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Amstrad PCW 8256

Amstrad · 1985

Not a home computer but a word processor that happened to be one. Amstrad sold the PCW as a complete writing machine — screen, printer, discs and LocoScript in one box — for the price of a typewriter, and shifted them by the million to people who would never have bought a computer. Underneath is a Z80 running CP/M Plus, so it takes the whole CP/M software catalogue.

As catalogued

Maker
Amstrad
CPU
Zilog Z80A-4
Memory
256K
Styles
PCW 8256, PCW 8512 (two drives, 512K)
Regions
PAL (UK/Europe)
Chassis
monitor unit with 3" floppy
OS
CP/M Plus / LocoScript

Chips

3
CPU
Zilog Z80A, Zilog Z8400AB1, NEC D780C-1, SGS Z8400AB1, Sharp LH0080A, Mostek MK3880N-4, GoldStar Z8400A, Toshiba TMPZ84C00AP
Gate Array
Amstrad 40026, Amstrad 40028
Floppy controller
NEC D765AC

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