Sinclair PC200

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Amstrad's Sinclair PC200 was a radical departure from anything previously produced under the Sinclair label. In effect, it was Amstrad's attempt to tap the market at which the QL had been targeted - the serious user or small businessman on a tight budget. The machine was a severely cut-down PC with an Intel 8086 processor, CGA video card, 512K of memory and no hard disk. The machine came with MS-DOS 3.3 and the GEM desktop system from Digital Research. Its memory could be expanded to 640Kb and an Intel 8087 maths co-processor could be added. Although two expansion slots were provided, the design of the case meant that they could not be housed within the machine - the top cover had to be permanently removed. This severely limited its expandability.

Nothing about the PC200 was original: it was simply a repackaged version of the PC20 which Amstrad had earlier released in the United States. The monitors which could be used with the machine, the colour S14-CM and monochrome S12-MM, were similarly rebadged - the former was based on the popular Amstrad PC1640 and the latter on the Schneider (Amstrad's European trading name) MM12 monitor for the Euro-PC. The only peripherals produced for the machine were a standard black Amstrad mouse and the SPJ-1 analogue joystick.

Considering that the PC200's main rivals were the far more capable Atari ST and Commodore Amiga, it is not surprising that the machine was a dismal commercial failure. Today it is extremely rare.
 
YEAR   1988
BUILT IN LANGUAGE   MS-DOS, Digital Research GEM desktop, Organiser software
KEYBOARD   Full-stroke keyboard with numeric keypad (102 keys)
CPU   Intel 8086
SPEED   8 MHz
CO-PROCESSOR   optional 8087 maths coprocessor
RAM   512 KB (up to 640 KB)
VRAM   64 KB
ROM   16 KB
TEXT MODES   40 or 80 columns x 25 lines
GRAPHIC MODES   320 x 200 / 640 x 200, CGA and MDA graphic modes
COLORS   16
SOUND   beeper
I/O PORTS   Centronics, RGB, RS232, Mouse, Joystick, 8 bit ISA slots (2)
BUILT IN MEDIA   3.5'' floppy drive (720k)
OS   MS DOS - DR DOS
POWER SUPPLY   Built-in PSU
PRICE   300£ (UK, 1988)
 
This has been very kindly donated by Kim Faulkner.

Manufacturer: Sinclair
Date: 1988



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Sinclair PC200 Manuals:

Item Manufacturer Date
Sinclair User Manual MS-DOS and GEM/3 Sinclair 1986
Sinclair Microsoft GW-BASIC User Guide Sinclair 1987

Magazines RELATED to Sinclair PC200 in our Library

Item Manufacturer Date
Apple User - August 1984 Aug 1984

Other Systems Related To Sinclair PC200:

Item Manufacturer Date
Prototype of MK14 Sinclair 1977
Science of Cambridge MK 14 + Original Keyboard Sinclair 1977
Science of Cambridge MK 14 - Original Kit Sinclair 1977
Science of Cambridge MK14 + Memory Expansion in wooden case Sinclair 1977
Science of Cambridge MK14 Sinclair 1977
Sinclair ZX80 8K Basic Sinclair 1980
Sinclair ZX81 with Basic EPROM Sinclair 1980
Sinclair ZX80 Prototype PDZ 4732 Basic ROM - Nine Tiles Sinclair 1980
Sinclair ZX80 Updated to ZX81 Sinclair 1980
Sinclair ZX80 Sinclair 1st June 1980
Sinclair ZX81 Kit Sinclair 1981
Sinclair ZX Spectrum Prototype Sinclair 1981
Sinclair ZX81 Sinclair 1981
Sinclair ZX81 - Signed by Rick Dickinson Sinclair 5th March 1981
Sinclair ZX81 with Custom Case/Keyboard Sinclair 5th March 1981
Argentinian Sinclair Spectrum Sinclair 1982
Sinclair Spectrum with Homemade Keyboard Sinclair 1982
White Replica ZX Spectrum (Millionth Edition) Sinclair 1982
Early Sinclair ZX Spectrum Computer Sinclair 1982
Timex Sinclair 1000 Sinclair 1982
Sinclair ZX Spectrum Console Sinclair 1982
ZX Spectrum Issue 2 With ULA Modification Sinclair 1982
Timex Sinclair 1500 Sinclair 1982
Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K (BBC) Sinclair 1st March 1982
Sinclair ZX Spectrum Case (Signed) Sinclair 1st March 1982
Sinclair ZX Spectrum Computer - Early Issue Sinclair 23rd April 1982
Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48k Sinclair 23rd April 1982
Sinclair ZX Spectrum 16K Sinclair 23rd April 1982
Sinclair Spectrum (Assembled in Portugal) Sinclair 1983
Sinclair QL + Schön Keyboard Sinclair 1984
Sinclair QL (German) Sinclair 1984
Sinclair QL (Signed) Sinclair 1984
Sinclair QL (US) Sinclair 1984
Sinclair QL (Property of Sinclair) Sinclair 1984
Sinclair QL Sinclair 1984
Sinclair ZX Spectrum+ Sinclair 1st June 1984
Sinclair ZX Spectrum +2 Sinclair 1986
Sinclair ZX Spectrum 128 Sinclair January 1986
Cambridge Z88 All In One Pack Sinclair 1987
Sinclair ZX Spectrum +3 (Currys Box) Sinclair 1st June 1987
Sinclair ZX Spectrum +3 Sinclair 1st June 1987
Cambridge Z88 With PC Link Kit Sinclair 1988
SJL 68008-PC Sinclair 1988

This exhibit has a reference ID of CH3404. Please quote this reference ID in any communication with the Centre for Computing History.

 

Sinclair PC200

  Peripherals   [1]
  Promotional Items   [7]

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