Sanyo PHC-20
The Sanyo PHC-20 is a home computer released by Sanyo in 1982 and a member of the concurrently-launched [Sanyo Sanyo PHC-10|PHC-10, PHC-20 and Sanyo PHC-25|PHC-25 family].
The PHC-20 sits between the PHC-10 and PHC-25 in terms of price and capability and features a monochrome display output and a simple, integer-only implementation of BASIC.
Features and design
The PHC-20 is based on a Z80A-compatible CPU and includes 4 kB of RAM and support for monochrome-only video for display on external television or monitor.In common with the majority of home computers of its era, the PHC-20 features a built-in BASIC interpreter- in this case a limited, integer-only implementation known as Extended Tiny BASIC.
The PHC-20 lacks the printer and expansion ports of the higher-end PHC-25.
Despite the superficial similarities, the PHC-20 is not merely a cut-down PHC-25. It features an internal design and architecture distinct in several major respects and which was described by emulator developer Toshiya Takeda as "unique" and "completely different" to that of the PHC-25.
Reception
A joint review in the UK-based Your Computer magazine focused mainly on the PHC-25, but devoted a few paragraphs to the PHC-10 and 20. While the PHC-20 was praised for sharing the "same good ergonomics" as its stablemates, it was considered underspecified for the price and criticised for a lack of printer support and a "severely limited" BASIC.It concluded that "users can expect new machines to offer more than 3K user RAM, integer Basic and black and white display for £100".
In France, L'Ordinateur individuel magazine considered the PHC-20 less interesting than the PHC-25.
Release, marketing and availability
Japan
The PHC-20 was announced in Japan in mid-1982 alongside both the PHC-10 and PHC-25. A release date of 1 May and a launch price of ¥47,800 were quoted.France
Sanyo France announced the PHC-20 in late 1982 for a price of 1500 F. However, L'Ordinateur individuel magazine- which had itselfexpressed more interest in PHC-25- commented that Sanyo France were "showing little enthusiasm for distribution".
While the PHC-25 was later sold in France it is not clear whether or not the PHC-20 ultimately made it to shops there.
United Kingdom
In the UK, it was announced that the PHC-20 would launch for £100 in January 1983, alongside the PHC-10 and PHC-25. Your Computer magazine reviewed all three together for the October 1982 issue. However, they later noted that they had all "disappeared again in November" with no indication that they ever reached the UK market.United States
In the United States, Sanyo originally intended to sell the PHC-20 for $99 alongside the PHC-25. However, despite advance publicity having already made it into print, they later withdrew both and the PHC-20 never went on sale there.Sanyo's then marketing manager Ron Milos commented on the affair in early 1984, saying "we had a lot of trouble with that one" and describing the PHC-20 as "nice, but not unique".