Contents |
Description
Computer
The Sony HB-T600 was aimed at the Japanese market and sold to investors as stock trading terminal. It's a MSX2 computer with a specific separate keypad, conceived to make easy and fast data communication.
However, this keypad can be replaced by the classical Sony keyboard from the HB-F500, HB-F700, HB-F900, HB-G900 and even HB-701 machines. It was also possible to buy separately this keyboard under the reference KBD-13.
| Brand | Sony |
| Model | HB-T600 |
| Year | 1987 |
| Region | Japan |
| Launch price | ¥135,000 |
| RAM | 128kB in slot 3-3 + 8kB SRAM |
| VRAM | 128kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges, 2DD floppy disks |
| Video | Yamaha V9938 |
| Audio | PSG (YM2149 integrated in MSX-Engine S1985) |
| Chipset | Yamaha S1985 |
| Keyboard layout | specific keypad, can be replaced by a classical Sony keyboard |
| Extras | 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drive, third cartridge slot, reset button, switch for telephone line tone / pulse, firmware, Modem, MSX-Modem BASIC, Kanji-ROM level 1, specific keypad, floppy disk with MSX-DOS 1 and stock trading application |
| Emulation | partially emulated in blueMSX - Dump of ROMs and floppy disk needed for openMSX. See this thread for details |
Firmware
The firmware is in fact a cartridge modem inserted in the internal cartridge slot. The data communication program can be launched with CALL TELCOM or _TELCOM.
It is actually a new version of the firmware included in the HBI-1200 modem, combining MSX-Modem BASIC and a data communication program, that can also be found in the Panasonic FS-CM1 modem and the Panasonic FS-A1FM computer.
The Sony version does not have the specific Panasonic extras (Access to The LINKS network, Documents Management, Automatic Awakening).
Floppy disk
A floppy disk was provided with this computer, it contains
- MSX-DOS 1
- a stock trading application
Pictures
Computer
(stock trading application)
Firmware
Software
Specifications
The HB-T600 is a MSX2 with three cartridge slots (2 external in front, 1 internal with the Sony HBI-1200 modem), a Z80A from Sharp (LH0080A) and an MSX-Engine S1985 from Yamaha. The modem speed is 300/1200bps and has automatic features (dial and log in). The specific keypad can be replaced by a classical keyboard.
Slot Map
| Slot | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot 0 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | 3-0 | 3-1 | 3-2 | 3-3 | ||||
| Page C000h~FFFFh | Cartridge Slot 1 | Cartridge Slot 2 | Internal Cartridge Slot | 128kB Memory Mapper | ||||||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | ||||||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | Disk ROM | ||||||||
| Page 0000h~3FFFh | Sub-ROM | |||||||||
Note: The firmware rom (64kB) is in slot 3-1 between 4000h and 7FFFh, it has a mapper of 8 blocks of 8kB similar to that of MSX-DOS 2 and 8kB SRAM. The modem card can be replaced by an FM-PAC or other cartridge that does not extend the slot.
Connections
- RGB output
- Analog sound & Composite video
- Keyboard connector
- Two RJ11 modular connectors for modem (line in and telephone out)
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mouse, Paddle controllers, etc)
- 3 cartridge slots (2 external, 1 internal)
Note: No Data recorder connector!
Links
- Sony HB-T600 on Generation-MSX
- Detailed look at the HB-T600 (Japanese)
- Info about the HB-T600 (Japanese) - archived version