{"id":21645,"date":"2025-07-09T14:51:06","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T18:51:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=21645"},"modified":"2025-07-09T15:03:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T19:03:46","slug":"vin84","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin84\/","title":{"rendered":"NEC PC-8300"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>NEC PC-8300<\/h2>\n<p>[Vin84]<\/p>\n<p>The NEC PC-8300 is a rare and advanced portable computer from the mid-1980s, notable for its lightweight design, long battery life (up to 20 hours on four AA batteries), and built-in firmware that included Microsoft BASIC, a text editor, and enhanced telecommunications software with X-Modem file transfer support. Its claim to fame was its expanded memory (up to 64 KB RAM), re-definable character set, and versatile connectivity, making it a powerful tool for field professionals and a direct successor to the influential PC-8201A and Tandy Model 100 series. While never widely sold to the general public, being available mainly through value-added resellers, the PC-8300 remains an important milestone in the evolution of portable computing, exemplifying the transition toward practical, reliable, and highly adaptable notebook computers.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: NEC Corporation (produced under license from Kyocera).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Released<\/strong>: 1984<\/li>\n<li><strong>Model<\/strong>: PC-8300<\/li>\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Laptop<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>: USD $799 (CAD ~$2,750 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost with peripherals<\/strong>: USD $1,800 (CAD ~$6,200 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: 0.3 (300 KIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW169789978 BCX0\">Hardware Specifications<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>CPU<\/strong>: Intel 80C85, 2.4 MHz<\/li>\n<li><strong>RAM<\/strong>: 32 KB standard, expandable to 64 KB (two banks of 32 KB each)<\/li>\n<li><strong>ROM<\/strong>: System firmware and Microsoft BASIC in ROM<\/li>\n<li><strong>Display<\/strong>: 8-line by 40-character monochrome LCD (redefinable character set)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keyboard<\/strong>: Full-size, typewriter-style keyboard<\/li>\n<li><strong>Storage<\/strong>: Programs and data stored via audio cassette (CMT port); optional external floppy disk drive<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ports<\/strong>: RS-232 serial port, parallel printer port, bar code reader port, cassette data port, expansion slot, optional internal modem<\/li>\n<li><strong>Power<\/strong>: 4 \u00d7 AA batteries (16\u201320 hours operation), or external 9V DC power supply<\/li>\n<li><strong>Weight<\/strong>: Approximately 3.8 lbs (1.7 kg)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Physical Dimensions<\/strong>: Approx. 8.5&#8243; \u00d7 11&#8243; \u00d7 1&#8243;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Other Features<\/strong>: Real-time clock, automatic power shut-off, memory cartridge slot (up to 128 KB), video monitor interface available, advanced text and telecom software with X-Modem support<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"TextRun SCXW50331614 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW50331614 BCX0\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW50331614 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>O\/S<\/strong>: Did not use a traditional disk-based operating system. Instead, its system software which including the main menu, file manager, and built-in applications was permanently stored in ROM. Microsoft BASIC v1.1 (as the primary interface and programming environment) was stored in ROM.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Programming Languages<\/strong>:\n<ul>\n<li>Microsoft BASIC (N82-BASIC): The primary programming language available on the PC-8201A was Microsoft BASIC, specifically a version called N82-BASIC, which was tailored for this computer and resided in ROM. BASIC programs could be written, saved, and executed directly on the machine.<\/li>\n<li>Advanced users could develop and run programs in Intel 80C85 machine code (assembly language) by loading binary files or using POKE\/EXEC commands. This required technical expertise and was typically done for performance-critical or specialized applications<\/li>\n<li>ROM Expansion: Additional software (including other languages or utilities) could be added via ROM cartridges, but Microsoft BASIC remained the only built-in programming language<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Notables<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The NEC PC-8300 was a rare, advanced successor to the PC-8201A, introduced in the mid-1980s and available mainly through value-added resellers, not retail stores.<\/li>\n<li>Part of the first wave of truly portable, battery-powered notebook computers, it could run up to 20 hours on four AA batteries and weighed less than 3.8 lbs, making it a benchmark for mobile computing.<\/li>\n<li>Firmware in ROM: Featured instant-on operation with Microsoft BASIC, a text editor, and advanced telecom software (including X-Modem file transfer) permanently stored in ROM, ensuring reliability and ease of use.<\/li>\n<li>Expandable &amp; Versatile: Supported up to 64 KB RAM, memory cartridges up to 128 KB, and a wide array of ports for peripherals like floppy drives, printers, barcode readers, and an optional internal modem.<\/li>\n<li>Offered a redefinable character set for its 8-line by 40-character LCD, allowing for custom graphics and flexible data display.<\/li>\n<li>Emulation &amp; Compatibility: Could emulate the PC-8201A, maintaining compatibility with earlier software and accessories.<\/li>\n<li>Known for its robust build and reliability, the PC-8300 remained in use for years in demanding environments, including outdoor fieldwork and event timing under extreme conditions.<\/li>\n<li>Place in History: The PC-8300 and its relatives (like the Tandy Model 100) are recognized as some of the first practical laptops, influencing the design and expectations for future portable computers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEC PC-8300 [Vin84] The NEC PC-8300 is a rare and advanced portable computer from the mid-1980s, notable for its lightweight design, long battery life (up to 20 hours on four AA batteries), and built-in firmware that included Microsoft BASIC, a text editor, and enhanced telecommunications software with X-Modem file transfer support. Its claim to fame [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>NEC PC-8300 - School of Computer Science<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"NEC PC-8300 The NEC PC-8300 is a rare and advanced portable computer from the mid-1980s, notable for its lightweight design, long battery life (up to 20\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin84\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin84\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin84\/\",\"name\":\"NEC PC-8300 - 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