HB-F9P
# HB-F9P

The HB-F9P was a Sony MSX2-computer, launched in 1985. The abbreviation HB stands for Hit Bit.

The HB-F9P was unusual in the sense that it did not come with a built in floppy disk drive, instead it had a built in software suite "Memovision" that would run automatically unless a program cartridge was inserted in the cartridge slot or the GRAPH key was pressed during booting.

Memovision could store data on the special HBI-55 (battery backed RAM) "data cartridge" that Sony originally had developed, for their HB-55 and HB-75 MSX computers. These systems contained a simple built in program called the "Personal Databank". Memovision was a continuation of the same idea, but much extended, as it contained stuff like a (birthday) calendar with alarm system, a "family databank" (a combination of a text editor and database) a built in calculator and a timer and time calculator, all rendered in pseudo 3D style.

## Variants

Of the HB-F9 there were many different localized variants produced:

* HB-F9P, with QWERTY-keyboard layout was designed for the PAL-standard, and meant for European countries, except Germany, France, Spain and the former Soviet Union.
* HB-F9R, had a Russian keyboard.
* HB-F9D, had a QWERTZ-keyboard for the German market
* HB-F9F, had an AZERTY-keyboard for the French market, and was designed for the SECAM-standard.
* HB-F9S, had a modified QWERTY-keyboard for the Spanish market.

## Technical specifications

### Processor

   * Sharp LH-0080 or NEC μPD780C

### memory

   * ROM: 96 KB

   ** MSX BASIC version 2.0: 48 KB

   ** software suite: 48 KB

   * RAM

   ** VRAM: 128 KB

   ** main memory: 128 KB

### Video

   * VDP

   ** Yamaha V9938

   ** text: 80×24, 40×24 en 32×24 (characters per line × lines) four colors, two foreground colors and two background colors

   ** graphical: maximal 512×212 pixels (16 colors of 512) and 256×212 (256 colors)

   ** colors: 512 maximal

### Engine

   * MSX-Engine: S-1985

   * real-time clock with trickle-charged battery backup

### sound

   * Yamaha YM2149 PSG

   * 3 sound channels and one noise channel

   * 8 octaves

### Interfaces

   * power cord

   * RF-output

   * CVBS monitor

   * luminance output

   * monochrome switch

   * headset sound output

   * data-recorder I/O (1200/2400 baud)

   * 1 general purpose expansion connector

   * printer

   * keyboard

   * 2 joysticks

   * 2 cartridge slots
