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  • Japanese Computers

    From Newtype Len@21:2/148 to All on Fri Sep 20 15:30:00 2024
    I've had a good time running PC-88 and PC-98 emulators in the past, but never have gotten to use one before. I've always thought the Sharp X68000 was a
    great looking machine, because of course I would.

    I've never met anyone who is into Japanese computers. We have enthusiasts for our own computers. Curious if anyone has ever gotten to use one and what they thought of them.

    From what I do know: there isn't a lot of ownership or appreciation for Amiga/C64 et all in Japan, so it's not like a one-sided relationship with
    retro computing.


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  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Newtype Len on Sat Sep 21 08:17:00 2024
    Newtype Len wrote to All <=-

    I've never met anyone who is into Japanese computers. We have
    enthusiasts for our own computers. Curious if anyone has ever gotten to use one and what they thought of them.

    They were amazing looking for the time. I go to the Vintage Computer
    Festival on the west coast, and one of the exhibitors has a collection
    of MSX systems and a tall gray box with what looked like a flat CDROM
    player in the front. All playing games I'd never seen before.


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  • From dingo@21:1/121 to Newtype Len on Sat Sep 21 14:09:08 2024

    Twas Friday, September 20th when Newtype Len said...
    I've had a good time running PC-88 and PC-98 emulators in the past, but never have gotten to use one before. I've always thought the Sharp X68000 was a great looking machine, because of course I would.

    I have some interest, and got to see a few at VCFMW, I'll say that they could switch to three different video modes, 15, 24 and 31kHz horizontal syncs, its hard enough to get a 15kHz as it is. So the second hardest part of collecting the x68000 is also getting the monitor.

    I'd buy one for cheap if I had the chance

    But now is the best deal in Yen:USD since the 1980's, their financial market isn't doing great, and yet the x68000 is still going for ~$1.2k without monitor, $1k for parts or repair. Working famicoms are just $30. They are more rare than I thought.

    But I think its worth playing on real hardware and CRT monitor rather than through an emulator for the graphics. If I look at screenshots of Ultima IV, which is on most every platform of the time, the version on PC-88 and PC-98 have very different graphics, sharper resolution and more colors than any other -- but they are also really bright and loud. And I think that's the emulators not correctly taking into account the scanline effects, maybe ~30% brighter than they appear on screnshots. I have a feeling it appears much better in person.

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  • From halian@21:2/132 to Newtype Len on Sun Sep 29 05:32:44 2024
    I've had a good time running PC-88 and PC-98 emulators in the past, but ne have gotten to use one before. I've always thought the Sharp X68000 was a great looking machine, because of course I would.

    Anyone who doesn't have a Pavlovian response to the words "Sharp X68000" has no soul. :P

    I've never met anyone who is into Japanese computers. We have enthusiasts our own computers. Curious if anyone has ever gotten to use one and what t thought of them.

    Find your local Touhou fan(s); that series started on the PC-98. There's also its MANY other /doujin soft/ (self-published games), more than a few of which are NSFW.

    From what I do know: there isn't a lot of ownership or appreciation for Amiga/C64 et all in Japan, so it's not like a one-sided relationship with retro computing.

    There was a Japan-specific Commodore computer, the MAX Machine. They're now rarer than hens' teeth.

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  • From Newtype Len@21:2/148 to halian on Sun Sep 29 18:31:00 2024
    I am my local 2hu fan(s).


    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
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  • From halian@21:2/132 to Newtype Len on Tue Oct 1 06:24:29 2024
    I am my local 2hu fan(s).

    (9)/(9) response. :P

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  • From vaelen@21:1/141 to Newtype Len on Thu Sep 26 17:27:21 2024
    I live in Tokyo and you're right about the C64, etc. The only 8-bit computers I find here are local Japanese machines. I collect classic Macs and there are lots of those here, thankfully, but even early DOS machines in the 286/386 range are hard to find because of PC-88 and PC-98. (I mean that the standard type of ccustom built PCs that were common in the US weren't that common here.

    That being said, if you're interested in an MSX machine or a PC-88/PC-98 machine, they are relatively easy to find in Tokyo if you can speak some Japanese. Shipping is expensive these days, but if you're interested in something specific, let me know.

    - Vaelen

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  • From lodger@21:1/168 to Newtype Len on Mon Apr 28 13:15:22 2025
    Newtype Len wrote to All:

    From what I do know: there isn't a lot of ownership or appreciation for Amiga/C64 et all in Japan, so it's not like a one-sided relationship with retro computing.


    I guess it's all about what you have grown up with and what was popular in
    your corner of the world. I only knew about the MSX1 type systems, even
    back in the day. I liked the Sony HitBit series but it wasn't until a few
    years ago that I've actually came to posess one.

    Aside from that, all I know about other japanese systems I know thanks to online museums and the likes. What is amazing is that one of those 8 bit systems from the mid-80s was able to "Genlock" video and superimpose the computer video over it.

    That japanese companies did not dominate the global microcomputer market
    in the 1980s is some sort of oddity to me. Yet, that is was happened.


    ... unplug the web now!

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  • From Mortar M.@21:2/101 to lodger on Mon Apr 28 14:15:30 2025
    Re: Re: Japanese Computers
    By: lodger to Newtype Len on Mon Apr 28 2025 13:15:22

    What is amazing is that one of those 8 bit systems from the
    mid-80s was able to "Genlock" video and superimpose the computer
    video over it.

    No 8-bit micro could do this. However, your probably thinking of the Video Toaster, which did have a builit-in genlock. The VT was a plug-in card for the Amiga 2000 or higher. An awesome piece of technology for the day. You can watch the original promo videos on YouTube.
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  • From Bob Worm to Mortar M. on Mon Apr 28 22:14:38 2025
    Re: Re: Japanese Computers
    By: Mortar M. to lodger on Mon Apr 28 2025 14:15:30

    Hi, Mortar.

    What is amazing is that one of those 8 bit systems from the
    mid-80s was able to "Genlock" video and superimpose the computer
    video over it.

    No 8-bit micro could do this.

    The (8 bit) BBC micro could do Genlock, I believe they used to sync the computers to the studio timing feed when they filmed the BBC Computer Literacy stuff like Making the Most of the Micro so that the screens could be recorded without flicker during the live demos.

    There's a random story about an ex-studio(?) Beeb turning up in the Netherlands here:

    https://stardot.org.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=13573

    BobW
  • From lodger@21:1/168 to Mortar M. on Mon Apr 28 23:38:41 2025
    Mortar M. wrote to lodger:
    Re: Re: Japanese Computers
    By: lodger to Newtype Len on Mon Apr 28 2025 13:15:22

    What is amazing is that one of those 8 bit systems from the
    mid-80s was able to "Genlock" video and superimpose the computer
    video over it.

    No 8-bit micro could do this. However, your probably thinking of the Video Toaster, which did have a builit-in genlock. The VT was a plug-in card for the Amiga 2000 or higher. An awesome piece of technology for the day. You can watch the original promo videos on YouTube.
    --- SBBSecho 3.24-Linux
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    It was the Fujitsu FM77AV which could do this. Just looked it up here:

    https://museum.ipsj.or.jp/en/computer/personal/0017.html



    ... unplug the web now!

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  • From Mortar M.@21:2/101 to Bob Worm on Tue Apr 29 00:40:32 2025
    Re: Re: Japanese Computers
    By: Bob Worm to Mortar M. on Mon Apr 28 2025 22:14:38

    The (8 bit) BBC micro could do Genlock...

    With the help of a genlock add-on card. In this case, it was the Cox 630B genlock card, so after a fashion, your right.
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  • From Bob Worm to Mortar M. on Tue Apr 29 21:38:18 2025
    Re: Re: Japanese Computers
    By: Mortar M. to Bob Worm on Tue Apr 29 2025 00:40:32

    The (8 bit) BBC micro could do Genlock...

    With the help of a genlock add-on card. In this case, it was the Cox 630B genlock card, so after a fashion, your right.

    I was talking to my Acorn friend today and he claims you didn't need a Genlock add-on card to sync to a central studio clock - there was apparently a fairly simple mod that could do it.

    I don't have a source for this, though :)

    BobW