MicomSoft's PasocomMini PC-8801mkIISR Puts a Piece of Classic Japanese Computing in Your Palm
Built to a one-quarter scale, this highly-accurate model isn't just for show: it comes loaded with a working emulator.
Fans of classic Japanese NEC computers of the mid-1980s who are short on desk space will be interested to hear that MicomSoft is bringing out a shrunken NEC PC-8801mkIISR — a near-perfect replica, complete with integrated emulation hardware, in a one-quarter scale.
"PasocomMini PC-8801mkIISR is a palm-sized mini PC that inherits the philosophy of 'enjoy, create, run, and play' that was important to HAL Laboratory, and is a 1/4-size reproduction of the famous hobby PC 'PC-8801mkIISR' released by NEC in 1985,' MicomSoft explains, in translation, of its creation. "This is a precise model made by Aoshima Bunka Kyozai Co., Ltd. that reproduces the actual machine at 1/4 size."
Launched in Japan in 1985 as an upgraded version of the NEC PC-8801, which was itself a successor to the NEC PC-8001 released in 1979, the PC8801-mkIISR offered improved graphics an integrated sound board. While the original PC-8801 was targeted at business computing, with an 80-column 25-line text mode and a 160×100 graphics mode, the upgraded model could handle up to a 640×400 resolution — albeit in monochrome — and stereo FM MIDI and ADPCM wave playback, making it suitable for games.
The model, brought to our attention by Liliputing and shipping complete with twin floppy drives and removable to-scale 5.25" floppy disk, isn't just for show, though. Inside the gadget is an unspecified single-board computer running an emulator equivalent to a PC-8801mkIISR — including sound board.
There's one small catch, however: if you want to try out some period-appropriate software, you'll have to go back to basics — or, rather, BASIC. While the emulator comes pre-loaded with a ROM launching a N88-BASIC V2 interpreter, and supports importing programs from plain-text copies, it can't load BASIC software from disk images. It does, however, come with 10 "nostalgic microcomputer software titles," and you can add more via SD Card.
While the bundled keyboard is non-functional, the integrated emulator includes USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an HDMI connector for use with a modern display. For those wanting a more authentic experience, or using a monitor rather than a TV, the case also includes integrated stereo speakers.
MicomSoft is planning to launch the PasocomMini PC-8801mkIISR in Spring next year at ¥30,000 (around $200); nothing has been said about international availability. More information is available on the company's website.