The HB-F9P was a Sony MSX2-computer, launched in 1985. The abbreviation HB stands for Hit Bit.
The HB-F9P was unusual in the sense that it did not come with a built in floppy disk drive, instead it had a built in software suite "Memovision" that would run automatically unless a program cartridge was inserted in the cartridge slot or the key was pressed during booting.
Memovision could store data on the special HBI-55 (battery backed RAM) "data cartridge" that Sony originally had developed, for their HB-55 and HB-75 MSX computers. These systems contained a simple built in program called the "Personal Databank".site explaining the HBI-55 in combination with the HB-55 Memovision was a continuation of the same idea, but much extended, as it contained stuff like a (birthday) calendar with alarm system, a "family databank" (a combination of a text editor and database) a built in calculator and a timer and time calculator, all rendered in pseudo 3D style.Screenshots of Memovision
Variants Of the HB-F9 there were many different localized variants produced: HB-F9P, with QWERTY-keyboard layout was designed for the PAL-standard, and meant for European countries, except Germany, France, Spain and the former Soviet Union. HB-F9R, had a Russian keyboard. HB-F9D, had a QWERTZ-keyboard for the German market HB-F9F, had an AZERTY-keyboard for the French market, and was designed for the SECAM-standard. HB-F9S, had a modified QWERTY-keyboard for the Spanish market.
Technical specifications Processor: Sharp LH-0080 or NEC μPD780C ROM: 96 KB (48 KB MSX BASIC version 2.0 + 48 KB software suite) RAM: 128 KB VRAM + 128 KB main memory Video: VDP (Yamaha V9938) text: 80×24, 40×24 en 32×24 (characters per line × lines) four colors, two foreground colors and two background colors graphical: maximal 512×212 pixels (16 colors of 512) and 256×212 (256 colors) colors: 512 maximal Engine: MSX-Engine S-1985 real-time clock with trickle-charged battery backup Sound: Yamaha YM2149 PSG 3 sound channels and one noise channel 8 octaves Interfaces power cord RF-output CVBS monitor luminance output monochrome switch headset sound output data-recorder I/O (1200/2400 baud) 1 general purpose expansion connector printer keyboard 2 joysticks 2 cartridge slots
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