Sharp PC-1500
The Sharp PC-1500 was a pocket computer produced by Sharp between 1981 and 1985. A rebadged version was also sold as the TRS-80 Pocket Computer PC-2.
The whole computer was designed around the LH5801, an 8-bit CPU similar to the Zilog Z80, but all laid-out in power-saving CMOS circuits. Equipped with 3.5 KB of on-board RAM, the programming language is BASIC. Later, German engineers provided an assembler for the machine. Later even a C compiler followed.
An external slot is available and accepts memory and ROM modules.
Eight versions of this pocket computer with 2 KB memory:
- Sharp PC-1500 - Japanese version
- Sharp PC-1500 - Japanese version with blue paint around LCD. CE-157 Kana module bundle model. Known as PC-1500D
- Sharp PC-1500 - European, Australasian and North American version
- Sharp PC-1500 RP2 - Brazilian version
- HiradasTechnika PTA-4000 - Hungarian licence.
- HiradasTechnika PTA-4000+16 - Hungarian licence
- Tandy TRS-80 PC-2
- Nanfeng PC-1500A - Chinese license
- Sharp PC-1501 - Japanese rework with 8 KB memory
- Sharp PC-1500A - Western rework with 8 KB memory
Technical specifications
- 156×8 pixel LCD
- Integrated speaker
- Integrated RTC
- Memory/cartridge slot
- 60-pin expansion port for printer and tape drive
- Battery slot
- Connector for external power supply
Accessories
- CE-150 4-colour printer/plotter and cassette interface in travel case. Known as KA-160 with PTA-4000.
- CE-151 4 KB memory module
- CE-152 Cassette recorder
- CE-153 Software board
- CE-154 Wallet dedicated to PC-1500 + CE-150 + CE-152 + CE-153
- CE-155 8 KB memory module
- CE-156 Tape with Katakana software
- CE-157 4 KB memory module with CR2032 battery data backup and Katakana chars ROM
- CE-158 Communication dock with RS-232C and parallel interface with NiCd battery as additional power supply for the computer.
- CE-159 8 KB memory module with CR2032 battery data backup
- CE-160 7.6 KB read only memory module with CR2032 battery data backup
- CE-161 16 KB memory module with CR2032 battery data backup
- CE-162E Tape and parallel port interface
- CE-163 32 KB dual-page memory module with CR2032 battery data backup. Only one page can be accessed at a time, switchable via the following command in PROG mode:
Page 1 : POKE&5804,1
Related Sharp pocket computers
- Sharp PC-1210
- Sharp PC-1211
- Sharp PC-1251
- Sharp PC-1500
- Sharp PC-1500A upgrade version with 8 KB onboard RAM
- Sharp PC-1501 Japanese version of PC-1500A
- Sharp PC-1600 with more memory and larger multi-line LCD display and more graphics capabilities
BASIC compatibility with early models
Some earlier model PC-1500s will show a value 1 less in the FOR...NEXT counter on exiting the loop compared to later PC-1500s and the PC-1600.For example:
10 FOR K=1 TO 10
20 NEXT K
30 PRINT K
K will be set to 11 on later model PC-1500s and PC-1600s, but will be 10 on early PC-1500s.
Consider this example:
10 S=0
20 FOR K=1 TO 10 STEP 4
30 S=S+1
40 NEXT K
50 PRINT S
S will be set to 3 on later model PC-1500s and PC-1600s, but will be 4 on early PC-1500s.
Early model PC-1500s evaluate IF...THEN statements differently. The behaviour can be summarised thus:
| Model | ||
| PC-1600 / Later PC-1500 | ≠0 | 0 |
| Early PC-1500 | >0 | <0 |
An early model PC-1500 can be detected by using the command:
If the value returned is 6, it is an early model.
Example program in BASIC
1 ARUN 10
5 REM "PC1500 VAT Program:"
10 INPUT "Price: ";P
20 PRINT P;" ";P*V;" ";P*V*M
30 GOTO 10
40 END
The PC-1500 allows special abbreviations, and the syntax can also look as follows:
20 PRINT P;" ";PV;" ";PVM
Usage of variables
P = Purchase PriceV = VAT - To be input by hand before calculation begins, e.g.: V=1.14
M = Markup - To be input by hand before calculation begins, e.g.: M=1.15
Display of the answers are as follows
Answer1; Answer2; Answer3Purchase Price; VAT Price; Sales Price
Value: P; Value: P*V; Value: P*V*M