website/content/museum/hanimex-pencil-ii.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Hanimex PENCIL II	Computers	Home Computer	Australia	1984	Zilog Z80 A	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts hardware oc_id source PENCIL II /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_system_s1.jpg /companies/hanimex Hanimex label value NAME PENCIL II label value MANUFACTURER Hanimex label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN Australia label value YEAR 1984 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE SD-Basic 2.0 available on cartridge label value KEYBOARD Chicklet keyboard with 6 function keys, 4 arrow keys and a reset key label value CPU Zilog Z80 A label value SPEED Unknown label value CO-PROCESSOR One custom chip for video, sound, I/O and memory management label value RAM 18 kb (up to 80 kb) label value ROM 20 kb label value TEXT MODES 30 x 24 label value GRAPHIC MODES 256 x 192 label value COLORS 16 label value SOUND 3 channels, 5 octaves and 1 noise generator label value SIZE / WEIGHT 37 x 22 x 7,5 cm / 1,5kg label value I/O PORTS RGB, cartridge, Centronics, Expansion bus, Joystick (2), Tape, RS232 (optional) label value OS CP/M with the optional disk-drives label value POWER SUPPLY External AC adaptor label value PERIPHERALS 16k & 64k RAM expansions, 5''1/4 disk-drives, joysticks label value PRICE 365 (France, 1985) photos adverts hardware 148 title subtitle text image LARGE VIEW /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_system_s5.jpg title subtitle text image SIDES VIEW The expansion and RAM cartridge slots are on the right side. The power switch is on the left side. /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_sides_s1.jpg title subtitle text image KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP The rubberised chicklet keyboard discouraged everys user from doing serious tasks with this machine. /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_keyboard_s1.jpg title subtitle text image EXTENDED SYSTEM The disk drive controller is connected to the expansion port. /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_complete_s1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE **(1)** Keyboard connectors\ **(2)** Video connector\ **(3)** Hanimex specific printer connector\ **(4)** ROM cartridge connector\ **(5)** RAM expansion cartridge connector\ **(6)** Z80 bus expansion connector\ **(7)** Z80 microprocessor, here a NEC D780 version\ **(8)** Power ans sound connector\ **(9)** Unknown coprocessor in charge of video, sound, I/O and memory management\ **(10)** Monitor ROM and its associated 2 KB RAM chip\ **(11)** 16 KB user RAM chips (8 x 4116)\ **(12)** Power regulation and video card /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_inside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR CONNECTORS From left to right: • Printer connector, covered by a mask\ • Left and right joystick DB9 plugs\ • Tape recorder DIN plug\ • RGB Scart video output\ • Composite video output\ • External PSU DIN plug. /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_rearcon_s1.jpg title subtitle text image THE BOX /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_box_s1.jpg title subtitle text image FRENCH ADVERT. ''For less than 2000 francs, offer yourself the future'' ...yes /media/museum/pubs/hanimex_pencil2_pub_avenir.jpg title subtitle text image PLAY COLECOVISION GAMES ! /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_cartridge-adaptor_2.jpg title subtitle text image EARLY VERSION ? With this expansion unit you could play early Colecovision cartridges on your Pencil II. Of course this expansion was not legal... At the back: 64 KB and 16 KB ram expansions. /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_ram-packs.jpg title subtitle text image JOYPADS /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_joysticks_s1.jpg title subtitle text image DISK DRIVE CONTROLLER /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_fddinterface_s1.jpg title subtitle text image 5''1/4 DISK-DRIVES With theses little ''gems''...you could use CP/M. /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_diskdrive.jpg title subtitle text image DISK-DRIVES AND CONTROLLER The controller plugs into the expansion bus on the left side of the Pencil II. /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_diskdrives.jpg title subtitle text image 16 KB RAM CARTRIDGE EXPANSION /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_16k-memory-pack_1.jpg title subtitle text image 16K & 64K MEMORY PACKS /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_memorypacks.jpg 136 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230324222718/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=136 2023-03-24

This Australian computer was in fact built and conceived in Hong Kong by Soundic Electronics, which produced a lot of low-end products at that time.

The high-resolution (256 x 192) can only be accessed with at least a 16k RAM extension.

The Basic (SD-Basic 2.0) is supplied on a ROM cartridge, it allowed to display up to 32 sprites.

The Pencil II also came with an interesting expansion cartridge. The regular cartridge port was the exact same size as a Colecovision cartridge, and when you plugged the "Colecvision Support" cartridge into the side of the unit, it played regular Colecvision games.

Unfortunately, very few games and applications were developped and the Pencil II quickly fell into oblivion...

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.