Contents |
Description
Computer
The MB-H3 is the first MSX2 computer released by Hitachi. It was first shown to the public at the Japan Electronics Show '85 (Oct 17-22).
The unique selling point of this computer is the built-in touchpad, that can be disabled with a switch on the left side.
Its biggest disadvantage is the limitation of the VRAM to 64kB, which makes it impossible to use SCREEN 7 and 8.
| Brand | Hitachi |
| Model | MB-H3 |
| Year | 1985 (late) |
| Region | Japan |
| Launch price | ¥99,800 |
| RAM | 64kB in slot 3-2 |
| VRAM | 64kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges |
| Video | Yamaha V9938 |
| Audio | PSG (YM2149 integrated in MSX-Engine S3527) |
| Chipset | Yamaha S3527 |
| Keyboard layout | QWERTY/JP50on |
| Extras | built-in touchpad, switch to enable/disable the touchpad, Hitachi BASIC, firmware (Sketch Program, Drawing Tablet, Clock, Calculator), sold with cartridge 'Ehagaki You Word-Pro' (Word Processor for illustrated postcard) also known as Illustration Word Processor |
| Emulation | ROMs dumped and emulated with exception of the touchpad function. The touchpad enable switch is emulated in the OFF position, and there is no support to enable it. |
Firmware
The firmware available in this computer uses function keys F1 to F10:
- F1 - MSX-BASIC
- F2 to F5 - info or demo about the applications F7 to F10
- F6 - MSX-BASIC
- F7 - Sketch Program (graphic program)
- F8 - Drawing Tablet
- F9 - Clock (World Time + Alarm)
- F10 - Calculator (Mathematics Functions)
The firmware can be skipped if you press CTRL+STOP while booting.
If you stay on the menu, an automatic demo of the different applications will begin after a few time.
When you have started an info/demo part or an application, you can go back to the menu by pressing CTRL+STOP.
From MSX-BASIC, you can
- launch the Drawing Tablet application with CALL TABON or _TABON (back to normal use of BASIC with CALL TABOFF or _TABOFF)
- send a screendump of a text or graphic screen to a connected printer with CALL HCOPY or _HCOPY.
Besides, 5 other 'COPY' instructions are available, see Hitachi BASIC.
The tablet is required for using the graphic applications and the cartridge sold with the computer: Ehagaki You Word-Pro (Word Processor for illustrated postcard) also known as Illustration Word Processor. The touchpad has a character recognition feature, that is very useful for the Kanji characters. A mouse is also required.
Compared to previous versions of Sketch, this graphic tool uses here SCREEN 5 instead of SCREEN 2.
Pictures
Computer
+ Hitachi MPN-8002H joystick
Firmware
Specifications
The Hitachi MB-H3 is a MSX2 with a Z80A from Sharp (LH0080A) and an MSX-Engine S3527 from Yamaha. As the VRAM size is only 64kB, SCREEN 7 and 8 can't be used.
Slot Map
| Slot 0 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3-0 | Slot 3-1 | Slot 3-2 | Slot 3-3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page C000h~FFFFh | Cartridge Slot 1 | Cartridge Slot 2 | 64kB RAM | |||||||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | Firmware | |||||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | |||||||||
| Page 0000h~3FFFh | Sub-ROM |
Connections
- RF output
- RGB output
- Analog sound & Composite video
- Data Recorder connector
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mice, Paddle controllers, etc)
- 2 cartridge slots
- Touch pen connector
Upgrades
- To get a full MSX2, an upgrade of the VRAM to 128kB is required. (You just need to add two RAM (MB81464-12), two capacitors (0.1uF) and a resistor (33Ω) for this upgrade.)
- There is no problem with connecting an external disk drive, but it's recommended to press CTRL+STOP while booting to have direct access to the drive and the correct indication on the MSX-BASIC screen about the presence of Disk BASIC.
Links
- Hitachi MB-H3 on Generation-MSX
- Detailed look at the MB-H3 (Japanese)
- Info about the MB-H3 (Japanese) - archived version