The Sharp PC-2000 Computer Boombox from 1979
stereo2go.comSharp still standing strong more than 100 years later in Japan. Didn't know they made personal computers back then
Everyone made personal computers in the late 70's and early 80's. It was the latest corporate fad.
First time I hear about this device. I learned to program 25 years ago on a PC-1500. I wish it had multiple lines like this machine !
The bane of the single line display! It's amazing what constraints like that can do to your imagination and skills, though. You have to be very clever.
I programmed all day at school for years on the Casio version:
From the keyboard it looks more like a programmable calculator than a computer, maybe splitting hairs considering the era.
It looks to me to have:
- NEW
- GTO (GOTO)
- LST (LIST)
- END
- RUN
- FOR
- NXT (NEXT)
- LOD (LOAD)
- STP (STOP)
- RTN (RETURN)
All of which are BASIC commands, as well as GTS (go to subroutine, probably like GOSUB).
In addition, it would’ve lent itself well to loading programs from cassette (see TI-99 or TRS-80 of the era).
I have a 1984 Sharp PC-1246 handheld which is surprisingly programmable despite being about the size of a modern smartphone, an actual calculator form factor, and, you know, from 1984.
“Cyberfunk”