Sharp X1C (CZ-801C) - Computer

The X1C works perfectly. The electro-magnetic cassette has been cleaned, oiled, and new belts have been installed. And it already works correctly.

The state of the equipment is acceptable as it shows signs of use and marks likely caused by winding cables around the unit, as can be seen in the photos.

Being a Japanese device, the integrated power supply is 100 VAC 50/60Hz and the video output is NTSC. I verified this with a transformer (not included) 220VAC -> 110VAC, and with an RGB cable to a Philips CM8833 monitor (which are also not included).

When the unit is powered on it displays the message:

IPL is under preparing

And after a few seconds, if there is no cassette in the unit, it shows the menu:

Make ready any device
Push (F, R, C or T) key
F:Floppy
R:ROM
C:CMT
T:Timer

If it detects a cassette at startup, or after inserting it and selecting the C option, the message appears:

IPL is looking for a program from CMT

And proceeds to load the software stored on tape. Unfortunately, I only have one tape with which I have tested the equipment, and it is not included in the auction.

Only the keys corresponding to the menus and the ones used to control the ship in the game were tested on the keyboard.

[Story]
In 1982 Sharp had the MZ computer series on the market, designed by the Electronics (or Components) division, which had achieved relative success in Europe.

The X1 series was developed by the Television division, being a completely different product, sold only in Japan, and it competed with the MZ series itself.

The X1 series was on sale between 1982 and 1988, and although it came from entirely different development departments, both share the concept that Sharp calls "clean design": they do not include any language or operating system in ROM, only a simple IPL (Initial Program Loader) program that loads the operating system, programming language or the application of the storage device, allowing the entire RAM of the unit to be available. By default, the basic storage device, and generally included, is a cassette drive.

Both the MZ and the X1 are based on Sharp's own Z80A processor, although the X1 series includes a GI AY-3-8910 sound processor.

The X1 was marketed as a "PC TV", since it was sold with an RGB monitor that also included a TV tuner that allowed overlaying a computer screen image onto the TV image and subtitles. Additionally, all TV functions can be controlled from a computer program or from the keyboard, even when the computer is off. Thus, one of the options available in the IPL menu is a TV on/off timer for a given channel, very similar to the timer used in VHS and similar video recorders.

The X1 was a fairly technically advanced computer: a Zilog Z80A-compatible processor at 4 MHz, 64 KB of RAM, 4 KB of VRAM expandable to 48 KB and 6 KB of ROM with the IPL. It features a graphics resolution of 320x200 and 640x200.

In the Sharp X1 you can select a background color from eight. In the monitor, the following outputs can be mixed:
- Text mode and graphics mode.
- Text mode, graphics mode and the TV input.
- Text mode, graphics mode and the video input.

The X1s include a fully programmable character generator (PCG), which allows defining characters or graphical symbols with 4-bit color, and moving them quickly around the screen (though with movement not as fine as Sprites).

The X1C (CZ-801C), released in 1983, is the compact version, and was available in red and metallic bronze.