Sony HB-11 blue

Description

Computer

The Sony HB-11 is the last MSX1 computer released by Sony, aimed at the Japanese market. It is called "HitBit U" (U for University?) and is dedicated to students.

The case color is available in red or deep blue. The power supply is buit-in.

The design is intermediate between the HB-201 and the HB-10, as only the pause button and the carrying handle have been removed.

A retractable stick is build in the middle of the cursor keys, which can be used as joystick. As on the HB-501, the back of the case has a location to store the stick during transport.

The HB-11 is one of the rare MSX1 computers having a Kanji-ROM Level 1 (JIS1). It is even mentioned on the box.

Firmware

The firmware is launched automatically when you boot the machine.

The Personal Databank of many Sony MSX1 computers has been replaced by a firmware with 2 applications and a global menu with 3 options:

• BASIC
• English-Japanese Dictionary created by the Stratford Computer Center Corporation

After choice of a printer, you access the main screen on which you can input English words. If the entered word is not found in the dictionary, a list with all words starting with the first letter will be displayed.

By pressing ESC on the main screen, you can go back to the menu.

• Japanese Word Processor - Word Land Sentence II with kanji conversion dictionary of 3900 words (was also sold separately as cartridge) - see Sony HBS-B003C for more info

From MSX-BASIC, you can

• start this firmware with CALL HITBIT or _HITBIT
• use 7 alternative fonts in SCREEN 1 with the extra BASIC instruction CALL FONT or _FONT

Easter egg

If the P key is held during boot, an easter egg is started (using one of the alternative MSX-BASIC fonts).

The S key can be used to mute the sounds of the firmware boot animation.

The firmware also contains a hidden text: "A Yellow Panther Production MCMLXXXV", what seems to indicate that it was made by the same coding team as the firmware of the HB-F1 and HB-F1II MSX2 computers.

Software

A tape "Patsy Ducks Card" is provided in addition to this firmware, it contains 50 examples of templates.

Pictures

Computer

Sony HB-11 red

Sony HB-11 box

Sony HB-11 box back

Sony HB-11 box and content

Sony HB-11 blue

Sony HB-11 stick slot

Sony HB-11 manuals + tape

Sony HB-11 PCB

Sony HB-11 PCB (underside)

Sony HB-11 tape

Sony HB-11 red back

Sony HB-11 blue back

Sony HB-11 label

Firmware

Menu

Sony HB-11 firmware menu

English-Japanese Dictionary

Printer selection

Word not found

List of words

Word example

Dictionary end screen

Japanese Word Processor

MSX1 menu

Word Land Sentence II on MSX1

Printing

End

Specifications

The HB-11 is a MSX1 with a Z80A from NEC (DA780C-1), an MSX-Engine from Yamaha (S3527) and two cartridge slots at the top of the computer.

Slot Map

• The firmware is a 96kB ROM in the 128kB chip used by Sony for the Main-ROM and the firmware. It can be divided in 3 parts of 32kB, according the used slots:
  • slot 3-0
    • page 1: menu, SonyFont BASIC, _FONT(1) data and the EN-JP dictionary code
    • page 2: the EN-JP dictionary data 1 from 'About' to 'Imitate'
  • slot 3-1
    • page 1: the EN-JP dictionary data 3 from 'Terrible' to 'Zoo' and _FONT(2 to 6) data
    • page 2: the EN-JP dictionary data 2 from 'Important' to 'Tenth'
  • slot 3-3: the Japanese Word Processor (without the 41 42 signature at the beginning, that is present on the cartridge version)

Connections

• RF output
• Analog sound output
• Composite video output
• 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)

Links

• Uniabis patch for Nextor (Fix for conflict with internal firmware, and Memory Mapper initialisation)