MBC-550

The Sanyo MBC-550 is a small and inexpensive personal computer in "pizza-box" style, featuring an Intel 8088 microprocessor and running a version of MS-DOS. Sold by Sanyo, it was the least expensive early IBM PC compatible.[1]

MBC-55x
Original Sanyo MBC-550 demo written in BASIC at 27-9-1983. See full sourcecode of the demo
DeveloperSanyo
TypePersonal computer
Release date1982 (1982)
Lifespan6 Years
Introductory price<$1000
Discontinued1988
Units sold10,000+
Operating systemMS-DOS
CPUIntel 8088 at 3.58 MHz
Memory128 KB
DisplayRGB Color Monitor CRT 70
GraphicsRGB graphics adapter
Inputkeyboard
Connectivity1 parallel port
Power120 V AC (North American model)
Dimensions380 x 112 x 360 mm
Sanyo MBC-555. Currently on display at the Living Computer Museum in Seattle, Washington.

The MBC-550 has much better video display possibilities than the CGA card (8 colors at 640x200 resolution, vs CGA's 4 colors at 320x200 or 2 colors at 640x200), but it is not completely compatible with the IBM-PC. The computer lacks a standard BIOS, having only a minimal bootloader in ROM that accesses hardware directly to load a RAM-based BIOS.[2] The diskette format (FM rather than MFM) used is not completely compatible with the IBM PC, but special software on an original PC or PC/XT (but not PC/AT) can read and write the diskettes, and software expecting a standard 18.2 Hz clock interrupt has to be rewritten.

The MBC-550 was also the computer for NRI training. Starting by building the computer, the NRI promised you would be "qualified to service and repair virtually every major brand of computer".[3] NRI advertised in Popular Mechanics and Popular Science throughout 1985.[4]

The MBC-550 is less PC compatible than the IBM PCjr. Its inability to use much PC software was a significant disadvantage; [1] InfoWorld reported in August 1985 that Sanyo "has initiated a campaign to sell off" of MBC-550 inventory. The company's newer computers were, an executive claimed, 99% PC compatible.[5]

Models
  • MBC-550 : 1 x 5.25" disk drive (160 KB)[6]
  • MBC-555 : 2 x 5.25" disk drive (160 KB)
  • MBC-555-2 : 2 x 5.25" disk drive (360 KB)
  • MBC-555-3 : 2 x 5.25" disk drive (720 KB)
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gollark: I can't "focus on the evidence" because I have no idea what this is saying.
gollark: Well, hands, anyway.
gollark: He has a body, you can see on his YouTube channel.

References
  1. Jon Geist (September 1984). "Sanyo 555 Small Business Computers". Creative Computing. Vol. 10 no. 9. p. 12.
  2. Elliott, John C. (2006-04-30). "The Sanyo MBC550". Seasip.info. Retrieved 2017-11-09.
  3. Corporation, Bonnier (1 March 1985). "Popular Science". 226 (3). Bonnier Corporation. Retrieved 25 July 2016. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. Magazines, Hearst (1 February 1985). "Popular Mechanics". Hearst Magazines. Retrieved 25 July 2016. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. Bannister, Hank (1985-08-26). "Sanyo Clears Deck of 550s". InfoWorld. p. 28. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  6. "OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 25 July 2016.


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