Matsushita JR series

The JR-100マイコン1982年2月号 was released on November 21, 1981, with a price of 54,800 yen.{{Cite web|url=http://asamomiji.jp/contents/documents/retropc/jr100|title=JR-100|date=May 28, 2017|website=計算機室}} It was the cheapest domestically produced personal computer at the time of its release.

Like the Hitachi Basic Master and Sharp MZ-80, it was a low-performance, low-priced personal computer offering basic semi-graphic character based graphics, a monochrome display, and minimal sound ability. The CPU was an 8-bit Panasonic MN1800A NMOS microprocessor{{Cite book |url=https://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf/download.php?id=2fae23a9ce160f11ce15274d241e5a77bcb2b1&type=O&term=27--KUX |title=PANASONIC INDL/ELEK {IC} 72 |publisher=Panasonic |pages=270}} (compatible with the Motorola MC6802, a slightly improved version of the Motorola MC6800) running at a slow 0.89 MHz, and it came with 16 KB of RAM (expandable to 32 KB).{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/Panasonic_JR-100U_Operating_Instructions |title=Operating Instructions - Personal Computer JR-100U |publisher=Panasonic}} Compared to the cheaper imported Sinclair ZX81 (38,700 yen), the larger RAM on the JR100 made it possible to create better programs.

The computer case is angular and cream-colored, measuring 296mm wide x 154mm deep x 45mm high, being extremely compact. The green keyboard was made of rubber due to its low price, and was mockingly called the "eraser keyboard". It had a shortcut key function, allowing users to enter commands in one go. There was no space bar at the bottom, and the right shift key was replaced with a space bar.

Specifications:

• CPU: MN1800A (MC6802 compatible)
• Clock speed: 890 kHz
• RAM: 16-32 KB
• ROM: 8 KB
• Graphics: Monochrome; {{Resx|32|24}} text characters; {{Resx|64|48}} semi-graphic characters with {{Resx|8|8}} pixel matrix
• Sound: Internal speaker
• Connections: Monitor, Expansion, Tape (Frequency-shift keying encoding with 1200 Hz for space and 2400 Hz for mark; 600 baud)
• OS: JR-BASIC 1.0

{{main|Panasonic JR-200}}

The JR-200 was released at the end of 1982 with a price of 79,800 yen. It was a higher-end model than the JR-100, but not compatible with this machine.

The JR-200 is made of silver grey plastic, and has a black matte area around the chiclet keyboard area. It used the same MN1800A CPU as the previous model, but added a second processor, the 4-bit MN1544CJR,{{Cite web |last=Reunanen |first=Markku |title=Discovering the Panasonic JR-200U |url=http://www.kameli.net/marq/?page_id=1270 |website=.Markku Reunanen.}} which is used for I/O and contains 128 bytes of RAM plus four kilobytes of ROM.

The computer received favorable reviews on its launch. Creative Computing wrote "The Panasonic JR-200 is one of the nicest new computers to make the scene in some time."{{Cite news |last=Ahl |first=David |date=May 1983 |title=Panasonic JR-200 |volume=9 |pages=16 |work=Creative Computing Magazine |issue=5 |url=https://archive.org/details/creativecomputing-1983-05./page/n19/mode/2up}}

• CPU: MN1800A + MN1544
• Clock speed: 890 kHz
• RAM: 36 KB
• ROM: 16 KB
• Graphics: 8 colors (black, blue, red, magenta, green, cyan, yellow, white); {{Resx|256|192}}; {{Resx|32|24}} text characters; {{Resx|64|48}} semi-graphic characters with {{Resx|8|8}} pixel matrix
• Sound: 3 voices, 5 octaves, square wave. Generated by the MN1271 sound, I/O and timer chip.{{Cite book |url=https://www.datasheetarchive.com/pdf/download.php?id=49f1a85cf9cac486c29073c0ad2058dce510c1&type=O&term=MN1271 |title=PANASONIC INDL/ELEK {IC} 72 |publisher=Panasonic |pages=524}}
• Connections: Composite and RF video, expansion, tape (600/2400 baud), printer port, floppy drive, joystick
• OS: JR-BASIC 5.0

Versions of the JR-200 were developed for the North American and European markets and announced in January 1983:{{cite web |title=PANASONIC JR-200U |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=553 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128210558/https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=553 |archive-date=2022-11-28 |accessdate=20 May 2018 |website=OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum}}

• JR-200U: Designed for North American and European markets, with modified power supply and video output standards;
• JR-200UP: Included a built-in printer interface to meet business and educational needs.

The JR-300, released in 1984 with a price of 159,000 yen, was completely redesigned in comparison with the earlier JR-100 and JR-200 models. The JR-300 was a hybrid 8/16-bit machine, having a Zilog Z80A CPU as well as a second MN1800A CPU to allow backwards compatibility with the JR-200.

It was advertised as "PC & TV 300" and came standard with a genlock function. A dedicated display (TH15-M300) was available for this. The size and design are similar to the Matsushita MSX machines with separate keyboard.

The JR-300 was primarily delivered to schools as an educational computer, and only a very limited number of machines were released to the general public.

• CPU: MN1800A + Z80A
• Clock speed: 4 MHz
• RAM: 82 KB
• ROM: 40 KB
• Graphics: 8 colors; {{Resx|320|200}}, {{Resx|640|200}}, {{Resx|640|400}}
• Sound: Yamaha 8910 (3 voices, 5 octaves)
• Connections: RGB, Composite and RF video, sound out, expansion, tape (600/2400 baud), printer port, floppy drive, joystick
• OS: JR-BASIC 5.0, Extended Basic

A handheld model called JR-800 was launched in 1983 with a price of 128,000 yen,{{Cite web|url=http://www.jibunde.com/pokecom/National/JR-800/index.html|title=JR-800(ポケコン・ポケットコンピュータ)のことなら「自分でドットコム」(DIY)|website=www.jibunde.com}} but it was not compatible with the previous JR computers. It was based around a Hitachi HD63A01V CPU{{Cite web |date=August 2020 |title=National JR-800 Documentation |url=https://pockemul.com/index.php/2020/08/28/national-jr-800-documentation/ |website=PockEmul - A vintage Pocket Computers and Calculators emulator}} (MC6801 compatible) running at 4.9152 MHz, with 16 KB of RAM, and featured a {{Resx|192|64}} pixel LCD screen.{{Cite web |title=The National JR-800 computer |url=http://pocket.free.fr/html/national/jr-800_e.html |website=The pocket computer museum}}

It was a B5 sized handheld computer, powered by four AA batteries or an AC adapter. A dedicated portable printer, the JR-P20, was also released.

• CPU: HD63A01V
• Clock speed: 4.9152 MHz
• RAM: 16 KB
• ROM: 16 KB
• Graphics: monochrome LCD, {{Resx|32|8}} characters; {{Resx|192|64}} pixels
• Connections: tape, RS-232, printer, sound
• OS: BASIC

The table below shows the semigraphics character set available on the Matsushita JR series, as shown on the operations manual.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/Panasonic_JR-100U_Operating_Instructions/page/n9/mode/2up |title=Operating Instructions Personal Computer JR-100U |publisher=Panasonic |pages=8, 54}} Characters are rendered using modern equivalents, the exact hardware font it not simulated.

• JR-BASIC
• Panasonic JR-200
• Sharp MZ
• PC-8000 series

{{reflist}}

• [http://pocket.free.fr/html/national/jr-800_e.html The Pocket Computer Museum entry] on the National JR-800 handheld computer
• [https://binarium.de/panasonic_matsushita_national_jr_100 BINARIUM museum entry] on the Panasonic JR-100 (German language)

{{Panasonic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Matsushita Jr Series}}

Category:Home computers

Category:Panasonic computers

Category:Character sets

Category:Computer-related introductions in 1981

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