PC with built-in Famicom!

[Magenta_Twinhead]

 Hi,

I´ll tell you EVERYTHING about this machine, sold in March 1992 in  Chile
(in fact, that package is exactly like the one I had). I´m Chilean and was 10 when my mother took it home.

Cost at that time: $90.000 (in that age, 1 dollar = 300 chilean pesos)
A REAL computer costed in that time over $900.000

Today it sells on flea markets for $5.000

First, the set comprised of:
1) Main Unit
2) A RF Modulador (a device that could made possible connect via A/B cables through a coaxial (antenna connector)
Yo plugged RCA cables from back of Twinhead unit, then the cables to RF and this to antenna block (in such time, there weren´t may TV SETS with RCA inputs) I connected it to a Sharp Linitron Plus 1980.
3) · 2 Booklets:
3.1) MS DOS 3.22 Command Guide ... Too old (even for that time, when 486 were the best but were too expensive) , explains command like APPEND, PRINT etc.
Curious fact. Didn´t say "printer" ("impresora" in Spanish), but said "IMPRENTA", such as the term used by large print system , like printing (impressing) newspapers

3.2) User Guide. I remember it said "Dad can make business reports, kids do homework and in free times usar electronic games.Even Grand Pa could use the computer, a modern system but easy to use." It was much larger...
Press (xxxx) to adjust to 4.77 Mhz, or 10 Mhz.

4) Disks
I dont remember exactly, but one was XCOLLEGE, for make schools schedules, working on DOS 3.22 and the other wasn´t a boot disk.... was a telephone number software.

Also, the manual said "has a 2400 bps modem.... which can  connect to stock information, but can´t send faxes -sofware required"
Chilean edition didn´t include this feature.

5) Transformer. I still have it... is 12V -very bulky and heavy, but cable is so thick that you can crush it with a tank and no problem.

6) Games Catridge.. no credits on the game (Erased?)
6.1)Road Fighter
6.2)
6.3)Galaxian
6.4)
6.5)Mario (the oldest.. pipeline - gotta hit POW button and turtles stunned.)
6.6)Pacman
6.7) Sky Destroyer

Don´t remember them all.. was a plastic yellow catridge shorter that classic NES... but used an adapter. You could plug in NES games and workrd perfectly. I played original games such as Toki, Mario 3 or Dr Mario, perfectly.

Games I played:
DOS:
Test Drive
Prince of Persia
Faces


Keyboard was in English, so didn´t have the Ñ key.
Any questions?Paz... i ´ll be glat to answer.

[133MHz]

What can I say more than AWESOME!!!?
Thanks a lot for all the information! How did you find about this thread?

Can I ask you some questions?

• My TwinHead came with no manual, so do you remember the key combination to put the machine in Turbo mode? (10MHz)


• Is the TwinHead power supply unregulated? There seems to be a switching PSU on the motherboard. I'm using it right now with a PC power supply but I'd like to get a regular transformer instead.


• Do you know if the 15-pin joystick port is Famicom compatible? I don't have the original controllers so I need the pinout to build an adapter.

Oh and BTW, my TwinHead did come with a Spanish keyboard, check the pictures .

[Magenta_Twinhead]

Can I ask you some questions?

    * My TwinHead came with no manual, so do you remember the key combination to put the machine in Turbo mode? (10MHz)

A: Ctrl + Alt + F4.... when booting ... (640 KB memory Good)
but don´t rememeber exactly after the sentence where it says the commands.

    * Is the TwinHead power supply unregulated? There seems to be a switching PSU on the motherboard. I'm using it right now with a PC power supply but I'd like to get a regular transformer instead.

A: Well, I can´t find the transformer right now (it´s stored)  and don´t understand exactly what does "unregulated" I remember the bulky and heavy transformer says: 1.5 A 12 V (but don´t remember negative ground)

    * Do you know if the 15-pin joystick port is Famicom compatible? I don't have the original controllers so I need the pinout to build an adapter.

I´m afraid not. I remember original NES controller had fewer pins than Magenta, and also the pin design is to allow 2 joysticks , each one with turbo and PAUSE buttons. But I think´s is possible build one.

There is a forum where you can find a lot of info from people who loves these machines:
http://www.retrogames.cl/foro/viewtopic.php?t=280&sid=aa10fb9ab9c332e85703ba51aa9b7bde

Bye!

[Magenta_Twinhead]

I forgot something. . . . . .
- There are several machines like this, labeled as Olivetti, even with
monitor....
-The graphics adapter is CGA - 4 color system.
-There´s a TV/Monitor switch in the back....60 or 80 cols.
Bye---

[133MHz]

Thanks again! But I can't seem to get Turbo mode working

...and BTW I'm on Retrogames too! Same nickname and all

[133MHz]

I've just made a video review of the Twinhead PC-100. Check it out on Youtube:

Twinhead PC-100 Review Part 1 - Overview and features
Twinhead PC-100 Review Part 2 - PC XT subsystem
Twinhead PC-100 Review Part 3 - Famicom subsystem

[MS-DOS4]

Whoa, now that's really neat.

[Brandimer]

Greatings

4) Disks
I dont remember exactly, but one was XCOLLEGE, for make schools schedules, working on DOS 3.22 and the other wasn´t a boot disk.... was a telephone number software.

Sorry for necroposting, but about this I can Add that the other disk was a kind of game called "x-colgado" where you have to guess the word or the hangedman dies, and every wrong letter you enter the hanged man lost some bodypart. a really cute game xD

Brandimer OUT...