emulator for Windows and Mac OS X]

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before = [[PC-8800 series]] }}
{{s-ttl|title = NEC Personal Computers }}
{{s-aft|after = {{Interlanguage link|PC98-NX series|ja|PC98-NXシリーズ}}}}
{{end}}

{{NEC computers}}

[[Category:NEC personal computers|PC-9801]]
[[Category:8086-based home computers]]
[[Category:Home video game consoles]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1982]]
[[Category:1982 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:16-bit computers]]
[[Category:32-bit computers]]