Sinclair PC200
{{Short description|A home computer created by Amstrad}}
{{infobox computer
| name =
| logo =
| image = Sinclair PC 200 Reconstructed White BG.jpg
| caption = Sinclair PC 200
| developer =
| manufacturer = Amstrad
| carrier =
| family =
| type = Home computer
| generation =
| releasedate = {{Start date and age|1988}}
| lifespan =
| price = £300
| discontinued = {{Start date and age|1988}}
| unitssold =
| unitsshipped =
| media =
| os = MS-DOS 3.3, GEM, PPC Organiser
| power =
| cpu = Intel 8086
| storage = 3.5" floppy disk drive
| memory = 512KB
| display = TV modulator; PAL TV; up to 640 × 200
| sound = PC Speaker
| input = 102-key keyboard with numpad and function keys
| controllers =
| output =
| dimensions =
| weight =
| topgame =
| compatibility = IBM PC compatible
| successor =
| related =
| website =
| CPUspeed = 8 MHz
| predecessor = Amstrad PPC 512
| connectivity = RS-232, Centronics, RGB monitor, mouse port, joystick port
}}The Amstrad PC20 / Sinclair PC200 was a home computer created by Amstrad in late 1988, based on the Amstrad PPC 512 hardware. The machine was available in two versions, Sinclair PC200 and Amstrad PC20. The PC200{{Cite web |title=Sinclair PC 200 |url=https://www.homecomputermuseum.nl/collectie/sinclair/sinclair-pc200/ |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=HomeComputerMuseum |language=nl-NL}}{{Cite news |last=South |first=Phil |date=November 1988 |title=Rage Hard Special PC200 |pages=26 |work=Your Sinclair |issue=35 |url=https://archive.org/details/Your_Sinclair_035/page/n25/mode/2up?view=theater}} had a black case and 'Sinclair' branding, while the PC20{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Adrian |title=Amstrad PC20 |url=https://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/Museum/Amstrad/pc20.php |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Binary Dinosaurs}} was white and branded 'Amstrad'.{{Cite web |title=Sinclair PC 200 |url=https://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=85 |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=www.old-computers.com}}
In addition to MS-DOS 3.3 and PPC Organiser (a memory-resident suite of utilities), the PC20/PC200 was supplied with GEM and four CGA-compatible games.{{Cite web |title=Sinclair PC200 |url=https://t-lcarchive.org/sinclair-pc200/ |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=Time-Line Computer Archive |date=28 July 2020 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Graham |first=Adrian |title=Sinclair PC200 |url=https://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/Museum/Sinclair/pc200/index.php |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=Binary Dinosaurs}}
The limited MDA and CGA graphical capabilities and PC speaker sound output were greatly inferior compared to other home computers of the time.{{Cite news |last=Page |first=Barnaby |date=November 1988 |title=Enthusiasm shortage hits the 16-bit Sinclair |pages=7 |work=The Games Machine |issue=12 |url=https://archive.org/details/the-games-machine-12/page/n6/mode/1up?view=theater}} Consequently, the PC20/PC200 was not a commercial success.{{Cite web |title=Computer Express cover featuring the Sinclair PC200 |url=https://www.binarydinosaurs.co.uk/scripts/picshow.php?image=/Museum/Adverts/computerexpresscover.jpg&back=/Museum/Adverts/index.php |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Binary Dinosaurs}}
Design
The PPC 512's small LCD display was replaced by an RF 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 original Atari ST and Amiga 500.{{Cite web |title=Sinclair PC200 – Time-Line Computer Archive |date=28 July 2020 |url=https://t-lcarchive.org/sinclair-pc200/ |access-date=2022-11-23 |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |last=Withers |first=Steve |title=Amstrad PC20 |pages=319 |work=APC |issue=100 |url=http://messui.polygonal-moogle.com/comp/amstrad_pc20.pdf}} The PPC 512 second floppy drive bay was replaced by two ISA 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.
Although the PC20/PC200 does not support standard floppy disk drives through the built-in FDD connector, it uses a compatible floppy disk controller (a Zilog Z765a). Standard drives can be made to work with 720K disks after a cable modification.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Amstrad}}