Hotbit


The Hotbit HB-8000 is an MSX home computer developed and sold by the Brazilian subsidiary of Sharp Corporation through its Epcom home computer division in mid-1980s. The MSX machines were very popular in Brazil at the time, and they virtually killed all the other competing 8 bit microcomputers in the Brazilian market.

Versions 1-1.2

The Hotbit had three versions: 1.0 and 1.1 with gray and white case and 1.2, with a black case and a ROM slightly modified to solve an ASCII table compatibility issue with the other popular Brazilian MSX, the Gradiente Expert.

Technical specifications

The HB-8000 had the following technical specifications:
CPUZilog Z80A @ 3.58 MHz
RAM64 KB
VRAM16 KB
ROM32 KB
Keyboardmechanic, 73 keys, reset key
Displaytext: 40×24 rows; graphics: 256×192 pixels, 16 colours, 32 sprites
SoundGeneral Instrument AY-3-8910, 3 voices, white noise
Ports2 joystick connectors, PAL-M composite or RF out, sound out, tape recorder connector, parallel port, 2 cartridge slots
Storagetape recorder or one or two external 5" disk drive

Peripherals

[Image:Cartucho Hotbit HB-3000.jpg|thumb|200px|Serial interface for external Modem HB-3000.]