HB-F9P

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

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" 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". 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.

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