HB-F9P explained

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 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

Notes and References

1. Web site: HB-F9P at oldcomputers.com . 2011-11-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101120225936/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=854 . 2010-11-20 . dead .
2. Web site: Sony data cartridge . 2011-11-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120331194528/http://gomsx.net/hansotten/msxdocs/sony55hbmsm.pdf . 2012-03-31 . dead .
3. Web site: Screen shot of the Personal Databank of the HB-55 and HB-75 . 2011-11-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120425161830/http://www.microsoftmsx.com/microsoft-msx-history/msx-computer-screen-shots/hb55-21/ . 2012-04-25 . dead .
4. http://www.msxblue.com/manual/hb55_c.htm site explaining the HBI-55 in combination with the HB-55
5. http://www.msxblue.com/manual/hbf9p_c.htm Screenshots of Memovision