Description

Computer

The NMS 8255 is a professional computer made by Sanyo for the Dutch company Philips. The machine itself is basically the PHC-50FD2 rebranded and localised for the European market. The abbreviation NMS stands for New Media Systems.

The computer is a desktop model with a modern and business-like design and features two built-in disk drives. The color is dark silver and gray.

The NMS 8255 is almost identical to the Philips NMS 8250, with the only real difference being the number of disk drives. The NMS 8250 has one, while the NMS 8255 has two. For both models the label on the front will say NMS 8250. To see the actual model, you need to check the label on the back of the machine.

The NMS 8255 is also very similar in appearance to the NMS 8280.

This computer comes with 128kB RAM (not 256kB as indicated on the machine and the box by adding the VRAM). Three models were produced:

• NMS 8255/00 for the Dutch and Belgian markets, keyboard layout is QWERTY
• NMS 8255/16 for the Spanish market, keyboard layout is QWERTY with ñ key
• NMS 8255/19 for the French and Belgian markets, keyboard layout is AZERTY

Belgium is a country with 3 official languages: Dutch - French - German. With exception for the NMS 8220 and the NMS 8280 only available in the Dutch version, also in the French speaking part (Wallonia), all the Philips MSX computers released in Belgium were different according it was in Flanders (Dutch) or in Wallonia (French).

Floppy disks

Two floppy disks were provided with this computer:

• MSX-DOS1 with a text based menu driven interface

• Home Office 2, that can be viewed as the sequel to MSX Home Office, provided with the VG-8230 and VG-8235 machines, mixed with ideas taken from Ease, provided with the NMS 8245 computer: it contains 6 applications (Cards - Text - Spreadsheet - Planner - Mailing - Printer Settings) and 4 additional submenus, including a Calculator, a Print Menu, a Disk Menu and a Tape Menu.

Pictures

Computer

Philips NMS 8255 front

Philips NMS 8255 back

Philips NMS 8255 box

NMS 8255 with keyboard

Philips NMS 8255 label

Philips NMS 8255 right side

Software

MSX-DOS

Loading doshlp

doshlp Dutch

doshlp Index (Dutch)

doshlp French

doshlp index (French)

Home Office 2

Home Office 2 Main Menu

Home Office 2 Cards

Home Office 2 Text

Home Office 2 Spreadsheet

Home Office 2 Planner

Home Office 2 Mailing

Home Office 2 Printer Settings

Home Office 2 Submenu F2

Home Office 2 Calculator

Home Office 2 Print Menu F3

Home Office 2 Disk Menu F4

Home Office 2 Tape Menu F5

Specifications

The NMS 8255 is an MSX2 with a Z80A from NEC (D780C-1) and an MSX-Engine S3527 from Yamaha.

This model is known for SCC (and other sound cards) mixing issues. There are several modifications fixing this, the opamp mod by Daemos and luppie not being the worst one.

The plastic front panel also gets very fragile with age. Special care must be taken when shipping that absolutely no stress is placed on the front panel.

Slot Map

• The 16KB Sub-ROM is mirrored over pages 0 to 3 in slot 3-0
• The Disk ROM is a 16kB ROM - 4000h-7FFFh. However, the FDC registers are visible on all 4 pages.

Connections

• RGB output (SCART)
• RF output (UHF)
• Analog sound & Composite video
• Luminance video output connector (for monochrome monitors)
• Keyboard connector
• Data Recorder connector
• Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
• 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mice, Paddle controllers, etc)
• 2 cartridge slots (on the right side)

Fixes And Repair

• NMS 8250 Service Manual
• NMS 8250 Repair Method
• How to fix distorted sound for Philips NMS-8250, NMS-8255 and NMS-8280
  • Tutorial in video (by Repair-Bas)
• How to fix the issue with sound expansions for Philips NMS-8250, NMS-8255 and NMS-8280 (Spanish)
• 3D printed front panel
• Preventive modification for original disk drive (Dutch)

External Links

• NMS 8255 User Guide (Dutch)
• Home Office 2 manual (Spanish)
• Designer Plus manual (Spanish)