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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, 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. 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). The MBC-550 series followed Sanyo's MBC-1000 line of CP/M computers.

Specifications

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. This display was not completely compatible with the IBM PC.

The computer lacks a standard BIOS, having only a minimal bootloader in ROM that accesses hardware directly to load a RAM-based BIOS. 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". NRI was advertised in Popular Mechanics and Popular Science throughout 1985.

The MBC-550 is less PC compatible than the IBM PCjr. Its inability to use much PC software was a significant disadvantage; 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.

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. 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.

Dedicated magazine

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.

Models

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

References

  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. ^ Sudbrink, Bill (August 1984). "The Sanyo MBC-550 – An Inexpensive MS-DOS Computer". Byte. 9 (8). McGraw-Hill: 270–274 – via Gale.
  6. ^ 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. ^ "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. ^ Staff writer (March 26, 1984). "Sanyo-Japan, Intel in License Deal for 8088". Computer Retail News. UBM LLC: 14 – via Gale.
  15. ^ 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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