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Description
Computer
The National FS-4000 is a "Word-pro Persocom" (Word processor Personal Computer) with a built-in 24 dots thermal transfer printer. The FS-4000 was available in full black or in black and white. It is the last MSX1 computer released by National and was aimed at the Japanese market.
This firmware is automatically launched when you boot the machine, there is no way to bypass it. Two switches at the back allow to change the print density and select an external printer instead of the built-in printer. On emulators, these switches are not yet emulated.
The original replacement ink cartridge is the CF-PR120, but you can also use the CF-PR110.
| Brand | National |
| Model | FS-4000 |
| Year | 1985 |
| Region | Japan |
| Launch price | ¥106,000 |
| RAM | 64kB in slot 3-2, 2kB SRAM for printer handling |
| VRAM | 16kB |
| Media | MSX Cartridges |
| Video | Texas Instruments TMS9128 |
| Audio | PSG (YM2149 integrated in MSX-Engine S3527) |
| Chipset | Yamaha S3527 |
| Keyboard layout | QWERTY/JP50on + numeric keypad |
| Extras | built-in printer, switch for selecting print density, switch for selecting an external printer, Kanji-ROM level 1, firmware: Japanese + English Word Processor, specific compound Kanji dictionary (not MSX-JE), kanji driver |
| Emulation | ROMs dumped and emulated with exception of the internal printer. The printer select switch is set to External printer and cannot be changed. |
Firmware
This computer comes with a built-in Japanese/English Word Processor with kana-kanji conversion, however the procedure is not compatible with MSX-JE.
The firmware menu presents 3 options:
- Japanese Word Processor (15 characters per line)
- English Word Processor (30 characters per line)
- MSX-BASIC
Each Word Processor has a sub-menu with 5 options: 1 - New text - 2 - Edit text - 3 - Print - 4 - Save - 5 - Load. In options 1 and 2, you can access the settings with F8.
Only 2 paper sizes are available for the printer: A4 and B5. Saving of text and settings can only be done to tape.
The Kanji-ROM Level 1 (JIS1) contains 3509 characters and the Kanji dictionary is very rudimentary. To get a better kana-kanji conversion, it's recommended to use the FS-SR022 Kanji Dictionary Tool cartridge with the FS-4000 computer.
From MSX-BASIC, you can go back to the word processors with CALL JWP or _JWP for the Japanese Word Processor and CALL EWP or _EWP for the English Word Processor. 50
Pictures
Computer
Firmware
Specifications
The National FS-4000 is a MSX1 with 2 cartridge slots (in parallel one at the top). The CPU is a Z80 from NEC (D780C-1). There is also a co-processor (NEC D7807G) with 2kB of SRAM for the printer handling. The MSX-Engine comes from Yamaha (S3527).
Slot Map
| Slot 0 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3-0 | Slot 3-1 | Slot 3-2 | Slot 3-3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page C000h~FFFFh | Cartridge Slot 1 | Cartridge Slot 2 | 64kB RAM | |||||||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | Kanji Driver | |||||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | MSX Word-Pro | ||||||||
| Page 0000h~3FFFh |
Connections
- RF output
- RGB output (RGB21)
- Analog sound & Composite video
- Data Recorder connector
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mouse, Paddle controlers, etc)
- 2 cartridge slots
- Power plug male for main power supply (JIS C 8303 class, AC 100V +/-10% 50/60Hz)
Upgrades
As designed, the built-in word processor cannot save to disk. In fact adding a disk drive has the effect that the built-in software is skipped, making the integrated word processor inaccessible. No work around is available other then booting while keeping the SHIFT key pressed to disable the disk drive.
External Links
- National FS-4000 取扱説明書 (Instruction Manual) (Japanese)
- National FS-4000 ワープロ使用説明書 (Word Processor Instruction Manual (Japanese)
- National FS-4000 ワープロ操作早見表 (Word Processor Operation Chart) (Japanese)
- National FS-4000 on Generation-MSX
- Detailed look at the FS-4000 (Japanese)
- Blog post about the FS-4000 (Korean)
- Blog post about the FS-4000 (Korean)