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This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- en:8256 [2015/09/21 08:46] – external edit 127.0.0.1
+++ en:8256 [2022/06/16 09:59] (current) – [Description] jevicac
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 ===== Info =====
-^ Processor      | Zilog Z80 clocked at 4MHz, limited to a 3.3Mhz       |
+^ Processor | Zilog Z80A at 4MHz with waiting cycles. |
-^ RAM Memory     | 256KB expandable 512KB |
+^ RAM memory | 256 KB expandable to 512 KB internally. 112Kb RAM disk. |
-^ ROM Memory     | 48 KB. No boot ROM|
+^ ROM memory | It does not have boot ROM. |
-^ Chipset           | Custom video chip |
+^ Chips | Gate Array designed by Amstrad, uPD765 disk controller. |
-^ Graphics        | 720x256 pixels resolution, 90x32 text mode (monochrome). Screen is mapped by lines anywhere on the first 128KB, with references stored in a 512 byte area named Roller-RAM.  |
+^ Charts | Resolution of 720x256 pixels in graphic mode with text in 90x32 (90 columns x 32 lines) (monochrome). The screen is line-mapped anywhere in the initial 128 KB, storing the reference in 512 bytes called roller-RAM. |
-^ Sound          | Programmable generator with output on the internal speaker (with volume control)                      |
+^ Sound | Fixed frequency generator. Internal speaker output (no volume control). |
-^ I/O Ports      |Expansion bus for peripherals, proprietary keyboard and printer ports |
+^ Connections | Expansion bus, and keyboard and printer connectors (specific to PCW). |
-^ Internal Storage | Single side 3" Hitachi disk drive (180K per side). A second drive can be installed.   |
+^ Internal Support | 3" floppy drive with 180 KB per side. A second 720 KB drive can be installed. |
-^ Monitor         | Monochrome green  |
+^ Monitor | Green phosphor that incorporates 2 3-inch bays on the right front. 13-inch screen |
-^ Keyboard         | Plastic 82 key QWERTY/QWERTZ/AZERTY   |
+^ Keyboard | 82 plastic keys in QWERTY/QWERTZ/AZERTY format depending on the country. |
+^ Price | Spain: 169,900 pesetas. - USA: $499 - France: F6,990|
 ===== Description =====
-The [[.companias:Amstrad]] [[PCW]] 8256 is the first computer of the [[PCW]] series. It's powered by a 4 Mhz [[es:hardware:z80|Z80]] processor and has a screen resolution of 720 x 256 pixels.
+The [[.companies:Amstrad]] [[PCW]] 8256, also known as the Schneider Joyce in Germany, is the first model in the [[PCW]] family. Like all the other models, it has a 4 MHz [[en:hardware:z80|Z80]] processor and a monochrome screen with a 720 x 256 resolution.
-This computer has a 3" 180 KB single side drive and 256 KB of RAM, expandable to 512 KB. A matrix printer with a custom interface is provided, as the computer has no standard serial or parallel ports.
+This computer also has a 3" disk drive and 180 KB per side, and 256 KB of expandable memory. It also came with a matrix printer with its own interface, since the computer does not include standard serial or parallel ports.
-The computer is supplied with the [[Locoscript]] word processor (developed for this machine), and the [[CP/M]] Plus operating system, both by [[Locomotive]] Software.
+The computer was supplied with a copy of [[LocoScript]], a specific word processor for these computers, as well as a version of [[CP/M]] Plus, both from [[Locomotive]].
-The Amstrad PCW was launch to get the small business market by offering a computer, a printer and a word processor cheaper than a typewriter. Even with a 3" drive (when 3.5" drives were becoming the industry standard), it was a huge success. Amsoft converts many of its CP/M applications to that format, making it easier to find DBase II on 3" disks rather than on the original 5.25" disks. Even Microsoft launched all its CP/M compilers on that format. Due to the expensive price of the disks, kits for connecting external 5.25" drives or internal 5.25" and 3.5" drives (some modding needed) started to appear on the market. Suddenly, software houses started to develop games for the PCW, showing that the GSX expansion could be used for more than diagrams and charts. The RS232/Parallel interfaces allow the use of standard printers (some programs allowed using HP Laser printers) and PCW users started to visit BBS sites. In the end, 20 MB and 40 MB hard disk drives were also marketed.
+The Amstrad PCW is launched to capture the small business market by offering a computer with a printer and word processor at a lower price than a typewriter. It is widely accepted despite the insistence of 3-inch disks (when 3.5 / 720 KB was already beginning to prevail as a market standard), since Amsoft is dedicated to converting CP/M applications to that format, to the point that it is easier to find Dbase II in 3 inches than in the native 5'25. Even Microsoft releases all its CP/M compilers in that format. Due to the price of the disc, it is not long before kits appear to connect 5.25 (external) and 3.5 (external and internal) units, in this case requiring modifications. Unexpectedly, the software houses start releasing games for PCW, showing that the GSX extension (on which the PC/ST GEM is based) is not only valid for graphics and diagrams. The RS232/parallel interface allows the connection of other printers (some programs start to support HP lasers) and they are starting to be seen on PCW users' BBS. Finally, Hard Disk drives appear from 20 to 40 Megabytes.
-Schneider distributed PCW computers in Germany under the names Joyce and Joyce Plus.
+In Germany Schneider distributes them under the names Joyce and Joyce Plus.
-The were marketed shortly in the USA along the PC 1640, but weren't successful at all due to mail order. Probably, the german and american motherboards are slightly different from the european ones.
+In the USA it makes a brief incursion together with the PC 1640, but they are quickly swept out of the market by the powerful catalog sales (several announcements of liquidation of equipment are seen). It is possible that the USA and German plates have differences from the rest of the European ones.
+In Spain, the traditional scarcity of peripherals makes the use of other printers very expensive, so as the PC market becomes cheaper, they are declining. They stop being seen in the offices with the replacement of the 9 needles by the ink jet. For a time, a PCW->PC file conversion market was generated.
+===== Packing =====
+The outer packaging is a cardboard box, inside which is protected by white cork against possible knocks, the green phosphor monitor with a 3" 180Kb unit incorporated, a matrix printer, a keyboard, the manuals (volume 1 Losocoscript, CP/M and Logo) and (Volume 2 Mallard Basic), two 3" disks containing the Locoscript word processor, CP/M, Utilities and Dr.Logo. Some teams gave away some program for the purchase of it, in this case, as can be seen in the images, the promotion was a pack made up of the Amsfile, supercalc2 and accounting programs.
+| {{ :hardware:pcw-8256_embalaje_1.jpg?400 }} | {{ :hardware:pcw-8256_embalaje_2.jpg?190 }} | {{ :hardware:pcw-8256_embalaje_3.jpg?130 }} | {{ :hardware:pcw-8256_embalaje_4.jpg?130 }} |
+| {{ :hardware:pcw-8256_embalaje_5.jpg?300 }} | {{ :hardware:pcw-8256_embalaje_6.jpg?400 }} | {{ :hardware:pcw-8256_embalaje_7.jpg?110 }} | {{ :hardware:pcw-8256_embalaje_8.jpg?270 }} |
+| {{ :hardware:pcw-8256_embalaje_9.jpg?140 }} | {{ :hardware:pcw-8256_embalaje_10.jpg?250 }} | {{ :hardware:pcw-8256_embalaje_11.jpg?270 }} | {{ :hardware:pcw-8256_embalaje_12.jpg?270 }} |
+===== Links =====
+  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IkL5VKzplI|Indescomp Spanish advertisement for the Amstrad PCW 8256]]
+  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW5jgMFeE2k|Australian advertisement for the Amstrad PCW 8256]]
+  * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kf-TbLgoyo&index=2&list=PL25S0ZFUD1qzRvO_mMFXSsD8DcOY1UZ6-|English advertisement for the Amstrad PCW 8256]]
-In Spain, peripherals for the PCW were quite expensive, which made difficult to use standard printers. When PC prices lowered, offices shifted to PCs with ink jet printers. For some time there was a market for PCW to PC files conversion.