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Sharp PC-1500

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 3.5 KB of on-board RAM (2.6 KB in the user area), the programming language is BASIC. Later, German engineers provided an assembler for the machine. 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:

  • 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)
  • 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

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.

For example:

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:

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:

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

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

Example program in BASIC

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

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

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.

Emulation

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

See also

References

External links