 Sinclair PC 200 | |
| Manufacturer | Amstrad |
|---|---|
| Type | Home computer |
| Release date | 1988; 37 years ago (1988) |
| Introductory price | £300 |
| Discontinued | 1988; 37 years ago (1988) |
| Operating system | MS-DOS 3.3, GEM, PPC Organiser |
| CPU | Intel 8086 @ 8 MHz |
| Memory | 512KB |
| Storage | 3.5"floppy disk drive |
| Display | TV modulator; PAL TV; up to 640 × 200 |
| Graphics | CGA/MDA |
| Sound | PC Speaker |
| Input | 102-key keyboard with numpad and function keys |
| Connectivity | RS-232,Centronics, RGB monitor, mouse port,joystick port |
| Backward compatibility | IBM PC compatible |
| Predecessor | Amstrad PPC 512 |
TheAmstrad PC20 /Sinclair PC200 was a home computer created byAmstrad in late 1988, based on theAmstrad PPC 512 hardware. The machine was available in two versions,Sinclair PC200 andAmstrad PC20. ThePC200[1][2] had a black case and 'Sinclair' branding, while thePC20[3] was white and branded 'Amstrad'.[4]
In addition toMS-DOS 3.3 andPPC Organiser (amemory-resident suite of utilities), thePC20/PC200 was supplied withGEM and fourCGA-compatible games.[5][6]
The limited MDA and CGA graphical capabilities[4] andPC speaker[4] sound output were greatly inferior compared to other home computers of the time.[7] Consequently, thePC20/PC200 was not a commercial success.[8]
The PPC 512's smallLCD display was replaced by anRF modulator, so that the machine could display CGA video on a domestic television, and the keyboard and system unit were combined in an integrated case, similar to the originalAtari ST andAmiga 500.[9][10] The PPC 512 secondfloppy drive bay was replaced by twoISA slots, though the design of the case was such that any cards fitted would protrude from the top of the computer.
Some PC20s omitted the RF modulator and its support circuitry.[4]
Although the PC20/PC200 does not support standard floppy disk drives through the built-inFDD connector, it uses a compatible floppy disk controller (aZilog Z765a). Standard drives can be made to work with 720K disks after a cable modification.
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