The Sharp PC-1500 was a pocket computer produced by Sharp between 1981 and 1985. A rebadged version was also sold as the TRS-80 Pocket Computer PC-2.
The whole computer was designed around the LH5801, an 8-bit CPU similar to the Zilog Z80, but all laid-out in power-saving CMOS circuits. Equipped with 2 KB of on-board RAM, the programming language is BASIC. Later, German engineers provided an assembler for the machine. Later even a C compiler followed. An external slot is available and accepts memory (from 4 KB to 32 KB) and ROM modules.
Eight versions of this pocket computer with 2 KB memory: Sharp PC-1500 - Japanese version (1981) Sharp PC-1500 - Japanese version with blue paint around LCD. CE-157 Kana module bundle model. Known as PC-1500D (1984) Sharp PC-1500 - European, Australasian and North American version (1982) Sharp PC-1500 RP2 - Brazilian version (1982) HiradasTechnika PTA-4000 - Hungarian licence. HiradasTechnika PTA-4000+16 - Hungarian licence (with internal 16 KB memory extension) Tandy TRS-80 PC-2 Nanfeng PC-1500A - Chinese license (CKD assembly from Japanese components)
Two versions with 8 KB memory: Sharp PC-1501 - Japanese rework with 8 KB memory (1984) Sharp PC-1500A - Western rework with 8 KB memory (1984)
Technical specifications
156×8 pixel LCD
Integrated speaker
Integrated RTC
Memory/cartridge slot
60-pin expansion port for printer and tape drive
Battery slot (4×AA) Connector for external power supply (Official adaptor is Sharp EA-150, rated at 500 mA at 9 V, comes with the CE-150 printer interface.)
Accessories
CE-150 4-colour printer/plotter and cassette interface in travel case. Known as KA-160 with PTA-4000. CE-151 4 KB memory module CE-152 Cassette recorder (as external storage) (same as General Electric 3-5160A) CE-153 Software board CE-154 Wallet dedicated to PC-1500 + CE-150 + CE-152 + CE-153 CE-155 8 KB memory module CE-156 Tape with Katakana software CE-157 4 KB memory module with CR2032 battery data backup and Katakana chars ROM CE-158 Communication dock with RS-232C and parallel interface with (4 rechargeable, shrink-wrapped, permanently built-in) NiCd battery (AA) as additional power supply for the computer. CE-159 8 KB memory module with CR2032 battery data backup CE-160 7.6 KB read only memory module with CR2032 battery data backup CE-161 16 KB memory module with CR2032 battery data backup CE-162E Tape and parallel port interface CE-163 32 KB (2x16 KB) dual-page memory module with CR2032 battery data backup. Only one page (16 KB) can be accessed at a time, switchable via the following command in PROG mode: Page 0 : POKE&5804,0 [enter] Page 1 : POKE&5804,1 [enter]
Related Sharp pocket computers
Sharp PC-1210
Sharp PC-1211
Sharp PC-1251
Sharp PC-1500
Sharp PC-1500A upgrade version with 8 KB onboard RAM
Sharp PC-1501 Japanese version of PC-1500A
Sharp PC-1600 with more memory and larger multi-line LCD display and more graphics capabilities
BASIC compatibility with early models
Some earlier model PC-1500s will show a value 1 less in the FOR...NEXT counter on exiting the loop compared to later PC-1500s and the PC-1600.
For example:
10 FOR K=1 TO 10
20 NEXT K
30 PRINT K
K will be set to 11 on later model PC-1500s and PC-1600s, but will be 10 on early PC-1500s.
Consider this example:
10 S=0
20 FOR K=1 TO 10 STEP 4
30 S=S+1
40 NEXT K
50 PRINT S
S will be set to 3 on later model PC-1500s and PC-1600s, but will be 4 on early PC-1500s.
Early model PC-1500s evaluate IF...THEN statements differently. The behaviour can be summarised thus:
An early model PC-1500 can be detected by using the command: PEEK&C5C0.
If the value returned is 6, it is an early model.
Example program in BASIC
1 ARUN 10
5 REM "PC1500 VAT Program:" 10 INPUT "Price: ";P 20 PRINT P;" ";P*V;" ";P*V*M 30 GOTO 10 40 END The PC-1500 allows special abbreviations, and the syntax can also look as follows: 20 PRINT P;" ";PV;" ";PVM
Usage of variables
P = Purchase Price
V = VAT (%/100) - To be input by hand before calculation begins, e.g.: V=1.14 (Enter) M = Markup (%/100) - To be input by hand before calculation begins, e.g.: M=1.15 (Enter)