HB-F9P

The HB-F9P was a Sony MSX2-computer, launched in 1985. The abbreviation HB stands for Hit Bit.^[1]

The HB-F9P was unusual in the sense that it did not come with a built in floppy disk drive, instead it had a built in software suite "Memovision" that would run automatically unless a program cartridge was inserted in the cartridge slot or the GRAPH key was pressed during booting.

Memovision could store data on the special HBI-55 (battery backed RAM) "data cartridge" ^[2] that Sony originally had developed, for their HB-55 and HB-75 MSX computers. These systems contained a simple built in program called the "Personal Databank".^{[3] [4]} Memovision was a continuation of the same idea, but much extended, as it contained stuff like a (birthday) calendar with alarm system, a "family databank" (a combination of a text editor and database) a built in calculator and a timer and time calculator, all rendered in pseudo 3D style.^[5]

Variants

Of the HB-F9 there were many different localized variants produced:

• HB-F9P, with QWERTY-keyboard layout was designed for the PAL-standard, and meant for European countries, except Germany, France, Spain and the former Soviet Union.
• HB-F9R, had a Russian keyboard.
• HB-F9D, had a QWERTZ-keyboard for the German market
• HB-F9F, had an AZERTY-keyboard for the French market, and was designed for the SECAM-standard.
• HB-F9S, had a modified QWERTY-keyboard for the Spanish market.

Technical specifications

Processor

• Sharp LH-0080 or NEC μPD780C

memory

• ROM: 96 KB
  • MSX BASIC version 2.0: 48 KB
  • software suite: 48 KB
• RAM
  • VRAM: 128 KB
  • main memory: 128 KB

Video

• VDP
  • Yamaha V9938
  • text: 80×24, 40×24 en 32×24 (characters per line × lines) four colors, two foreground colors and two background colors
  • graphical: maximal 512×212 pixels (16 colors of 512) and 256×212 (256 colors)
  • colors: 512 maximal

Engine

• MSX-Engine: S-1985
• real-time clock with trickle-charged battery backup

sound

• Yamaha YM2149 PSG

• 3 sound channels and one noise channel
• 8 octaves

Interfaces

• power cord
• RF-output
• CVBS monitor
• luminance output
• monochrome switch
• headset sound output
• data-recorder I/O (1200/2400 baud)
• 1 general purpose expansion connector
• printer
• keyboard
• 2 joysticks
• 2 cartridge slots

References

1. "HB-F9P at oldcomputers.com". Archived from the original on 2010-11-20. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
2. "Sony data cartridge" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
3. "Screen shot of the Personal Databank of the HB-55 and HB-75". Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2011-11-13.
4. site explaining the HBI-55 in combination with the HB-55
5. Screenshots of Memovision