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---
title: IBM PC JX
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1984'
cpus:
- Intel 8088
params:
name: PC JX
image: /media/museum/photos/ibm_pc-jx_1.jpg
company: /companies/ibm
company_name: IBM
specs:
- label: NAME
value: PC JX
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: IBM
- label: TYPE
value: Home Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: U.S.A.
- label: YEAR
value: October 1984
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: Advanced BASIC (Same as PCjr)
- label: KEYBOARD
value: Full stroke 79-key with 10 function-key and arrow keys
- label: CPU
value: Intel 8088
- label: SPEED
value: 4.77 MHz
- label: CO-PROCESSOR
value: No 8087 socket
- label: RAM
value: |-
JX :64k (up to 512k)\
JX2 : 128k
- label: VRAM
value: |-
JX : 16k\
JX2 : 32k
- label: ROM
value: 128k
- label: TEXT MODES
value: 40 or 80 chars. x 25 lines in 8 colors
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: 320 x 200 / 640 x 200 (16 colors) / 720 x 512 (2 colors)
- label: COLORS
value: '16'
- label: SOUND
value: 3 channels, 8 octaves
- label: I/O PORTS
value: 2 cartridge ports (64 KB each), Centronics (optional), RS232, Joystick, Light Pen
- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
value: 2 x 3.5'' disk-drives
- label: OS
value: MS DOS 2.1
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: Built-in power supply unit
- label: PERIPHERALS
value: Expansion unit - Houses a 5.25'' FDD and 5 expansion slots
- label: PRICE
value: |-
JX2 : 270000 yens (Japan 84)\
From A$2115 to A$3365 (Australia 1985)
tabs:
- photos
- adverts
photos:
- title: IBM JX-5
subtitle: ''
text: |-
Differences between the different JX models are obscure yet...
Thanks to [FPCU Japan](http://www.nifty.ne.jp/forum/fpcu/pchist/) for this picture
image: /media/museum/photos/ibm_pc-jx_2.jpg
- title: AUSTRALIAN VERSION
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/ibm_jx_englishversion_1.jpg
- title: REAR CONNECTORS
subtitle: ''
text: |-
**(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
image: /media/museum/photos/ibm_jx_back_1.jpg
- title: AUSTRALIAN KEYBOARD
subtitle: ''
text: |-
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.
image: /media/museum/photos/ibm_jx_englishkeyboard_1.jpg
adverts:
- title: JAPANESE AD
subtitle: ''
text: Thanks to [P.KATSU](http://club.pep.ne.jp/~p.katsu/pasocata/index.html) for this picture
image: /media/museum/pubs/ibm_pc-jx_pub-jp_1.jpg
comments:
- author: SpidersWeb (New Zealand)
date: Wednesday 4th May 2016
text: |-
I have three of these, and they''re awesome little machines but a lot more trouble than many people might suspect.
Good:\
\- keyboard is fantastic\
\- floppy interface is standard 34 pin\
\- stylish\
\- jr graphics and audio\
\- IBM did sell a cluster option that let you network them off an XT/AT system, but I''ve never seen one in person.
Bad:\
\- 3.5" drives (unless you get the 86/87 model) are double stepped by the BIOS - providing 360KB but being incompatible with any standard computer\
\- 3.5" drives are slightly taller than modern 3.5" drives making it hard to source replacements that look nice\
\- expansion is very limited, a small range of IBM cards available and once you add memory+serial you''re out of slots and need to buy an expansion unit. No sidecars. 512KB RAM max.\
\- high resolution mode and Kanji support was only available on the Japanese model. Wont fit on AU/NZ model as PSU is in the way.\
\- still boots up in 40 col mode for some reason\
\- clips that hold the case together just fall apart with age when you look at them
Actually quite a bit of work dealing with these, but I love mine nonetheless.
- author: Liliana (Australia)
date: Wednesday 15th February 2012
text: I have OS, software, but the price this guy is giving is a joke!!!
- author: Liliana (Australia)
date: Wednesday 15th February 2012
text: I have OS, software, but the price this guy is giving is a joke!!!
- author: Liliana (Australia)
date: Wednesday 15th February 2012
text: I have OS, software, but the price this guy is giving is a joke!!!
- author: Arron DM (---)
date: Monday 19th August 2002
text: |-
Does anybody know where I can find an OS and software for a black IBM PC JX I recently brought for $5NZ ($2.50 for Americans) ?\
Please reply if you know of any info.
Thanks,\
Arron DM.
oc_id: 187
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20221203214528/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=187
date: '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](/museum/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.