website/content/museum/epcom-sharp-hotbit-hb-8000.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
EPCOM / SHARP Hotbit HB-8000	Computers	Home Computer	Brazil	1985	Zilog Z80A	name image logo company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts hardware screenshots emulators links related oc_id source Hotbit HB-8000 /media/museum/photos/epcom_hb8000_system_s1.jpg /media/museum/logos/epcom_hotbit_8000_logo.gif /companies/epcom-sharp EPCOM / SHARP label value NAME Hotbit HB-8000 label value MANUFACTURER Epcom / Sharp label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN Brazil label value YEAR December 1985 label value END OF PRODUCTION 1988 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE Hot-Basic v1.2 label value KEYBOARD Full-stroke keyboard, 5 function keys and 4 arrow keys. 73 keys. Portuguese special characters label value CPU Zilog Z80A label value SPEED 3.58 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR TMS-9128NL video processor label value RAM 64 KB (28 KB free with MSX Basic) label value VRAM 16 KB label value ROM 32 KB BASIC/BIOS ( MSX BASIC V1.0) label value TEXT MODES Mode 0 : 40 x 24\ Mode 1 : 32 x 24 label value GRAPHIC MODES Mode 2 : 256 x 192 with 16 colors (Hires mode)\ Mode 3 : 64 x 48 with 16 colors (Multi colour mode)\ 32 sprites label value COLORS 16 label value SOUND General Instruments AY-3-8910 Programmable Sound Generator\ 3 channels, 8 octaves label value SIZE / WEIGHT 405 x 280 x 58 mm / 3,2 Kg label value I/O PORTS Audio output, 2 controller ports, 1 cartridge slot, Tape interface (1200/2400 bauds), Composite video output (PAL-M), RF TV output, Printer / Centronics interface label value OS MSX DOS label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in PSU, 120/220V AC60Hz label value PRICE Unknown photos adverts hardware software emulators links 814 title subtitle text image BEIGE VERSION /media/museum/photos/hotbit_hb8000_system_2.jpg title subtitle text image BLACK VERSION /media/museum/photos/epcom_hb8000_system_s2.jpg title subtitle text image BOTH SIDES The power switch is on the right side.\ The reset switch and second cartridge or expansion slot are on the left side.\ Two joystick connectors are on the front side. /media/museum/photos/epcom_hb8000_sides_s1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR CONNECTORS Three switches are accessible from the underneath of the case: TV channel 2 or 3, B/W or colour video output, 110/220V power supply. /media/museum/photos/epcom_hb8000_rearcon_s1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE Very classical MSX-1 board, designed by Sharp in Japan, but made in Brazil by Epcom. **(1)** Reset switch\ **(2)** Both cartridge slots\ **(3)** General Instruments AY-8910 sound generator\ **(4)** Sharp LH0080A processor, Z80A compatible\ **(5)** 32 KB EPROM chip, holds the MSX-Basic interpreter\ **(6)** Texas Instruments TMS-9128NL video chip, an heat sink is roughly glued on it\ **(7)** Keyboard connector\ **(8)** 16 KB video RAM chips (2x4416)\ **(9)** NEC 8255 I/O chip\ **(10)** Tape recorder remote relay\ **(11)** TV/UHF and composite video module\ **(12)** 110/220V Power supply unit\ **(13)** 64 KB RAM chips (8x4864) /media/museum/photos/epcom_hb8000_inside_s1.jpg title subtitle text image LOGO /media/museum/photos/hotbit_hb8000_logo.jpg title subtitle text image BOX /media/museum/photos/epcom-sharp_hb8000_box_1.jpg title subtitle text image ADVERT #1 Thanks to [COB-Clube Old Bits](http://www.cobit.kit.net) for this picture. /media/museum/pubs/hotbit_hb8000_pub_1.jpg title subtitle text image ADVERT #2 Thanks to [COB-Clube Old Bits](http://www.cobit.kit.net) for this picture. /media/museum/pubs/hotbit_hb8000_pub_2.jpg title subtitle text image ADVERT #3 Thanks to [COB-Clube Old Bits](http://www.cobit.kit.net) for this picture. /media/museum/pubs/hotbit_hb8000_pub_3.jpg title subtitle text image HB-6000 5,25'' Floppy Disk Drive We can see here two HB-6000 (5,25'' 360 KB floppy disk drives) and one HB-3600 (Dual disk drive controller). /media/museum/hardware/hotbit_hb8000_diskdrive.jpg title subtitle text image NATIONAL CF-2131 16 KB RAM expansion /media/museum/hardware/national_cf2131_16k-cart.jpg title subtitle text image CASIO OR-216 - 16 KB RAM EXPANSION Box /media/museum/hardware/casio_or216_16kbramexpansion_box.jpg title subtitle text image PHILIPS RAM EXPANSION RAM expansion and LOGO language cartridges. Thanks to Daniele from Italy /media/museum/hardware/philips_vg8020_cartridges_s1.jpg title subtitle text image MEGA RAM DISK 256 from DDX (Brazil) This is the famous Megaram cartridge made in Brzail, used to play all Konami cracked Megarom games.6401999243 /media/museum/hardware/msx_megaram256-ddx_1.jpg title subtitle text image PANASONIC FS-IFA1 & FW-RSU1W Scanner/Printer interface The FS-IFA1 is the printer/scanner interface (left on the picture) and the FW-RSU1W is the handheld scanner (right on the picture). These expansions are for MSX2 systems. /media/museum/hardware/msx_fs-ifa1_fw-rsu1w.jpg title subtitle text image SONY HBI-232 RS232c cartridge Used to connect serial printers. /media/museum/hardware/sony_msx_rs232c-cartridge.jpg title subtitle text image YAMAHA MOUSE #1 This mouse was compatible with all MSX systems. It connects to the first Joystick port. Thanks to **www.zonadepruebas.com** /media/museum/hardware/yamaha_mouse_s2.jpg title subtitle text image YAMAHA MOUSE #2 Brand new! Thanks to **www.zonadepruebas.com** /media/museum/hardware/yamaha_mouse_s1.jpg title subtitle text image PHILIPS VW0020 80-col dot-matrix printer This printer was a rebadged version of the Seikosha GP-500.\ It was a 80-column, 50 CPS model with a 7x5 dot matrix head.\ Commodore and Atari used same hardware basis for their MPS-801 and 1029 printers. /media/museum/hardware/philips_vg8020_printervw0020_s1.jpg title subtitle text image SANYO PHC-DR II Side /media/museum/hardware/sanyo_phc-drii_side_1.jpg title subtitle text image SANYO PHC-DR II Front /media/museum/hardware/sanyo_phc-drii_front_1.jpg title subtitle text image SANYO DR-202 The ADSS system allowed to quickly search a specific program in a cassette tape and load it. Seach time for a C60 cassette was less than 1 minute. /media/museum/hardware/sanyo_phc28_dr202tapedrive_s1.jpg title subtitle text image NATIONAL RQ-8030 tape-recorder /media/museum/hardware/national_tape_rq8030.jpg title subtitle text image BIT-CORDER Cassete recorder dedicated to Hit-Bit MSX systems, though it could be used with any home computers. /media/museum/hardware/sony_hb201_bitcorder_1.jpg title subtitle text image TITLE SCREEN /media/museum/software/hotbit_hb8000_ss_demo_1.gif title subtitle text image KEYBOARD EXPLANATION /media/museum/software/hotbit_hb8000_ss_demo_2.gif title url platform text fMSX for MS DOS Homepage http://www.komkon.org/~dekogel/fmsx.html MS DOS title url platform text BlueMSX http://www.bluemsx.com/ Windows Excellent free MSX emulator title url platform text BrMSX http://www.lsi.usp.br/~ricardo/brmsx.htm Windows A Bresilian MSX Emulator written in 100% assembler title url platform text CompuJunk's MSX Emulator http://ftp.castel.nl/msx/ Windows A MSX1 and MSX2 Emulator title url platform text RuMSX http://members.eunet.at/lexlechz/msx.html Windows A MSX Emulator for Win95 and Win NT + Direct X title url platform text fMSX for MAC OS Homepage http://www.emulation.net/msx/index.html Apple title url platform text fMSX official Homepage http://www.komkon.org/fms/fMSX Multiplatform fMSX is a portable MSX emulator ported on : Amiga OS, Mac OS, MS DOS, OS/2, Sony Playstation, Risc OS, Towns OS, Unix / X, Win95 / NT, X68K. title url platform text openMSX - The MSX emulator that aims for perfection. http://openmsx.sourceforge.net/ Multiplatform This new MSX emulator can reproduce, among many other MSX, MSX2and MSX2+ machines, both Panasonic Turbo-R models. Be sure to get the catapult frontend and the system roms from FUNET. title url text Baboo! http://www.baboo.net/baboo.shtml MSX dedicated Yahoo clone. Essential ! title url text FILE-HUNTER.COM http://www.file-hunter.com/ Excellent! All MSX emulators, sources and utilities! title url text FTP da MSXBr-L/MSX.Org.Br http://www.caetano.eng.br/msxsoft/ Excellent brasilian software archive title url text MOAI TECH http://www.moai-tech.com/ Spanish/English website with interesting content title url text MSX Hardware List http://www.faq.msxnet.org/hardware.html An impressive list of MSX hardware. The Bible !!! title url text MSX Ressource Center http://www.msx.org/ Essential site ! title url text Possi's Konami MSX Page http://dynamo.geol.msu.ru/MSX/ Nice page dedicated to all Konami MSX games (roms, scans, mids, etc.) title url text The MSX Games Box http://www.msxgamesbox.com All about MSX gaming (games, covers.etc.). More Fun, Less Mhz! title url text The MSX Museum BOX http://www.msxmuseumbox.com More than 190 different MSX models in pictures. title url text The ultimate MSX Faq http://www.faq.msxnet.org Here, you can find near all hardware pieces related to MSX. title url text Web Wiz CAPTCHA http://www.webwizcaptcha.com The MSX home computer system /museum/canon-v-10 /museum/canon-v-20 /museum/canon-v-8 /museum/casio-mx-10-mx-101 /museum/casio-pv-16 /museum/casio-pv-7 /museum/fujitsu-fm-x /museum/general-paxon-pct-50 /museum/goldstar-fc-80-fc-200 /museum/gradiente-expert-plus /museum/gradiente-expert-xp-800 /museum/hitachi-ah-200 /museum/hitachi-h1-h1e /museum/hitachi-h2 /museum/mitsubishi-ml-f110-ml-f120 /museum/mitsubishi-ml-f48-ml-f80 /museum/mitsubishi-ml-fx1-fx2 /museum/mitsubishi-ml-g10 /museum/msx-1 /museum/national-cf-2000 /museum/national-cf-2700 /museum/national-cf-3000 /museum/national-fs-4000 /museum/national-fs-4500 /museum/olympia-phc-2 /museum/panasonic-cf-2700 /museum/philips-nms-801 /museum/philips-vg-8000-8010 /museum/philips-vg-8020 /museum/philips-vg-8235 /museum/pioneer-palcom-px-7 /museum/sanyo-mpc-100 /museum/sanyo-phc-28 /museum/sanyo-phc-30 /museum/sanyo-phc-33 /museum/sanyo-wavy-10-mpc-10 /museum/sanyo-wavy-23 /museum/sanyo-wavy-3 /museum/schneider-philips-mc-810 /museum/sony-hit-bit-10 /museum/sony-hit-bit-101 /museum/sony-hit-bit-20 /museum/sony-hit-bit-201 /museum/sony-hit-bit-501 /museum/sony-hit-bit-55 /museum/sony-hit-bit-75 /museum/spectravideo-svi-728 /museum/toshiba-hx-10-pasopia-iq /museum/toshiba-hx-20-hx-21-pasopia-iq /museum/toshiba-hx-52 /museum/victor-hc-6 /museum/yamaha-cx5 /museum/yamaha-cx5m-music-computer /museum/yamaha-sx-100 /museum/yamaha-yis-303 /museum/yamaha-yis-503-diabolik /museum/yashica-yc-64 /museum/yeno-dpc-64 /museum/yeno-mx-64 833 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230604025938/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=833 2023-06-04

The HOTBIT HB-8000 was, along with the Gradiente Expert, the only MSX system officialy available in Brasil (though imported MSX systems like the Canon V-20, Yamaha CX5, Yashica YC-64, etc. could be bought). It was developped by Sharp and marketed by Epcom. It is a classic MSX 1 computer, with 64 KB RAM and two cartridge slots (one on top, and the "expansion" port on the side of the system).

MSX systems did very well in Brasil and litteraly killed the previous micro-computer market populated with TRS-80, Apple II and Spectrum clones from local companies. Gradiente (sound / HIFI products) and Epcom/Sharp (video products) were big companies, and put a lot of money in the marketing of their MSX computers.

Though the Hotbit was more respectful of MSX standards than the Gradiente Expert, it did not win the marketing battle, and its production was stopped in 1988.

There are several versions of the Hotbit HB-8000: version 1.0 and 1.1 use a white case, while version 1.2, released to be compatible with the Gradiente Expert ASCII table (problem related to portuguese special characters), use a black case.
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Djogo Patrao adds:
Back on these days, the most annoying difference between Hotbits and Experts was in which slot were the RAM. A great deal of software didn't autodetected this, and assumed the Expert default, which caused bad (and wrong) opinions about Hotbit.

Rafael Rigues reports:
If you look on the back of a black Hotbit, you will notice that the area surrounding the ports is covered by a thin plastic mask, as it was originally recessed. Removing this mask, you will find a circular opening for an extra port marked RGB (the text is molded in the plastic). This leads to the speculation that this model was originally designed as an MSX 2 machine.

However, I had the opportunity to help in an interview with the marketing manager of Sharp on that era, and he knew nothing about this. According to him, the 1.2 models are black simply to make them more appealing and fit better with A/V equipment of the time.

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.