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Description
The HB-G900AP is the HB-F900 localised for the European market with more RAM. This computer supports superimpose with genlock via a special video interface connector on the back.
The HB-G900AP was a special computer aimed at the professional market. Very little is known about the computer, as there is no mention of the system in magazines of the time, and very few units are known to exist.
It was supposedly sold in the Netherlands, Germany, France and Spain. The keyboard is separate and the layout is QWERTY (reference KBD-12P) , AZERTY (reference KBD-12F) or QWERTZ (reference KBD-12D), depending on the destination country. Documentation is multilingual.
This model is only available in white color. It included a mouse and a special version of the software Multi-Teloper (Q-Manager & Graphics Editor) on floppy disk.
According to the service manual, it included a "MSX-DOS/Character Font System, RAM Disk Utility and Font Disk" In addition to MSX-DOS, this disk also includes the character font files for the Video Utility built-in the computer, and the RAM disk utility program.
Brand | Sony |
Model | HB-G900AP |
Year | 1987 |
Region | France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain |
Launch price | |
RAM | 512kB in slot 3-0 |
VRAM | 128kB |
Media | MSX cartridges, 2DD floppy disks |
Video | Yamaha V9938 |
Audio | PSG (YM2149 integrated in MSX-Engine S1985) |
Chipset | Yamaha S1985 |
Keyboard layout | QWERTY, AZERTY or QWERTZ + numeric keypad in all cases |
Extras | One or two 720kB 3.5" floppy disk drives, superimpose capability, RS-232C interface, reset button, software, SonyLDP BASIC |
Emulation | ROMs dumped and emulated except for the superimpose and genlock functions. The emulated machine has an International QWERTY layout. Dump of the original system disk needed. |
Pictures
Specifications
The HB-G900AP is a MSX2 with a Z80A from Sharp (LH0080A) or NEC (uPD780C) and an MSX-Engine S1985 from Yamaha. The floppy disk controller chip is the CXD-1032Q (Sony).
The architecture is similar to the HB-F700. The RAM is located in secondary slot 3-0. It can be upgraded to 1024kB by adding the same RAM type to the reserved empty locations.
The optional AV creator HBI-900 interface seems to be replacing the Videotizer (HBI-G900), a simplified interface to digitize images and have superimpose abilities for the European market.
Slot Map
Slot | Slot | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0-0 | 0-1 | 0-2 | 0-3 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | 3-0 | 3-1 | 3-2 | 3-3 | ||||
Page C000h~FFFFh | Cartridge Slot 1 | Cartridge Slot 2 | 512kB Memory Mapper | ||||||||||
Page 8000h~BFFFh | |||||||||||||
Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | Disk ROM | RS-232 | Firmware | |||||||||
Page 0000h~3FFFh | Sub-ROM |
Connections
- RGB output (SCART)
- Analog sound output/input
- RS-232C connector (DB-25) with switch for terminal/modem operation
- Data Recorder connector
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mice, Paddle controllers, etc)
- 2 cartridge slots
- Keyboard connector
- Video I/F connector