Does the NMS8255 has the same frontpanel as the NMS8250 ?

I just got me a NMS8255, at least that is written on the back on the serialnr label, but on the frontpanel is written "NMS8250"

What I wonna know is this :

Does a 8255 has "'NMS8255" written on the frontpanel or only at the back ?

Years ago in the MCM (dutch MSX magazine) I saw a photograph of the machine along with the review of the (then new) machine. It said explicitly NMS8255 on the front...

There are a few computers with 8255 on the front-panel.
But those were only for the shops and maybe magazines

But if you look in old promotion papers, you can see more differences.
like a second led in the keyboard.

I have had once a keyboard with orange cursors on the cursor-keys.

So if the serial label on the back says "8255/00", I can assume it's an original 8255 instead of a 8250 with build in second drive ?

yes correct

but there are also more versions

8250/20, original new type drive
8255/20, original new type drives

This is also with the 8280
then there is a difference in the serial numbers

8250/00 2D, original 1 drive.
But Philips has not enough computers with 2 drives, so they changed 1000's of computers to 2 drives.
I know a Philips employe, who changed lot of computers

Did you know that the 8280 original is with 1 drive.
You can see that on the box.
But the computer was too expansiev, so every 8280 is changed to two drives.

What's the difference between the old and the new type of drives used by philips ?

Is it just a change of brand or are the new type of drives quicker and/or of better quality than the old ones ?

Are the new ones the ones with the lids to keep the drive slot closed and the old ones are the open drives, in which you can look?

yes correct, and with a small eject button, the same as in the sony 900

Hm, my 8255/00 has 1 drive with a lid, and one without...

Then one drive is changed
But not by Philips
Can you put here a photo?

Quote:

Hm, my 8255/00 has 1 drive with a lid, and one without...

Adding a second drive to a NMS8250 has been on the pricelist of every hardware modder since the appearance of that machine. And since the NSM8250/55/80 is not very demanding on the type of floppy drive and connector any brand 720KB drive with a black front was used. White fronts are so ugly!
Look for example in the adverts of magazine issues of that period. Or the fair lists. Must have been quite a profitable and often used business btw, since so many offered hardware upgrade services in the 90ties. And look at the similarities of those lists: nearly all learned the trick by copying it from Digital KC aka Kees Folst, the master of hardware mods and designs like slot expander and memory mappers.

Quote:

Then one drive is changed But not by Philips Can you put here a photo?

Left is A-drive, right is B-drive. If it was fixed, it probably is done by Philips; the previous owner was a general practitioner and used this computer for the registration of the patients (this was probably some automation project). I assume, because it was used professionally, if there was any maintenance it would have been done by Philips.

Both drives are used in Philips computers.
Philips did not do this.
The only reason I think is that the previous owner bought a spare-part and changed the drive.

But the left drive is used in the latest model of the 8280, and some other 8250/55 machines with extension 2D or /20

He is in no way capable of doing that himself. I also have the MSX he had before this one, a NMS8250 (!). He bought the 8255 one after the 8250. I think it had something to do with the software he was running on it (some medical patient registration program). My guess the computer came with the software (instead of the other way around), maybe the software developers replaced the drive?

I think you are right Vincent, but we both sure that it is not done by Philips