--- title: Epson QX 10 categories: - Computers types: - Professional Computer origins: - Japan years: - '1982' cpus: - Zilog Z80-A params: name: QX 10 image: /media/museum/photos/epson_qx10_system_s2.jpg company: /companies/epson company_name: Epson specs: - label: NAME value: QX 10 - label: MANUFACTURER value: Epson - label: TYPE value: Professional Computer - label: ORIGIN value: Japan - label: YEAR value: '1982' - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: None - label: KEYBOARD value: Full stroke 103-key with numeric keypad and function keys - label: CPU value: Zilog Z80-A - label: SPEED value: 4 Mhz. - label: RAM value: 64 KB (up to 256 KB) + 2 KB CMOS RAM Battery Backup - label: VRAM value: 32 KB to 128 KB - label: ROM value: 2 to 8 KB - label: TEXT MODES value: 80 columns x 24 lines - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 640 x 400 pixels plus 16:1 Zoom - label: COLORS value: Monochrome monitor - label: SOUND value: Beeper - label: SIZE / WEIGHT value: 50.8 (W) x 30.4 (D) x 10.3 (H) (CPU) / 9.4 Kg (CPU), 5.5 Kg. (Monitor), 2.5 Kg. (Keyboard) - label: I/O PORTS value: RS232, video, ADC, IEEE 488, 5 x expansion slots - label: BUILT IN MEDIA value: one or two 340 KB 5.25'' disk-drives double side/density - label: OS value: CP/M 80, TP/M - label: POWER SUPPLY value: Built-in PSU 100 Watts - label: PERIPHERALS value: Minitel emulation card (350 FF, january 1988) - label: PRICE value: |- $2,900 - £1735 (U.K., 1984)\ 1990 FF (France, january 1988) tabs: - photos - adverts - software - links - docs forum_thread: 210 photos: - title: LARGE VIEW subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/epson_qx10_system_s5.jpg - title: TOP VIEW subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/epson_qx10_topview_s1.jpg - title: 'FRONT VIEW #1' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/epson_qx10_frontview_s1.jpg - title: 'FRONT VIEW #2' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/epson_qx10_frontview_s2.jpg - title: EXPANSION SLOTS subtitle: '' text: The mounted card is the Q10MF character generator ROM card. The characters mounted in the 6 ROMS are supported by the Epson Multifont CP/M. The card includes information for proportional printing. image: /media/museum/photos/epson_qx10_expansion_s1.jpg - title: REAR SIDE subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** Light pen DIN socket\ **(2)** Composite video (or Colour RGB) DIN socket\ **(3)** Mainboard Configuration switches\ **(4)** Parallel printer connector\ **(5)** Serial RS232 DB25 connector\ **(6)** protection lids of the expansion slots. image: /media/museum/photos/epson_qx10_rearside_s1.jpg - title: MAINBOARD subtitle: '' text: The mainboard holds only standard chips. The RAM area is located above the expansion slots. image: /media/museum/photos/epson_qx10_inside_s1.jpg - title: COLOR SUB BOARD subtitle: '' text: |- The mainboard is here equipped with the color monitor sub board which allows a hi-res colour monitor to be connected to the same DIN socket as the monochrome monitor.\ This card, uses a Nec µPD-7220 graphics CPU, 48 KB of RAM and displays 640 x 400 dots in 7 colours. image: /media/museum/photos/epson_qx10_graphcard_s1.jpg - title: FLOPPY DRIVES subtitle: '' text: The Epson 1/3 height floppy drives are fixed to the top part of the case. image: /media/museum/photos/epson_qx10_fddrives_s1.jpg adverts: - title: '1ST. U.S. ADVERT #1' subtitle: '' text: |- The first Epson QX-10 advert appeared in January 1983. It took eight pages and explained the advantages of the Valdoc system, the benefits of the CP/M operating system compatibility, and the advanced hardware concepts. In conclusion, it said: **The most important component is you**\ You don't buy a computer for how "smart" it is. You buy one for how smart it makes you.\ The Epson QX-10 was conceived, designed, engineered and built with just one thought in mind: to vastly expand your ability to see, to think, to create with a system that acts as a natural extension of the human mind.\ The QX-10 is not a computer designed to play games, although it plays games as well as any and better than most.\ It's a computer for people who think.\ And who want to think better. image: /media/museum/pubs/epson_qx10_pub_1.jpg - title: '1ST. U.S. ADVERT #2' subtitle: '' text: 'Each picture represents a customers target. Three of them are well known: Home/entertainement, office and educational uses. A fourth one is added for the first time, the senior citizens. Epson thought the QX-10 was user-friendly enough to be used by retired people.' image: /media/museum/pubs/epson_qx10_pub_2.jpg - title: U.S. ADVERT (1983) subtitle: '' text: |- February 1983 Advert says: The new Epson QX-10 is unlike any personal computer you've never seen. It's a computer for people who don't have the time to learn computer; a computer you can be using within minutes... image: /media/museum/pubs/epson_qx10_pub_3.jpg - title: U.S. ADVERT (1983) subtitle: '' text: |- Advert says: What makes the QX-10 the most remarkably usable computer to date is a unique software system called VALDOC... ... VALDOCS may be all the software you will never need. Right out of the box, it's a sophisticated *word processor*; an *information indexer* for easy acces to files; an *electronic mail system*;a *calculator*;an *apointment book* and *notepad*; and a *high resolution business graph drawing system*... image: /media/museum/pubs/epson_qx10_pub_4.jpg - title: UK ADVERT SEPT. 1983 subtitle: '' text: |- Advert says:\ With over 20 years of experience in producing high quality printers, Epson have now masterminded a fully integrated desktop microcomputer that will more than earn its keep within your business.\ The QX-IO is capable of performing all the tasks you will ever require of it, quickly and efficiently. Installation of the QX-IO can be carried out with the minimum of interruption, and with its easily understandable keyboard, it is simplicity itself to operate. Having such a diverse range of software packages available such as database from Pearl and office productivity and accountancy from Peachtree with CP/M and multifont BASIC as standard, the QX-IO can supply all the answers whatever your business.\ Just look at what's on offer: a big memory - 192k upgradable to 256k RAM and all the graphics you'll ever need - and high resolution graphics at that.\ The ability to communicate easily with other machines, including our own HX-20 and the advantage of using our fine range of printers, make the QX-lO a totally versatile system at a price you'll find impossible to equal.\ £1735 plus VAT.\ If you're looking at micros, look at the QX-IO. The system with all the answers. image: /media/museum/pubs/epson_qx10_pubuk_s1.jpg - title: FRENCH ADVERT subtitle: '' text: '''''Each day, go on the computing road''''' image: /media/museum/pubs/epson_pub_hx-qx_1.jpg screenshots: - title: BOOT SCREEN subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/epson_qx10_boot-screen.gif links: - title: Epson QX10 User's Home Page url: http://www.qx10.com/ text: '' - title: The user manual is still available (PDF) on the official Epson pages !! url: http://support.epson.com/hardware/computer/desktop/qx10__/documentation.html text: '' docs: - title: OPERATION MANUAL url: http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&infoType=Doc&oid=14165 cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/epson_qx10_manual.jpg text: |- [**OPERATION MANUAL**](http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/supDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&infoType=Doc&oid=14165)written by Epson  compiled/archived by Epson\  type of document : PDF\  source : [Epson official web site](http://www.epson.com) oc_id: 200 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608091606/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=200 date: '2023-06-08' --- The QX-10 was a robust small business computer that used tried and tested technology rather than anything too innovative. Nevertheless, it was designed to be complete in itself for both hardware and software. It had an enhanced keyboard with 10 function keys and up to 16 fonts can be defined. It had a battery to save clock, date and a small 2048 characters buffer. It could use MS-DOS programs thanks to an optional 8088 card. **Byte** magazine said in January 1983:\ The QX-10 is, at first glance, not a revolutionary machine. Yet in many subtle ways it is. On the surface, its specs are not spectacular. But the real power of the machine lies in its careful integration of software and hardware. The software was designed with the hardware in mind and vice versa. Such products reflect a growing concern for the user, a recognition that the old standards for hardware and software performance are no longer good enough. We need better-quality products, more attention to details, better-written manuals, and state-of-the-art features. Fortunately, the industry is listening.