X1 (computer)

X1

Sharp X1 Hu-BASIC start screen
Manufacturer	Sharp Corporation
Type	Personal computer
Release date	1982 (1982)
Introductory price	¥155,000
Media	Cassette tape
CPU	Sharp Z80 A
Memory	64 KB RAM, 4-48KB Video RAM, 6KB ROM
Display	320 x 200 / 640 x 200
Sound	General Instrument AY-3-8910 or Yamaha YM2149
Input	Keyboard, Joysticks
Predecessor	Sharp MZ series
Successor	X68000 series

The X1 (エックスワン, Ekkusuwan), sometimes called the Sharp X1, is a series of home computers released by Sharp Corporation from 1982 to 1988. It was based on a Z80 CPU.

Despite the fact that the Computer Division of Sharp Corporation had released the MZ series, suddenly the Television Division released a new computer series called the X1. At the time the original X1 was released, all other home computers generally had a BASIC language in ROM. However the X1 did not have a BASIC ROM, and it had to load the Hu-BASIC interpreter from a cassette tape. On the plus side however, this concept meant that a free RAM area was available that was as big as possible when not using BASIC. This policy was originally copied from the Sharp MZ series, and they were called clean computers in Japan. The cabinet shape of X1 was also much more stylish than others at that time and a range of cabinet colors (including Red) was selectable.

The RGB display monitor for the X1 had a television tuner, and a computer screen could be super-imposed on TV. All the TV functions could be controlled from a computer program. The character font was completely programmable (A.K.A. PCG) with 4bit color, and it was effectively used into a lot of games. The entirety of the VRAM memory was mapped on to the I/O area, so it was controlled without bank change. Since X1 had these features, it was very powerful for game software.

While X1 was struggling to sell, the PC8801 (from NEC) was quickly becoming popular in the Japanese market. In 1984, Sharp released the X1 turbo series with high resolution graphics (640x400, while X1 had 640x200). It had a lot of improvements, but the clock speed was still only 4 MHz. In 1986, Sharp released the X1 turbo Z series with a 4096 color analog RGB monitor. An X1 twin, which had a PC-Engine in the cabinet, was finally released as the last machine of the X1 series in 1987. Then this series was succeeded by the X68000 series.

Sharp continues to sell desktop PC/TV combos in Japan through its Internet Aquos line, where an X1-style red color scheme is available.

Technical information

Sharp Corporation
Divisions and subsidiaries	Current iDeep Solutions Corporation Sharp Electronics Corporation Sharp Manufacturing Systems Corporation Sharp Solar Takaya Defunct Optonica1
Shareholdings	Pioneer Corporation (14%)
Products	Calculators Sharp EL-8 Sharp EL-500W series Sharp EL-5120 Sharp QT-8B Sharp QT-8D Computers Notebooks Sharp PC-5000 Sharp Actius RD3D PCs Sharp MZ Sharp X1 (Sharp X1 games) Sharp X68000 (Sharp X68000 games MDX) Pocket and handheld Sharp PC-1211 Sharp PC-1251 Sharp PC-1350 Sharp PC-1401 Sharp PC-1403 Sharp PC-1450 Sharp PC-1500 Sharp PC-1600 Sharp PC-E220 Sharp PC-E500S Sharp Wizard Sharp Zaurus Mobile phones Sharp GX15 Sharp GX25 Sharp GX29 Sharp GX33 J-SH04 Sharp SH906i Sharp SX862 Sharp Aquos Crystal Televisions and displays Sharp Aquos C1 NES TV Quattron SF-1 SNES TV Other Famicom Titler Twin Famicom Sharp Viewcam VL-Z800U
People	Tokuji Hayakawa
Places	Abenobashi Terminal Building Tower Abeno-ku Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre Yaita
1Now integrated into other Sharp divisions or business groupings Category Commons