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Sanyo MBC-550 series

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Sanyo MBC-550 series
Sanyo MBC-555 on display at the Living Computer Museum
DeveloperSanyo Electric
TypePersonal computer
Release dateMarch 1984 (1984-03)
Lifespan1984–1988
Introductory price<$1000
Discontinued1988
Units sold10,000+
Operating systemMS-DOS 2.11 (optional: CP/M 86, Concurrent CP/M-86)
CPUIntel 8088 at 3.58 MHz
Memory128 KB
Removable storagefloppy disks
DisplayRGB Color Monitor CRT-70; Monochrome Monitor CRT-36; 40×25 or 80×25 text modes; 144×200, 576×200 or 640×200 graphic modes with 8 colors
GraphicsHD46505 CRTC, RGB graphics adapter
SoundBuzzer (single buzztone sound, fixed duration)
InputKeyboard
Controller inputApple compatible Joystick
Connectivity1 parallel port
Power120 V AC (North American model)
Dimensions380 × 112 × 360 mm
PredecessorMBC-1000

The MBC-550 series, also known as the MBC-550/555,[1][2] is a series of personal computers sold by Sanyo. It was unveiled at the COMDEX/Spring '83 in April 1983 and first released to market in March 1984.[3][4]: 12  All models in the MBC-550 series featured pizza-box-style cases and Intel 8088 microprocessors and run versions of MS-DOS. On its release in 1984, the MBC-550 was the least expensive IBM PC compatible released to date, at a price of US$995 (equivalent to $2,920 in 2023).[5][6] The MBC-550 series followed Sanyo's MBC-1000 line of CP/M computers.[7]

Specifications

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The MBC-550 has much better video display possibilities than the CGA card (based on the HD46505 CRTC, providing a 3-bit RGB palette of 8 colors at 640 × 200 resolution, vs CGA's 4 colors at 320 × 200 or 2 colors at 640 × 200). Other resolutions, like 144 × 200 and 576 × 200 were possible.[8] This display was not completely compatible with the IBM PC.[8]

The computer lacks a standard BIOS, having only a minimal bootloader in ROM that accesses hardware directly to load a RAM-based BIOS.[9] The diskette format (FM rather than MFM) used is not completely compatible with the IBM PC, but special software on an original PC or PC/XT (but not PC/AT) can read and write the diskettes, and software expecting a standard 18.2 Hz clock interrupt has to be rewritten.

The MBC-550 was also the computer for NRI training. Starting by building the computer, the NRI promised you would be "qualified to service and repair virtually every major brand of computer".[10] NRI was advertised in Popular Mechanics and Popular Science throughout 1985.[11]

The MBC-550 is less PC compatible than the IBM PCjr. Its inability to use much PC software was a significant disadvantage; [6] InfoWorld reported in August 1985 that Sanyo "has initiated a campaign to sell off" MBC-550 inventory. The company's newer computers were, an executive claimed, 99% PC compatible.[12]

Early MBC-500 machines used true Intel 8088 microprocessors. In late March 1984, Sanyo reached an agreement with Intel to manufacture the 8088 in Japan as a second source, prompted by a widespread chip shortage at the time.[13][14] As part of the agreement with Intel, Sanyo was not to sell their 8088 chips except as part of their Sanyo MBC-550 series computers.[14]

Dedicated magazine

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Soft Sector was a magazine for people who owned Sanyo MBC-550 and 555 DOS computers. (But much of the content equally applied to most IBM clones at the time.) A typical issue includes news, reviews, how-to's, technical advice and education, tips and tricks, as well as BASIC language programs that one could type in and adapt to suit one's needs.[8]

Models

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  • MBC-550 – One 5.25-inch disk drive (160 KB)[5]
  • MBC-555 – Two 5.25-inch disk drives (160 KB)[5]
  • MBC-550-2 – One 5.25-inch disk drive (360 KB)[15]
  • MBC-555-2 – Two 5.25-inch disk drives (360 KB)[15]
  • MBC-555-3 – Two 5.25-inch disk drives (1.2 MB)[16]

References

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  1. ^ MBC-550 Series User's Guide (Rev 1.0 ed.). Sanyo Electric. November 1983 – via the Internet Archive.
  2. ^ Blechman, Fred (1985). Sanyo MBC-550/555: Beginner & Intermediate Guide. Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. p. 361. ISBN 9780030001871 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ Shea, Tom (July 11, 1983). "Sanyo developing IBM PC clone". InfoWorld. 5 (28). IDG Publications: 1, 7 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Derfler, Frank (March 1984). "Sanyo Makes Its Move". Kilobaud Microcomputing. 8 (3). CW Communications: 12–14 – via the Internet Archive.
  5. ^ a b c Sudbrink, Bill (August 1984). "The Sanyo MBC-550 – An Inexpensive MS-DOS Computer". Byte. 9 (8). McGraw-Hill: 270–274 – via Gale.
  6. ^ a b Geist, Jon (September 1984). "Sanyo 555, small business computers". Creative Computing. Vol. 10, no. 9. p. 12.
  7. ^ Myer, Edwin W (November 29, 1982). "Hardware Review: Sanyo MBC 1000 Small Business Computer". InfoWorld. p. 102.
  8. ^ a b c "MBC-55x". OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum. Archived from the original on 2021-06-17. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  9. ^ Elliott, John C. (January 27, 2016). "The Sanyo MBC550". John Elliott's homepage. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  10. ^ "Get the know-how to repair every computer on this page". Popular Science. March 1985. p. 35.
  11. ^ "Train for the Fastest Growing Job Skill in America". Popular Mechanics. February 1985. p. 19.
  12. ^ Bannister, Hank (1985-08-26). "Sanyo Clears Deck of 550s". InfoWorld. p. 28. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  13. ^ Staff writer (April 16, 1984). "Sanyo to make 8088 chip in Japan". InfoWorld. 6 (16). IDG Publications: 17 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ a b Staff writer (March 26, 1984). "Sanyo-Japan, Intel in License Deal for 8088". Computer Retail News. UBM LLC: 14 – via Gale.
  15. ^ a b Staff writer (January 1985). "Quick Dash Completes the Sanyo 16-Bit Series". What's New in Computing. UBM Information: 10 – via Gale. Sanyo Marubeni's MBC550-2 and MBC555-2 microcomputers feature the 16-bit 8088 processor and 128K RAM expandable to 256K RAM. The MBC550-2 includes a single 360K-byte 5.25-inch disk drive, while the MBC555-2 includes a double-sided 360K-byte drive.
  16. ^ Anonymous (September 28, 1984). "Sanyo MBC-555-3". The Tampa Tribune: 18-E – via Newspapers.com.
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