PC-1512
Encyclopedia
The Amstrad PC1512 was Amstrad
's mostly IBM PC
-compatible computer
system, first manufactured in 1986. It was later succeeded by the PC1640.
It launched for £499 and sold very well, as it was one of the first cheap PCs in Europe. It significantly helped open up the European PC market to consumers as well as businesses, and Amstrad's advertising of the PC1512 was aimed at homes rather than offices. The 1512's influence was such that the UK PC magazine PC Plus
originally targeted itself at the "Amstrad PC 1512 and compatibles", since home ownership of other PCs at the time was rare.
The PC1512 shipped with 512K of RAM; it could be upgraded to 640K of RAM with an expansion pack commonly known as a "top hat". Video output was compatible with the CGA
standard, with an extension allowing all 16 colours to be used in the 640×200 graphics mode. The CPU of both the PC1512 and the later PC1640 was an 8 MHz Intel 8086
, which was sufficient for playing The Secret of Monkey Island
, Maniac Mansion
and Prince of Persia. The power supply was located in the monitor, which made upgrading difficult.
Amstrad licensed both MS-DOS
3.2 and Digital Research
DOS Plus
, which was largely compatible with MS-DOS and included some features from CP/M
and the ability to read CP/M disks. Only one of these operating systems could be used at a time. They also licensed the GEM
windowing system
, which supported the customized CGA hardware of the 1512.
The PC1512 was followed by the PC1640, which had 640 KB of RAM and an EGA
-compatible graphics chipset (though only the ECD model could display all EGA modes). Either model shipped with one or two 5.25" floppy drives
, and optionally a hard drive (either 10 or 20 MB).
Amstrad also attempted to expand its market share by selling computers in the United States. In the US the PC1640 was marketed as the PC6400. The PC1512 was also sold as the Sinclair PC500.
The input devices supplied with the machine were notable. The mouse was an Amstrad Mouse, which was incompatible with serial mice common at the time. It was supported by some games, including Elite, but many DOS programs had problems with it. The keyboard sported an Atari-compatible joystick
port for digital joysticks. Joystick movements and buttons were mapped to unused keyboard codes, allowing the joystick to be used in many DOS games that were written for keyboard control.
The series was somewhat unusual for the fact that it had a physical volume control on the internal speaker. This allowed the user to make the machine beep quietly, or silently, from boot time onwards. This innovation is still not present in most modern PCs: the legacy beeper is typically still a fixed-volume device, though external speakers connected via dedicated sound hardware do usually have a volume control.
Whereas IBM's PC (and almost all PC compatibles) had a power supply in a corner of the main case, the PC1512's power supply was integrated with that of its monitor. The monitor had sufficient venting to cool itself by convection
, instead of needing a fan. The PC1512 was therefore quieter than other PCs. Rumours circulated that an Amstrad PC would overheat, and while existing owners would note that this did not happen, new buyers were discouraged. As a result, later models had a cooling fan integrated into the main case.
PC1512DD System Unit 372 W 284 D 135 H 7.75 kg
PC MM Monochrome monitor 350W 300 D 315H 7.43 kg
PC CM Colour Monitor 372W 365D 330H 11.6 kg
Amstrad launched the Amstrad DMP3000 printer, which was an 80 character dot matrix printer with both IBM and Epson compatibility and boasted NLQ (Near Letter Quality) and could handle both A4
and fanfold
paper. It connected to the computer via a parallel port.
Modem
Amstrad also launched the SM2400 modem, which was a quad speed dial-up modem and boasted speeds of up to 2400baud. It was an internal ISA modem. It was encased in plastic and could fit into Amstrad PC1512 and PC1640.
Amstrad
Amstrad is a British electronics company, now wholly owned by BSkyB. As of 2006, Amstrad's main business is manufacturing Sky Digital interactive boxes....
's mostly IBM PC
IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
-compatible computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
system, first manufactured in 1986. It was later succeeded by the PC1640.
It launched for £499 and sold very well, as it was one of the first cheap PCs in Europe. It significantly helped open up the European PC market to consumers as well as businesses, and Amstrad's advertising of the PC1512 was aimed at homes rather than offices. The 1512's influence was such that the UK PC magazine PC Plus
PC Plus
PC Plus is a Computer magazine published monthly since 1986 in the UK by Future Publishing. The magazine is aimed at intermediate to advanced PC users, computer professionals and enthusiasts. The magazine is specifically for users of PCs and related technologies, so features articles are...
originally targeted itself at the "Amstrad PC 1512 and compatibles", since home ownership of other PCs at the time was rare.
The PC1512 shipped with 512K of RAM; it could be upgraded to 640K of RAM with an expansion pack commonly known as a "top hat". Video output was compatible with the CGA
Color Graphics Adapter
The Color Graphics Adapter , originally also called the Color/Graphics Adapter or IBM Color/Graphics Monitor Adapter, introduced in 1981, was IBM's first color graphics card, and the first color computer display standard for the IBM PC....
standard, with an extension allowing all 16 colours to be used in the 640×200 graphics mode. The CPU of both the PC1512 and the later PC1640 was an 8 MHz Intel 8086
Intel 8086
The 8086 is a 16-bit microprocessor chip designed by Intel between early 1976 and mid-1978, when it was released. The 8086 gave rise to the x86 architecture of Intel's future processors...
, which was sufficient for playing The Secret of Monkey Island
The Secret of Monkey Island
The Secret of Monkey Island is a graphic adventure game developed by Lucasfilm Games and published by the same company after its name was changed to LucasArts. The game spawned a number of sequels, collectively known as the Monkey Island series...
, Maniac Mansion
Maniac Mansion
Maniac Mansion is a 1987 graphic adventure game developed and published by Lucasfilm Games. It was Lucasfilm's first published video game, and it was initially released for the Commodore 64 and Apple II. A comedy horror parody of B movies, it follows teenager Dave Miller as he ventures...
and Prince of Persia. The power supply was located in the monitor, which made upgrading difficult.
Amstrad licensed both MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
3.2 and Digital Research
Digital Research
Digital Research, Inc. was the company created by Dr. Gary Kildall to market and develop his CP/M operating system and related products. It was the first large software company in the microcomputer world...
DOS Plus
DOS Plus
DOS Plus is an operating system written by Digital Research, first released in 1985. It can be seen as an intermediate step between CP/M-86 and DR-DOS....
, which was largely compatible with MS-DOS and included some features from CP/M
CP/M
CP/M was a mass-market operating system created for Intel 8080/85 based microcomputers by Gary Kildall of Digital Research, Inc...
and the ability to read CP/M disks. Only one of these operating systems could be used at a time. They also licensed the GEM
Graphical Environment Manager
GEM was a windowing system created by Digital Research, Inc. for use with the CP/M operating system on the Intel 8088 and Motorola 68000 microprocessors...
windowing system
Windowing system
A windowing system is a component of a graphical user interface , and more specifically of a desktop environment, which supports the implementation of window managers, and provides basic support for graphics hardware, pointing devices such as mice, and keyboards...
, which supported the customized CGA hardware of the 1512.
The PC1512 was followed by the PC1640, which had 640 KB of RAM and an EGA
Enhanced Graphics Adapter
The Enhanced Graphics Adapter is the IBM PC computer display standard specification which is between CGA and VGA in terms of color and space resolution. Introduced in October 1984 by IBM shortly after its new PC/AT, EGA produces a display of 16 simultaneous colors from a palette of 64 at a...
-compatible graphics chipset (though only the ECD model could display all EGA modes). Either model shipped with one or two 5.25" floppy drives
Floppy disk
A floppy disk is a disk storage medium composed of a disk of thin and flexible magnetic storage medium, sealed in a rectangular plastic carrier lined with fabric that removes dust particles...
, and optionally a hard drive (either 10 or 20 MB).
Amstrad also attempted to expand its market share by selling computers in the United States. In the US the PC1640 was marketed as the PC6400. The PC1512 was also sold as the Sinclair PC500.
The input devices supplied with the machine were notable. The mouse was an Amstrad Mouse, which was incompatible with serial mice common at the time. It was supported by some games, including Elite, but many DOS programs had problems with it. The keyboard sported an Atari-compatible joystick
Joystick
A joystick is an input device consisting of a stick that pivots on a base and reports its angle or direction to the device it is controlling. Joysticks, also known as 'control columns', are the principal control in the cockpit of many civilian and military aircraft, either as a center stick or...
port for digital joysticks. Joystick movements and buttons were mapped to unused keyboard codes, allowing the joystick to be used in many DOS games that were written for keyboard control.
The series was somewhat unusual for the fact that it had a physical volume control on the internal speaker. This allowed the user to make the machine beep quietly, or silently, from boot time onwards. This innovation is still not present in most modern PCs: the legacy beeper is typically still a fixed-volume device, though external speakers connected via dedicated sound hardware do usually have a volume control.
Whereas IBM's PC (and almost all PC compatibles) had a power supply in a corner of the main case, the PC1512's power supply was integrated with that of its monitor. The monitor had sufficient venting to cool itself by convection
Convection
Convection is the movement of molecules within fluids and rheids. It cannot take place in solids, since neither bulk current flows nor significant diffusion can take place in solids....
, instead of needing a fan. The PC1512 was therefore quieter than other PCs. Rumours circulated that an Amstrad PC would overheat, and while existing owners would note that this did not happen, new buyers were discouraged. As a result, later models had a cooling fan integrated into the main case.
Specification
- Available as choice of one or two 360K 5 1/4" floppy disks drives or one floppy disk drive with a 10 or 20 Mb hard disk drive.
- Hard disk version, supplied with an extra floppy disk and manual backup and restore utilities
- CGA display with extra 640x200 16 colour mode.
- Colour or monochrome monitors. Monochrome monitor displays CGA in greyscale, not compatible with more usual HerculesHercules Graphics CardThe Hercules Graphics Card was a computer graphics controller made by Hercules Computer Technology, Inc. which, through its popularity, became a widely supported display standard. It was common on IBM PC compatibles connected to a monochrome monitor . It supported one high resolution text mode and...
mono display. - Motherboard includes RS232c serial and parallel port
- Loudspeaker with volume control (PC speakerPC speakerA PC speaker is a loudspeaker, built into some IBM PC compatible computers. The first IBM Personal Computer, model 5150, employed a standard 2.25 inch magnetic driven speaker. More recent computers use a piezoelectric speaker instead. The speaker allows software and firmware to provide...
, not sound card) - Battery-backed real time clock and configuration RAM
- Socket for 8087 maths co-processor
- Connector for light penLight penA light pen is a computer input device in the form of a light-sensitive wand used in conjunction with a computer's CRT TV set or monitor. It allows the user to point to displayed objects, or draw on the screen, in a similar way to a touch screen but with greater positional accuracy...
- Full size QWERTY keyboard with keyboard joystick port (the port was the same as the Commodore Vic-20/C-64 port)
- Two button mouse with dedicated port on system unit
- Microsoft compatible mouse
- Three full-length expansion slots - these were accessed through top and side panels with thumb-push locks meaning expansion cards could be added without use of a screwdriver.
Supplied Software
Four discs were supplied with floppy models, five with hard drive models.- MicrosoftMicrosoftMicrosoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
MS DOS 3.2 Operating SystemOperating systemAn operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system... - Digital Research GEM (Graphics Environment Manager) plus GEM DesktopGraphical Environment ManagerGEM was a windowing system created by Digital Research, Inc. for use with the CP/M operating system on the Intel 8088 and Motorola 68000 microprocessors...
- Digital Research GEM Paint
- Digital Research DOS Plus (runs MS DOS and CP/M-86 Applications)
- GEM based Locomotive BASIC 2
Dimensions
PC1512SD System Unit 372 W 284 D 135 H 6.05 kgPC1512DD System Unit 372 W 284 D 135 H 7.75 kg
PC MM Monochrome monitor 350W 300 D 315H 7.43 kg
PC CM Colour Monitor 372W 365D 330H 11.6 kg
Accessories
PrinterAmstrad launched the Amstrad DMP3000 printer, which was an 80 character dot matrix printer with both IBM and Epson compatibility and boasted NLQ (Near Letter Quality) and could handle both A4
ISO 216
ISO 216 specifies international standard paper sizes used in most countries in the world today. It defines the "A" and "B" series of paper sizes, including A4, the most commonly available size...
and fanfold
Continuous stationery
Continuous stationery or Continuous form paper is paper which is designed for use with dot-matrix printers and line printers. Other names for continuous stationery include fan-fold paper, sprocket feed paper, burst paper, tractor-feed paper, and pin feed paper...
paper. It connected to the computer via a parallel port.
Modem
Amstrad also launched the SM2400 modem, which was a quad speed dial-up modem and boasted speeds of up to 2400baud. It was an internal ISA modem. It was encased in plastic and could fit into Amstrad PC1512 and PC1640.
External links
- More information on the Amstrad PC1512 (includes image)
- XT PCs page by Cliff Lawson of Amstrad - Dead link! (Drivers, Disks, Software)
- SWT Computers - Information and System Disks
- More information on the Amstrad PC1640 (includes image)