View source for Sharp PC-5000

{{short description|Laptop computer}}
{{refimprove|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name         = Sharp PC-5000
| aka          = 
| logo         = File:Logo of the Sharp Corporation.svg
| image        = File:Sharp PC-5000.png
| caption      = <!-- include if image is not a logo -->
| developer    = 
| manufacturer = 
| family       = 
| type         = 
| generation   = Second
| releasedate  = {{Start date and age|1983|11|11|df=yes}}<ref name="globe" />
| lifespan     = 11/11/1983 - 1986 (at least 2 years)
| price        = <!-- this is price at initial release, not the current price. -->
| discontinued = {{end date and age|1986|df=yes}}
| unitssold    = 
| unitsshipped = 
| media        = 
| os           = [[MS-DOS]]<!-- operating system -->
| power        = 
| cpu          = 4.77-[[Hertz|MHz]] [[Intel|Intel 8088]]
| storage      = 
| memory       = 128 [[kilobyte]]s [[computer memory|memory]]/[[bubble memory]]
| display      = 640×80-[[pixel]] (80-character by 8-line) [[Liquid crystal display|LCD]]
| graphics     = 
| sound        = 
| input        = 
| controllers  = 
| camera       = 
| touchpad     = 
| connectivity = 
| service      = <!-- online service/s offered -->
| dimensions   = 
| weight       = 5 [[kilogram|kg]] (11 lb)
| topgame      = 
| compatibility = 
| predecessor  =  [[Sharp PC-1500]]<br>[[Sharp PC-1211]]<br>[[Sharp PC-1251]]
| successor    =  [[Sharp PC-7000]]
| related      = 
| website      = <!-- {{URL|example.org}} -->
}}
The '''Sharp PC-5000''' was a pioneering [[laptop]] [[computer]], announced by [[Sharp Corporation]] of [[Japan]] in November 1983.<ref name="globe">{{cite journal | date=November 11, 1983 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/386584665/ | title=Portables: Sharp's entry | journal=The Globe and Mail | publisher=Bell Globemedia Publishing | page=B13 | via=ProQuest}}</ref><ref>[https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=476 Sharp PC-5000], Old Computers</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbh1XP4kCT4 Japanese PCs (1984)] (13:13), ''[[Computer Chronicles]]''</ref> It employed a [[Clamshell design|clamshell]] design in which the display closes over the keyboard, like the earlier [[GRiD Compass]] and contemporary [[Gavilan SC]].

The PC-5000 was largely [[IBM PC]]-compatible, with the same 4.77-[[Hertz|MHz]] [[Intel|Intel 8088]] [[central processing unit|processor]] as the IBM PC, and ran [[MS-DOS]] 2.0 (in [[Read-only memory|ROM]]). It had 128 [[kilobyte]]s of internal [[computer memory|memory]] (it was one of the few computers to use [[bubble memory]]), which could be expanded by the use of plug-in cartridges. The cartridge slots also accepted ROM cartridges containing software, such as the Extended [[BASIC]] [[programming language]] and the EasyPac software suite, which contained the EasyWrite II [[word processor]], EasyReport reports program, and EasyComm terminal software for use with the internal [[modem]]. It featured a 640×80-[[pixel]] (80-character by 8-line) [[Liquid crystal display|LCD]] display, a full-travel [[computer keyboard|keyboard]], and an external dual 5.25-inch [[floppy disk]] drive. A notable feature of the computer was its built-in [[thermal printer]], which could also be purchased separately and attached to the machine. It is perhaps due to this attachment that the case design of the PC-5000 owes much to that of electronic typewriters of its time.

While far more portable than the popular [[Compaq Portable]] or [[Osborne 1]] computers, the machine weighed 5 [[kilogram|kg]] (11&nbsp;lb).

Sharp succeeded the PC-5000 with the fully IBM-compatible [[Sharp PC-7000|PC-7000]] in late 1985.<ref name="foster-1985">{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/stream/Infoworld-1985-07-22#page/n23/mode/1up/|last=Foster|first=Edward|date=July 22, 1985|title=News, Hardware: Sharp Offers LCD Transportable|journal=InfoWorld|publisher=CW Communications|page=22|volume=7|issue=29|via=the Internet Archive}}</ref>

==Reception==
''[[Your Computer (Australian magazine)|Your Computer]]'' magazine selected the PC-5000 as one of the best personal computers of 1983.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Personal Computer of the Year: Sharp PC-5000 |magazine=[[Your Computer (Australian magazine)|Your Computer]] |date=April 1984 |pages=34, 37 |url=https://archive.org/details/yc_1984_04/page/34}}</ref> ''[[Creative Computing]]'' chose the PC-5000 as the best notebook portable between $1,000 and $2,500 for 1984, although criticizing the difficulty of finding the computer in stores and questionable support from Sharp and third-party vendors.<ref name="ahl198412">{{Cite magazine |last=Ahl |first=David H. |author-link=David H. Ahl |date=December 1984 |title=Top 12 computers of 1984 |url=https://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n12/10_Top_12_computers_of_1984.php |magazine=Creative Computing |access-date=2019-03-16}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.xs4all.nl/~fjkraan/comp/pc5000/index.html Article about the PC-5000]
*[http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n1/55_The_Sharp_PC5000_a_desk.php Review of the PC-5000 from 1984]
*[http://www.vintage-computer.com/sharppc5000.shtml Vintage-computer page about the PC-5000]
*[http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=476 Old-computers page about the PC-5000]
* {{Citation | url = http://vintage-laptops.com/?page_id=127&lang=en | contribution = Sharp PC-5000, 360 degree model | title = Russian Vintage Laptop Museum | date = 6 April 2017 | type = museum}}

{{Sharp Corporation}}
{{Dynabook Inc.}}

[[Category:Sharp laptops|PC-5000]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1983]]
[[Category:Japanese inventions]]
[[Category:Early laptops]]

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