Philips VG 8000

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Philips VG-8000 Philips VG 8000-00 MSX computer (RetroMadrid 2017).jpg
Philips VG-8000
Phonola VG-8000 Phonola VG-8000 MSX computer (RetroMadrid 2017).jpg
Phonola VG-8000

The Philips VG-8000, released in 1983, was the first Philips MSX computer, although it was not 100% compliant with the standard (as it lacked a Centronics printer port, expansion bus, or audio out, and had a custom video out). [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

Contents

The VG-8000 was built in France, at Le Mans by Radiotechnique. [8] It was released in Belgium, Finland, Germany, and Italy (as the Phonola VG-8000). [1] [9] [10]

The computer had a poor chiclet type keyboard, with two cartridge ports above it. The keyboard layout was qwerty or azerty, according to the market the computer was sold. It had five double function keys (F1 to F10) on top, and four arrow keys on the right. There were three color LEDs: Power (red), Caps (orange) and Code (green). [9]

There were three versions of this machine: [9]

The machine was expensive and not successful. [1] [2]

Philips VG-8010 Philips VG-8010.jpg
Philips VG-8010

Philips VG 8010

The VG-8010, released in January 1984, was a more advanced model with 32  KB of RAM and popular in the Netherlands. [2] [11] [12] [13] [6]

It was built in France, at Le Mans by Radiotechnique, with a retail price of 2290  Fr in September 1985. [8] It was sold in Italy as the Phonola VG-8010. [14]

There were two versions of this machine: [9]

Radiola MK-180 Radiola MK-180 MSX computer (RetroMadrid 2017).jpg
Radiola MK-180

Besides the mentioned Phonola branding, these machines were also sold under the Schneider and Radiola brands: [9]

The VG-8010 was replaced with the Philips VG-8020, a more advanced machine. [2] [8]

Specifications

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Philips VG-8000". HomeComputerMuseum. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "VG 8000 / 8010 Philips". www.old-computers.com. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  3. ↑ "Philips VG 8000". www.silicium.org. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  4. ↑ "Philips - VG 8000". www.system-cfg.com. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  5. ↑ "Philips VG-8000". www.8bit-homecomputermuseum.at. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Philips (1984). Philips VG8000/VG8010 Service Manual (GB).
  7. ↑ Valoroso, Amedeo (2023-01-13). "How to build an audio/video cable for MSX Philips VG 8000 VG 8010 VG 8020". Amedeo Valoroso. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  8. 1 2 3 "Philips VG-8010". www.obsolete-tears.com. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Amor, Jose Antonio Ortigueira (2020-05-17). "Retro Ordenadores Orty: Philips VG-8000 (versión VG 8000/00) (1984)". Retro Ordenadores Orty. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  10. ↑ "Phonola VG-8000". MSX.org. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
  11. ↑ "Philips VG-8010". HomeComputerMuseum. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
  12. ↑ "Philips VG 8010". www.silicium.org. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  13. ↑ "Philips - VG 8010". www.system-cfg.com. Retrieved 2023-05-22.
  14. ↑ "Phonola VG-8010". MSX.org. Retrieved 2024-08-11.


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