Category Archives: 1-Pocket computers

Generous donor : Oscar Rysdyk from Holland

At the beginning of December Oscar Rysdyk, from Holland, contacted me after finding my site by Google.
He wanted to offer me his own first hand PC-1500.
This one was purchased in the united states by his father.

Lets examine this PC-1500…
Do you see the serial number on the last picture ?
It don’t have any metallic grey paint.
This is same for all USA models, i think.

Thank you very much Oscar for this gift !

Oscar, you’re a photographer ! These pictures are very nice.
Unknown
Unknown-1
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Sharp PC-1500 serial 100xxxxY one of the first ?

Just after Christmas my friend CGH was at home for a “PC-1500 day”.
We have talked, tinkered and exchanged some machines.
I’m proud to present you this one : the oldest PC-1500 i know !
(Except his one with a lower serial number)

Externally there is no change, it’s a PC-1500.
PC-1500-A01-1001_003 PC-1500-A01-1001_002

And on the back the only difference is the serial number :
PC-1500-A01-1001_001

But let’s opening the machine :
It’s strapped like a A01 ROM. Uh… these straps are white ! The first time i see one like this.
PC-1500-A01-1001_004

We can see on the SC613128 IC that it’s a A01 ROM.
The biggest white strap is mine, to repair a memory access problem.
Do you see the diodes on straps ? First time too…
PC-1500-A01-1001_006
PC-1500-A01-1001_005

Ok, more ?
The display board version is F2025, the oldest i know.
PC-1500-A01-1001_008

And the mode exciting, the CPU board !
There is no board revision !!!
PC-1500-A01-1001_007

If some of you have similar PC-1500, please, contact me to compare boards versions. 😉
And if you don’t have… this is a new quest !

NANFENG PC-1500A user manual (updated)

A special thanks to “W” for an incredible information about the NANFENG PC-1500A !
I copy here his message from my Guestbook :

“NANFENG PC-1500 is made by 830 Factory ,Kaili,Guizhou,P.R.C. in a brief honeymoon with U.S.A and Japan to counter CCCP, here is a picture of its manual: “
20091118_cd540eff3292da0503cfP2AQA10ikwwn

Thank you again, “W”, to share this information with my readers !

Update : The NANFENG manuals are a set of 3 

NANFENG PC-1500A 0  NANFENG PC-1500A 1  NANFENG PC-1500A 2

A new one in the family : NANFENG PC-1500A

After the Blue Brother, a very rare PC-1500, i’m proud to present you the number 10 : NANFENG PC-1500A.
This one is the only one i know as a non Sharp PC-1500A.
It’s the rarest one !

NANFENG_001

In details you can see the NANFENG logo.
It’s not a paint add-on, it’s like original Sharp embossed logo.
NANFENG_002

On the back it’s like the other Sharp, The CE-161 memory module is a real Sharp one.
NANFENG_003

But the sticker is different and shows “Made in China” and the brand is NENFENG.
The serial number is “NF 002/83 J”. This means that it’s one of the firsts PC-1500A.
Was this a preproduction lot ?
I’m surprised that the front panel is EU/US and don’t have Katakana chars.
The screws are very cheaper than the originals.
NANFENG_004

Inside, on the boards nothing differs from the PC-1500A.
NANFENG_005

But the metal parts are wider, yellow/orange color. And the screws basic.
NANFENG_006
NANFENG_007

Well, is it really a chinese production ? YES only for font parts.
The brown paint is very similar to the Sharp but a little bit darker.
The varnish is not that brilliant.
The symbols near the function keys are brown and not orange.
The beige paint is darker.
The chars on the keys are bigger.
The CL key is a little bit transparent.
All this seems low cost.
NANFENG_008

This is the only one sample i know for the NANFENG PC-1500A.
If someone has more informations then please, use the contact form.

PC-1500 28Kb – Part 2

This PC-1500 is more than an updated version with huge memory amount and double-speed oscillator.
It’s one of the firsts samples of the A04 production.

In this picture you can see the ROM version on the SC613128 IC.
Do you remember the A03 versions ? They have blue straps… like here on the display board :
PC-1500_28Kb_015

And now lets see under the memory extension…
The board shows many blue straps like the A01 and A03 versions :
PC-1500_28Kb_016

Sure this is a rare item for collectors.
It’s serial number is 20024876.
PC-1500_28Kb_017

Who owns a such collector version ?
Take a screwdriver and verify your PC-1500s 🙂

Thanks again to Lukas ZELLER for this gift.

PC-1500 28Kb – Part 1

Lukas told me about his gift that there will be a 28Kb PC-1500.
This was a good news !
But this is more than a good news.
Lets me present this updated machine.

Opening the CE-150 box shows us some nice things.
Do you see what i mean ? Examine this picture carefully…
PC-1500_28Kb_001

First there is a sticker “28K”. This means that the memory size is 28Kb. It’s the maximum reachable on this pocket because of the display addressing method.
PC-1500_28Kb_002
Let’s open the machine…

Here is it :
PC-1500_28Kb_010
This extension it made of 13 x 6116 ICs and present a total amount of 26KB of memory.
It’s a very professional board. You can see where the RAM pins are placed ? Simply on the holes between sides. Well done guys !
This board is named “DF1SE PC 1503”. (If you know more about it then use the contact form to tell it to me.)
PC-1500_28Kb_011 PC-1500_28Kb_012

Second, there is a switch on the PC-1500 side :
PC-1500_28Kb_005

Do you know why ?
The LH5801 microprocessor is driven by a 2,6Mhz oscillator.
In 1982 it was fast ! In 1984 it was slow ! lol
This button switch between the 2,6Mhz and a new 5Mhz oscillator. Yes, the twice !!!
Uh… this has some back effects to the real time clock… but the speed is here !
PC-1500_28Kb_007
PC-1500_28Kb_008

The printer case and the pocket pouch have being modified for the switch.
PC-1500_28Kb_003 PC-1500_28Kb_006

Third, there is a very nice update of the printer’s door.
A little black plastic strap help the opening.
PC-1500_28Kb_013
PC-1500_28Kb_014

Next time i will explain something very particular on this PC-1500.
Do you have an idea ???

The PC-2 and the Radio Shack catalogs

The Tandy PC-2 was exclusively sold by Radio Shack, in shops or catalogs.
A big thanks to Mike from www.RadioShackCatalogs.com for allowing me to publish here some pages with the PC-2 !

First we have the General catalogs for 1983 and 1984.
It’s strange but there wasn’t any PC-2 in the 1982 one.
The start price was $279.95 for the pocket and $239.95 for the printer.
The printer’s carrying case was sold apart at $29.95

1983 :
1984 :

And we have the Computer catalogs for 1983 and 1984 too.
Nothing after 1984… definitely replaced by the PC-3 !

Uh, do you see the PC-2 color page 39 ? It’s light brown, like PC-1500…
Printing problem or does it really exist a non grey version ?

1983 RSC 08 page 38:
1983 RSC 08 page 39:
1983 RSC 09 page 116:
1983 RSC 09 page 117:
1984 RSC 10 page 57:
1984 RSC 11 page 61:

And here are the Additional catalogs from 1982 to 1984.
Yes ! 1982, this the first time on catalog for the PC-2.
But at the last catalog its price was $99.95 only !

Sale 1982 n°358:
Sale 1983 n°369:
Sale 1983 n°370:
Sale 1983 n°371:
Sale 1984 n°376:
Sale 1984 n°379:

You can visit Mike’s website for more informations of Radio Shack’s story and to see these pictures in high resolution.