Sharp PC-1500

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Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox information appliance The Sharp PC-1500 was a pocket computer produced by Sharp between 1981 and 1985. A rebadged version was also sold as the TRS-80 Pocket Computer PC-2.

The whole computer was designed around the LH5801, an 8-bit CPU similar to the Zilog Z80, but all laid-out in power-saving CMOS circuits. Equipped with 2 KB of on-board RAM, the programming language is BASIC. Later, German engineers provided an assembler for the machine.[1] Later even a C compiler followed. An external slot is available and accepts memory (from 4 KB to 32 KB) and ROM modules.

Eight versions of this pocket computer with 2 KB memory:[2]

  • Sharp PC-1500 - Japanese version (1981)
  • Sharp PC-1500 - Japanese version with blue paint around LCD. CE-157 Kana module bundle model. Known as PC-1500D (1984)
  • Sharp PC-1500 - European, Australasian and North American version (1982)
  • Sharp PC-1500 RP2 - Brazilian version (1982)
  • HiradasTechnika PTA-4000 - Hungarian licence.
  • HiradasTechnika PTA-4000+16 - Hungarian licence (with internal 16 KB memory extension)
  • Tandy TRS-80 PC-2
  • Nanfeng PC-1500A - Chinese license (CKD assembly from Japanese components)

Two versions with 8 KB memory:

  • Sharp PC-1501 - Japanese rework with 8 KB memory (1984)
  • Sharp PC-1500A - Western rework with 8 KB memory (1984)

Technical specifications

  • 156×8 pixel LCD
  • Integrated speaker
  • Integrated RTC
  • Memory/cartridge slot
  • 60-pin expansion port for printer and tape drive
  • Battery slot (4×AA)
  • Connector for external power supply (Official adaptor is Sharp EA-150, rated at 500 mA at 9 V, comes with the CE-150 printer interface.)

Accessories

  • CE-150 4-colour printer/plotter and cassette interface in travel case. Known as KA-160 with PTA-4000.
  • CE-151 4 KB memory module
  • CE-152 Cassette recorder (as external storage) (same as General Electric 3-5160A[3])
  • CE-153 Software board
  • CE-154 Wallet dedicated to PC-1500 + CE-150 + CE-152 + CE-153
  • CE-155 8 KB memory module
  • CE-156 Tape with Katakana software
  • CE-157 4 KB memory module with CR2032 battery data backup and Katakana chars ROM
  • CE-158 Communication dock with RS-232C and parallel interface with (4 rechargeable, shrink-wrapped, permanently built-in) NiCd battery (AA) as additional power supply for the computer.
  • CE-159 8 KB memory module with CR2032 battery data backup
  • CE-160 7.6 KB read only memory module with CR2032 battery data backup
  • CE-161 16 KB memory module with CR2032 battery data backup
  • CE-162E Tape and parallel port interface
  • CE-163 32 KB (2x16 KB) dual-page memory module with CR2032 battery data backup. Only one page (16 KB) can be accessed at a time, switchable via the following command in PROG mode:
                    Page 0 : POKE&5804,0 [enter]
                    Page 1 : POKE&5804,1 [enter]


Related Sharp pocket computers

File:Advanced Systems & Computer Products - Sharp PC-1500A - May 1987 Puget Sound ComputerUser advert.jpg
An advertisement for the Sharp PC-1500A from the Puget Sound ComputerUser.

BASIC compatibility with early models

Some earlier model PC-1500s will show a value 1 less in the FOR...NEXT counter on exiting the loop compared to later PC-1500s and the PC-1600.[4]

For example: 

10 FOR K=1 TO 10
20 NEXT K
30 PRINT K

K will be set to 11 on later model PC-1500s and PC-1600s, but will be 10 on early PC-1500s.

Consider this example: 

10 S=0
20 FOR K=1 TO 10 STEP 4
30 S=S+1
40 NEXT K
50 PRINT S

S will be set to 3 on later model PC-1500s and PC-1600s, but will be 4 on early PC-1500s.

Early model PC-1500s evaluate IF...THEN statements differently. The behaviour can be summarised thus:

Model True False
PC-1600 / Later PC-1500 ≠0 0
Early PC-1500 >0 <0

An early model PC-1500 can be detected by using the command: PEEK&C5C0.

If the value returned is 6, it is an early model.

Example program in BASIC

  1 ARUN 10
  5 REM   "PC1500 VAT Program:"
 10 INPUT "Price: ";P
 20 PRINT P;"  ";P*V;"  ";P*V*M   
 30 GOTO 10
 40 END

The PC-1500 allows special abbreviations, and the syntax can also look as follows: 

 20 PRINT P;"  ";PV;"  ";PVM

Usage of variables

P = Purchase Price
V = VAT (%/100)     - To be input by hand before calculation begins, e.g.: V=1.14 (Enter)
M = Markup (%/100)  - To be input by hand before calculation begins, e.g.: M=1.15 (Enter)

Display of the answers are as follows

Answer1;            Answer2;         Answer3
Purchase Price;     VAT Price;       Sales Price
Value: P;           Value: P*V;      Value: P*V*M

Program description

Template:Aligned table

Significance

The design of initial prototypes of EMKE series of public transport cash registers were built around customized versions of the PC-1500 and its Hungarian clone PTA-4000. The series production models used almost exclusively in Hungarian regional and national bus services up to present day, are built around a version designed by EMKE and are heavily influenced by the PC-1500 design.[5]

Emulation

With the SHARP PC-1500A emulator and the PockEmul you can emulate a PC-1500A.

See also

References

Template:Reflist

  • Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

External links

Template:Sister project

Template:Sharp Corporation Template:TRS-80 and Tandy computers Template:Dynabook Inc. Template:Authority control

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Sharp PC-1600 Operation Manual, 1986, p.355.
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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