Nikko made msx computer?

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By gdx

Enlighted (6424)

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02-03-2023, 15:04

It's only noted that way on a few older MSX1s. The T7937A shows that it is not.

By Pentarou

Hero (554)

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02-03-2023, 18:53

@Mars2000you:
Isn't the WIKI claim: "It was apparently designed to be used as part of a radio controller car system" a bit far fetched?
There's no proof of that, besides Takamichi's comment on the 4 cursor keys in a row.
Also AFAIK at this moment there's no proof that the video output is NTSC or that the unmarked key is KANA or CODE.

BTW, Apple II computers have the cursor keys lined like that.

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6555)

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02-03-2023, 19:59

I think Takamichi's comment needs to taken in account.

It was maybe not designed for Asian countries, but maybe for U.S.A (= NTSC). However, some Asian countries use PAL, so indeed we need to check.

This history clearly indicates that this company was not busy in Europe (what implies PAL or SECAM) before 1995: https://web.archive.org/web/20070124010120/http://www.nikko-...

Only the BIOS dump can give the correct indication about the Kana or Code key. The fact that katakana or hiragana are not printed on the keys suggests more a Code key than a Kana key.

By Manuel

Ascended (19676)

Manuel's picture

02-03-2023, 20:48

My brother used to have a Nikko R.C. car in around 1985.... the fact that they didn't have their own sales company in Europe, doesn't mean they weren't selling there. But anyway, let's try to stick to facts on Wiki pages, agreed with Pentarou.

Anyway, the fact that it has a Yen-symbol instead of \ on the top right key, is a very strong suggestion the machine was targeted for the Japanese market. AFAIK only Japanese MSX'es have that.

By Grauw

Ascended (10819)

Grauw's picture

02-03-2023, 23:43

Yeah I also instantly recognise Nikko as an RC car company. Never owned one but I was always drooling over them in the Intertoys catalogues as a kid.

By gdx

Enlighted (6424)

gdx's picture

03-03-2023, 00:40

About the region, the T6950 has a pin to configure it in NTSC/PAL, but not the T7937. And when I see the MSX1s list who has T7937 or T7937A, I note that the NTSC MSX1s are equipped with the T7937 and PAL MSX1s with the T7937A. If it is no coincidence, the Nikko PC-70100 is PAL.

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6555)

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03-03-2023, 01:34

I don't think that Spain or Italy are using or have used NTSC.

By Takamichi

Hero (651)

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03-03-2023, 05:19

Pentarou wrote:

BTW, Apple II computers have the cursor keys lined like that.

I agree this keyboard layout is more likely than the stick radio theory.

What I said about RC is assumption. I will not be surprised if the upper case of this stuff was ripped from something else called Nikko PC-70100 but decide not to think about that possibility otherwise all clues are invalid.
The reason I doubted it to be Japanese was the green and orange bars in the middle and above "BASIC SYSTEM" having un-Japanese vibe and reminiscent of Spectravideo and Atari logos. However I changed my mind upon knowing they were Nikko R/C's favorite colors and those bars were frequently on their RC chassis like this.
Both Thailand and Australia the south pacific countries with MSX and Nikko cars use PAL.
The Nikko R/C wikipedia saying Nikko Audio and its manufacturer Nikko Electric Works were affiliated with Nikko R/C is a big LIE. kko of Nikko R/C is in different kanji from Nikko Audio/Electric Works, former 興 and latter 幸. So PC-70100 wasn't built by them and unlikely is an audio device like Mitsubishi Diatone.

MSX keyboard membrane variations are limited so I think it's possible to identify what the blank key is by knowing what other keys are connected in tandem to this key.

By popolon_

Champion (420)

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03-03-2023, 10:36

So the auction price will be over 1000 euros due to this publicity, right? Smile

By gdx

Enlighted (6424)

gdx's picture

03-03-2023, 11:19

However, it is very possible that it is a fake. I find it hard to believe that a person pulls this out of nowhere without knowing where it came from. This machine makes no sense to me.

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