MSX facts for kids
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MSX was a type of home computer that was very popular in the 1980s. Imagine a time when computers were just starting to become common in homes! Microsoft, a big computer company, helped create MSX. They wanted to make a special set of rules so different companies could build computers that all worked the same way. This idea came from a smart person at Microsoft Japan named Kazuhiko Nishi.
Even though Microsoft was involved, MSX computers weren't very common in places like the United States or Britain. But they were a huge hit in many other countries, especially in Japan, Europe, and South America! In the end, about 5 million MSX computers were sold all over the world.
Contents
What Was MSX?
MSX was not just one computer. It was a standard. This means it was a set of rules and designs that many different companies could use to build their own computers. Think of it like a recipe for a computer. If everyone followed the same recipe, all the computers would work similarly.
Why Create a Standard?
Microsoft wanted to make it easier for people to buy software and games. If all computers followed the MSX standard, then a game made for one MSX computer would work on any other MSX computer. This was a big deal because, back then, many different types of home computers existed, and games often only worked on one specific kind.
Where Was MSX Popular?
While MSX didn't become a huge success everywhere, it found a strong fan base in several regions:
- Japan: It was very popular here, with many Japanese companies making MSX computers.
- Europe: Countries like the Netherlands, Spain, and France saw many MSX sales.
- South America: Especially in Brazil and Argentina, MSX computers were a big hit.
- Middle East: They were also popular in some parts of the Middle East.
Companies That Made MSX Computers
Many well-known electronics companies made MSX computers. These included:
- Sony
- Panasonic
- Philips
- Canon
- Sharp
- Yamaha
Each company could add its own style and features, but they all followed the core MSX rules.
What Could You Do with an MSX?
MSX computers were used for many things, just like computers today:
- Playing Games: A huge library of games was made for MSX, including popular titles like Metal Gear and Gradius.
- Learning and Education: Many schools used MSX computers for teaching.
- Programming: People could learn to code using languages like BASIC.
- Word Processing: You could type documents and letters.
- Music Creation: Some models had special features for making music.
Images for kids
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The Spectravideo SV-328 is the predecessor of the MSX standard. Many MSX programs were unofficially ported to the SV-328 by home programmers.
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Yamaha YIS503II MSX Personal Computer designed for Soviet schools—the abbreviature "КУВТ" means "Class of Teaching Computing Equipment)"
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The Canon V-20 has 64 KB of RAM and the V-10 has 16 KB.
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The Hotbit, developed by Sharp's Epcom home computer division, was a hit in Brazil.
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Talent TPC-310 MSX2 computer, made in Argentina by Telematica (1988), based on a Daewoo design.
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Dynadata DPC 200 MSX computer with a Dynadata DPF-550 disk drive, madenufactured in Korea for Daewoo and sold in Spain by Dynadata Informática.
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MSX Sakhr AX150 (صخر), made in Japan by Yamaha for the Kuwaiti company Al Alamiah, sold in Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council states.
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The Yashica YC-64 computer at the Computer and Video Game Console Museum of Helsinki in 2012.
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1chipMSX
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Assembled GR8BIT kit
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SymbOS, an alternative operating system
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MSX Philips VG8020
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Phillips Music Module
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The effect of attribute clash when using the 256×192 high-resolution mode on MSX-1. To avoid it, the TMS9918 provides up to 32 sprites that can be superimposed over the main graphic screen.
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MSX2+ computer: a Panasonic FS-A1WSX
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See also
In Spanish: MSX para niños
