Sharp PC-5000

The Sharp PC-5000 was a pioneering <a href="/facts/Laptop/3EFwTAb2">laptop</a> <a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">computer</a>, announced by <a href="/facts/Sharp_Corporation/IbmkAjKB">Sharp Corporation</a> of <a href="/facts/Japan/U5mz0SRT">Japan</a> in November 1983. It employed a <a href="/facts/Clamshell_design/pCR2wwHQ">clamshell</a> design in which the display closes over the keyboard, like the earlier <a href="/facts/GRiD_Compass/qRgWRkPn">GRiD Compass</a> and contemporary <a href="/facts/Gavilan_SC/LjaXbHYp">Gavilan SC</a>.
The PC-5000 was largely <a href="/facts/IBM_PC/yhcJGMPL">IBM PC</a>-compatible, with the same 4.77-<a href="/facts/Hertz/6Wshj5qm">MHz</a> <a href="/facts/Intel/SMF0gJJX">Intel 8088</a> <a href="/facts/Central_processing_unit/Jxp1bqMV">processor</a> as the IBM PC, and ran <a href="/facts/MS-DOS/fVrrz1uN">MS-DOS</a> 2.0 (in <a href="/facts/Read-only_memory/P9QMuDLH">ROM</a>). It had 128 <a href="/facts/Kilobyte/jIe6t4yv">kilobytes</a> of internal <a href="/facts/Computer_memory/hQKVQ51J">memory</a> (it was one of the few computers to use <a href="/facts/Bubble_memory/gBYFcwJn">bubble memory</a>), which could be expanded by the use of plug-in cartridges. The cartridge slots also accepted ROM cartridges containing software, such as the Extended <a href="/facts/BASIC/VYMl5TmA">BASIC</a> <a href="/facts/Programming_language/cWTYbgWa">programming language</a> and the EasyPac software suite, which contained the EasyWrite II <a href="/facts/Word_processor/qAR7lagF">word processor</a>, EasyReport reports program, and EasyComm terminal software for use with the internal <a href="/facts/Modem/9H0Xwtq0">modem</a>. It featured a 640×80-<a href="/facts/Pixel/UzwBvXBV">pixel</a> (80-character by 8-line) <a href="/facts/Liquid_crystal_display/8B6xGBEz">LCD</a> display, a full-travel <a href="/facts/Computer_keyboard/MczF9LIS">keyboard</a>, and an external dual 5.25-inch <a href="/facts/Floppy_disk/rShxfuxa">floppy disk</a> drive. A notable feature of the computer was its built-in <a href="/facts/Thermal_printer/Lc0I2XGJ">thermal printer</a>, which could also be purchased separately and attached to the machine. It is perhaps due to this attachment that the case design of the PC-5000 owes much to that of electronic typewriters of its time.
While far more portable than the popular <a href="/facts/Compaq_Portable/a2SpBuXM">Compaq Portable</a> or <a href="/facts/Osborne_1/TYLLMXyH">Osborne 1</a> computers, the machine weighed 5 <a href="/facts/Kilogram/lU2zbPk8">kg</a> (11 lb).
Sharp succeeded the PC-5000 with the fully IBM-compatible <a href="/facts/Sharp_PC-7000/4hFqfhGd">PC-7000</a> in late 1985.

Sharp PC-5000 open-in-new

Sharp PC-5000