website/content/museum/ibm-pc-jx.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
IBM PC JX	Computers	Home Computer	U.S.A.	1984	Intel 8088	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts oc_id source PC JX /media/museum/photos/ibm_pc-jx_1.jpg /companies/ibm IBM label value NAME PC JX label value MANUFACTURER IBM label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR October 1984 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE Advanced BASIC (Same as PCjr) label value KEYBOARD Full stroke 79-key with 10 function-key and arrow keys label value CPU Intel 8088 label value SPEED 4.77 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR No 8087 socket label value RAM JX :64k (up to 512k)\ JX2 : 128k label value VRAM JX : 16k\ JX2 : 32k label value ROM 128k label value TEXT MODES 40 or 80 chars. x 25 lines in 8 colors label value GRAPHIC MODES 320 x 200 / 640 x 200 (16 colors) / 720 x 512 (2 colors) label value COLORS 16 label value SOUND 3 channels, 8 octaves label value I/O PORTS 2 cartridge ports (64 KB each), Centronics (optional), RS232, Joystick, Light Pen label value BUILT IN MEDIA 2 x 3.5'' disk-drives label value OS MS DOS 2.1 label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in power supply unit label value PERIPHERALS Expansion unit - Houses a 5.25'' FDD and 5 expansion slots label value PRICE JX2 : 270000 yens (Japan 84)\ From A$2115 to A$3365 (Australia 1985) photos adverts 197 title subtitle text image IBM JX-5 Differences between the different JX models are obscure yet... Thanks to [FPCU Japan](http://www.nifty.ne.jp/forum/fpcu/pchist/) for this picture /media/museum/photos/ibm_pc-jx_2.jpg title subtitle text image AUSTRALIAN VERSION /media/museum/photos/ibm_jx_englishversion_1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR CONNECTORS **(1)** Light-pen DIN plug\ **(2)** Cassette recorder DIN plug\ **(3)** Audio out jack\ **(4)** Parallel printer DB25 connector\ **(5)** Joystick 1\ **(6)** Koystick 2\ **(7)** Memory expansion housing\ **(8)** Serial card housing\ **(9)** Display connector\ **(10)** Keyboard RJ45 jack /media/museum/photos/ibm_jx_back_1.jpg title subtitle text image AUSTRALIAN KEYBOARD JX compact and extended keyboards provided both infra-red or cabled operation.\ The infra-red worked well with a distance from the main unit of about 2.5 meters. /media/museum/photos/ibm_jx_englishkeyboard_1.jpg title subtitle text image JAPANESE AD Thanks to [P.KATSU](http://club.pep.ne.jp/~p.katsu/pasocata/index.html) for this picture /media/museum/pubs/ibm_pc-jx_pub-jp_1.jpg 187 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20221203214528/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=187 2022-12-03

IBM JX was what the PCjr should have been. It was first released in Japan with dual English/Kanji features, but has not been a big succes in that market dominated by Japanese companies.

The Kanji features were then removed and the system was introduced in Australia. It was first submitted to the Victorian Education Department then released for general dealer sales in September 1985.

The JX was thus an enhanced version of the IBM PC Junior (which had no great success) with which it was compatible. Its enhanced features were :
- the RAM could be extended up to 512 KB instead of 128 KB,
- it had two 3.5" floppy drives instead of only one 360 KB 5.25" one
- it had a high graphic resolution (750 x 512 instead of 640 x 200)
- and the keyboard was a true one (contrary to the early PC Jr which has a poor one).

It used version 2.1 of MS-DOS and functioned exactly the same as an original PC model. However the inside of the computer was vastly different from an IBM PC. The expansion slots were limited and not compatible with IBM-PC slots. Several options were available: Extended 98-key keyboard, joysticks, cassette recorder, light pen, asynchronous communications and additional expansion slots.