Contents |
Description
Computer
The NMS 8245 is the last Philips MSX machine (released september 1987), a successor to the VG-8235, with 3 main differences in the hardware:
- The keyboard angle is no longer adjustable, but fixed and integrated to the computer
- The build-in drive is double-sided instead of single-sided
- The connector for an external disk drive has been removed
Like the VG-8235, this computer comes with 128kB RAM (not 256kB as indicated on the machine and the box by adding the VRAM). The second cartridge slot on the back is by default closed with a cover, but can easily be used by removing the cover and screwing the supplied cartridge holder onto the computer.
Note: This machine has an internal GB150H-2 NiCd rechargeable battery to keep its RTC data. This battery is prone to leaking and must be removed ASAP. It's specs are 2.4V/150mA and 17mm of pin spacing.
An important feature for this model is the bundled software package, which takes a step in user friendliness.
Three models were produced:
- NMS 8245/00 for the Dutch and Belgian markets, keyboard layout is QWERTY
- NMS 8245/16 for the Spanish market, keyboard layout is QWERTY with ñ key
- NMS 8245/19 for the French and Belgian markets, keyboard layout is AZERTY
Belgium is a country with 3 official languages: Dutch - French - German. With exception for the NMS 8220 and the NMS 8280 only available in the Dutch version, also in the French speaking part (Wallonia), all the Philips MSX computers released in Belgium were different according it was in Flanders (Dutch) or in Wallonia (French).
This machine was also sold in Italy as the Phonola NMS 8245. There is also a special version for Home Banking - see Philips NMS 8245 Home Banking.
The Spanish version is still used in some parts of Spain for the Driver's License Test on cartridge, combined with a box containig handlers connected to simulate the future driver hand-eye coordination. Other MSX2 computers used for that are Mitsubishi ML-G1 and Sony HB-F9S.
| Brand | Philips (Several clues suggest that mainboard is manufactured by Kyocera) |
| Model | NMS 8245 |
| Year | 1987 |
| Region | Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Spain |
| Launch price | NL: ƒ1199 |
| RAM | 128kB in slot 3-2 |
| VRAM | 128kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges, 2DD floppy disks |
| Video | Yamaha V9938 |
| Audio | PSG (custom chip integrated in MSX-Engine S3527) |
| Chipset | Yamaha S3527 |
| Keyboard layout | (NMS 8245/00) QWERTY - (NMS 8245/16) QWERTY with a "ñ" key - (NMS 8245/19) AZERTY |
| Extras | 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drive, reset button, software on disks (MSX-DOS 1 - Ease - Designer Plus) |
| Emulation | ROMs for the international version have been dumped and emulated. For the Spanish and French version ROM dumps are needed. See this thread for details. |
Floppy disks
Two floppy disks were provided with this computer:
- the first disk contains MSX-DOS1 with a text based menu driven interface
- the second disk provides
- the multilingual office suite Ease, also known as Philips Desktop, that can be used in English, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and French. It contains a Clock, Calculator, Notebook, Format Tool and 5 functions: Calcform, Charts, Database, Printer Tool and Word-Pro. Note that early units of the NMS 8245 were released with version 1.1 (with a weird green color scheme and no support for French), but the upgrade to version 1.4 was available for free.
- a drawing program in screen 8, called Designer Plus , an improved version of the 'Designer' utility as provided with the VG-8230, VG-8235 and NMS 8220. This version has support for a touchpad connected to general connector 2, while the demo part can be started by pressing F10 and will run full screen (you can leave the demo by pressing ESC, and then F2).
Ease is automatically launched except if you press CTRL+STOP when booting with the system disk in drive A. From the DOS command line, you can launch
- Ease by entering EASEXEC
- Designer Plus by entering DESIPLUS
You can also access Designer Plus from Ease by clicking twice on the disk A icon, and then on DESIPLUS.COM
Pictures
Computer
Keyboard output
Software
MSX-DOS
Ease
Designer Plus
Spanish Driver Test
Specifications
The NMS 8245 is a MSX2 with a Z80 from Zilog (Z8400APS) and the MSX-Engine S3527 from Yamaha.
The RAM is in slot 3-2. First cartridge slot is in front, second cartridge slot is in back.
It's possible to add a third cartridge slot inside this computer (in slot 3-1): http://gilbertomsx.altervista.org/nms8245/terzoslot/terzoslot.html (broken link)
Slot Map
| Slot 0 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3-0 | Slot 3-1 | Slot 3-2 | Slot 3-3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page C000h~FFFFh | Top cartridge slot | Back cartridge slot | 128kB Memory Mapper | |||||||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | Mirror | |||||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | Disk ROM | ||||||||
| Page 0000h~3FFFh | Sub-ROM |
- The Disk ROM is a 16kB ROM - 4000h-7FFFh. However, the FDC registers are visible in pages 1 and 2.
Connections
- RGB output
- RF output
- CVBS connector for monitor
- Data Recorder connector
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mice, Paddle controllers, etc)
- 2 cartridge slots (one closed off by default)
Links
- NMS 8245 Service Manual
- NMS 8245 User Guide (Dutch)
- NMS 8245 User Guide (Spanish)
- Designer Plus manual (Spanish)
- Ease & Ease Applications manual (Spanish)
- Philips NMS 8245 flyer (Italian)
- Various improvements for the NMS 8245 (Italian - broken link)
- NMS 8245 marketing material