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

---
title: Hanimex PENCIL II
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Australia
years:
- '1984'
cpus:
- Zilog Z80 A
params:
  name: PENCIL II
  image: /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_system_s1.jpg
  company: /companies/hanimex
  company_name: Hanimex
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: PENCIL II
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Hanimex
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Australia
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1984'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: SD-Basic 2.0 available on cartridge
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Chicklet keyboard with 6 function keys, 4 arrow keys and a reset key
  - label: CPU
    value: Zilog Z80 A
  - label: SPEED
    value: Unknown
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: One custom chip for video, sound, I/O and memory management
  - label: RAM
    value: 18 kb (up to 80 kb)
  - label: ROM
    value: 20 kb
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 30 x 24
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 256 x 192
  - label: COLORS
    value: '16'
  - label: SOUND
    value: 3 channels, 5 octaves and 1 noise generator
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 37 x 22 x 7,5 cm / 1,5kg
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: RGB, cartridge, Centronics, Expansion bus, Joystick (2), Tape, RS232 (optional)
  - label: OS
    value: CP/M with the optional disk-drives
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: External AC adaptor
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: 16k & 64k RAM expansions, 5''1/4 disk-drives, joysticks
  - label: PRICE
    value: 365 (France, 1985)
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  - hardware
  forum_thread: 148
  photos:
  - title: LARGE VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_system_s5.jpg
  - title: SIDES VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: The expansion and RAM cartridge slots are on the right side. The power switch is on the left side.
    image: /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_sides_s1.jpg
  - title: KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP
    subtitle: ''
    text: The rubberised chicklet keyboard discouraged everys user from doing serious tasks with this machine.
    image: /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_keyboard_s1.jpg
  - title: EXTENDED SYSTEM
    subtitle: ''
    text: The disk drive controller is connected to the expansion port.
    image: /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_complete_s1.jpg
  - title: INSIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      **(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
    image: /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_inside_s1.jpg
  - title: REAR CONNECTORS
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      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.
    image: /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_rearcon_s1.jpg
  - title: THE BOX
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/hanimex_pencil2_box_s1.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: FRENCH ADVERT.
    subtitle: ''
    text: '''''For less than 2000 francs, offer yourself the future'''' ...yes'
    image: /media/museum/pubs/hanimex_pencil2_pub_avenir.jpg
  hardware:
  - title: PLAY COLECOVISION GAMES !
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_cartridge-adaptor_2.jpg
  - title: EARLY VERSION ?
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      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.
    image: /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_ram-packs.jpg
  - title: JOYPADS
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_joysticks_s1.jpg
  - title: DISK DRIVE CONTROLLER
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_fddinterface_s1.jpg
  - title: 5''1/4 DISK-DRIVES
    subtitle: ''
    text: With theses little ''gems''...you could use CP/M.
    image: /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_diskdrive.jpg
  - title: DISK-DRIVES AND CONTROLLER
    subtitle: ''
    text: The controller plugs into the expansion bus on the left side of the Pencil II.
    image: /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_diskdrives.jpg
  - title: 16 KB RAM CARTRIDGE EXPANSION
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_16k-memory-pack_1.jpg
  - title: 16K & 64K MEMORY PACKS
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/hardware/hanimex_pencil2_memorypacks.jpg
  oc_id: 136
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230324222718/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=136
    date: '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...

<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>