website/content/museum/sanyo-mbc-1000.md

---
title: Sanyo MBC-1000
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1982'
cpus:
- Z80A
params:
  name: MBC-1000
  image: /media/museum/photos/sanyo_mbc1000_running_s1.jpg
  company: /companies/sanyo
  company_name: Sanyo
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: MBC-1000
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Sanyo
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Japan
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1982'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: SBASIC II (Microsoft Basic with additional commands specific to the system)
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Typewriter type, 83 keys with numeric keypad, 5 function keys & arrow keys
  - label: CPU
    value: Z80A
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4 MHz
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 2 KB (video) + 2 KB (character generator)
  - label: ROM
    value: 2 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 80 columns x 25 lines (8x8 dots character matrix. Programmable character generator)
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: None
  - label: COLORS
    value: Monochrome green phosphore (12'' non-glare monitor)
  - label: SOUND
    value: built-in Buzzer
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: |-
      Main unit: 40.5 (W) x 31.7 (H) x 35.7 (D) cm / 14 kg\
      Keyboard: 41 (W) x 7.6 (H) x 21.1 (D) cm / 3.5 Kg
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Parallel printer, external FDD unit, Serial RS232 (1200-8500 BPS baud rate)
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: Built-in 5.25'' 327 KB floppy-disk drive
  - label: OS
    value: CP/M 2.2
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in, switching power supply unit (45 W)
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: Up to 5 expansion cards, up to three 5''1/4 or two 8'' drives can be added
  - label: PRICE
    value: |-
      $1500 (fall 1982, USA)\
      $3,995 (1983, USA) - includes a second 5 1/4 inch drive, a daisy wheel printer, the software package and 8 hours of instructions in WordStar, CalcStar and installation
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  forum_thread: 1045
  photos:
  - title: MBC-1000
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/sanyo_mbc1000_system_s2.jpg
  - title: RUNNING
    subtitle: ''
    text: The MBC-1000 is running the CalcStar spreadsheet installation program.
    image: /media/museum/photos/sanyo_mbc1000_running_s2.jpg
  - title: SIDE VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/sanyo_mbc1000_sideview_s1.jpg
  - title: TOP VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/sanyo_mbc1000_topview_s1.jpg
  - title: FRONT PANEL
    subtitle: ''
    text: All the computers of the 1000 series were called "Creative Computer".
    image: /media/museum/photos/sanyo_mbc1000_plate_s1.jpg
  - title: KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP
    subtitle: ''
    text: The MBC-1000 had a complete and indestructible keyboard.
    image: /media/museum/photos/sanyo_mbc1000_keyboard_s1.jpg
  - title: REAR PANEL
    subtitle: ''
    text: The black vertical connector is the one of the Serial RS-232 expansion card.
    image: /media/museum/photos/sanyo_mbc1000_rearside_s1.jpg
  - title: INSIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The double-sided, double density floppy drive is a YE-DATA model.\
      The switching PSU is located below the floppy drive.\
      Three expansion cards could be added next to the Serial card.\
      The main board slides under the video card and can be easily removed from the case.
    image: /media/museum/photos/sanyo_mbc1000_inside_s1.jpg
  - title: MAIN BOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      A traditional design which uses only standard circuits.

      **(1)** Power connector\
      **(2)** Floppy drive connector\
      **(3)** I/O connector. Provides the connection with expansion cards\
      **(4)** 2 KB ROM chip. Holds the Initial Program Loader which allows CP/M OS to be automatically loaded\
      **(5)** Z80A processor, here a NEC D780 version\
      **(6)** 64 KB user RAM chips (4 x 4164)\
      **(7)** Hitachi HD46505 display controller. Motorola 6845 equivalent\
      **(8)** 4 KB video RAM chips (2x6116)\
      **(9)** Fujitsu MB8876 floppy-disk controller\
      **(10)** 8255 PIA - Programmable Interface Adapter, used for keyboard, Parallel port and sound generation\
      **(11)** Buzzer.
    image: /media/museum/photos/sanyo_mbc1000_mainboard_s2.jpg
  - title: MICROPRO SOFTWARE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      MBC-1000 original system diskette along with some popular Micropro CP/M software:\
      • **WordStar**, word processor\
      • **MailMerge**, file merging and form letters creation\
      • **CalcStar**, spreadsheet\
      • **DataStar**, database management\
      • **ReportStar**, DataStar reports
    image: /media/museum/photos/sanyo_mbc1000_diskettes_s1.jpg
  - title: MBC1000 WITH EFD 160
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      This is an MBC-1000 with its EFD-160 (external 5.25'' floppy drive). The picture was taken by its owner Chris Collman in 2006.

      He remembers: "This was my first PC and used it in our garment manufacturing business. I bought a package that included an MBC-1000, second external 5 1/4 floppy drive, daisy wheel printer, installation and something like 8 hours of instruction for around $4,000 (1983 or 4?). I would guess the retail price of just the computer as pictured was around $2,000. We used CalcStar for our costings and WordStar for letters and stuff like that. In June 2006, I dismantled all the parts and took it to the recycle center, along with my Kaypro which replaced it. Heavy steel construction, very little plastic. I still have my custom boot disk and WordStar program disk, just to impress other old timers !"

      Thanks to Chris Collman for this picture
    image: /media/museum/photos/sanyo_mbc1000_collman.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: US BROCHURE (RECTO)
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to Chris Collman for this picture
    image: /media/museum/pubs/sanyo_mbc1000_brochure_1.jpg
  - title: US BROCHURE (VERSO)
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to Chris Collman for this picture
    image: /media/museum/pubs/sanyo_mbc1000_brochure_2.jpg
  oc_id: 1072
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230417011112/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1072
    date: '2023-04-17'
---

The MBC-1000 was the bottom-of-the-range system of a series of "Creative Computer" CP/M machines which was also comprised of the [11xx](/museum/sanyo-mbc-1100-1150/) and [12xx](/museum/sanyo-mbc-1200-1250/) ranges.

Although its design wasn't revolutionary, it was a well-built and reliable machine featuring a detachable keyboard, a 12-inch green monochrome screen and a single built-in 5.25, 327 KB floppy drive.

It ran CP/M 2.2 OS with a very fast boot up sequence. The OS was ready to run in less than five seconds after the machine was switched on. The whole family of Micropro software - WordStar, CalcStar, DataStar, ReportStar... was specially modified to fit MBC-1000 features. Sbasic, an extended Basic interpreter, was included into the CP/M master diskette.

Sanyo CP/M machines had a discreet life in business world and were gradually replaced by PC compatible systems.

Extracts from the marketing brochure:

\- Compact design integrating all the functions for multi-purpose applications\
\- Z-80A CPU ensures high-speed processing with no-wait mode\
\- A substantial library of business software has been developed in the United States to Sanyo's specifications. Sanyo will also offer word-processing, electronic spread-sheets, and related software to its distributor and dealer network. A user encyclopedia for the extensive, powerful SBASIC II is supplied with the machine. The Sanyo computer will support all CP/M compatible software and along with the appropriate interpreter or compiler, programs can be run in C-Basic, M-Basic, Fortran, Cobol, Forth and others. Sanyo will support and publish a list of approved software products to its dealers, distributors and end users.\
\- SBASIC II adds several additional commands and statements to those featured by Microsoft BASIC. The disket supplied includes a set of Check programs and Utilities allowing extra programming flexibility.\
\- Built-in floppy disk drive with file copy procedure can be expanded to incorporate up to three 5"1/4 or two 8" additional floppy disk drives. The expandability to over 2.3 MB of disk storage assures the capacity to meet your needs.\
\- Easy-to-operate typewriter-style keyboard with numeric pad and five function keys for easy program execution\
\- 12" non-glare green phosphor video display screen showing up to 256 standard and graphic characters. For special graphic or alpha-numeric needs, programmable character generator allows you to change any character to meet these requirements.\
\- Centronics parallel printer port, RS-232C serial port, and additional 5"1/4 floppy expansion disk port are standard.\
\- Additional interface cards are available for a parallel port or RS-232 port.\
\- The interface card for the EFD860F (additional 8" external drives) is packaged with the EFD860F

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>