Toshiba Pasopia 7

Toshiba Pasopia 7
Also known as	PA7007
Type	Home computer
Release date	1983
Introductory price	$1350
Operating system	T-BASIC7, CP/M optional
CPU	Zilog Z80A
Memory	64 KB RAM; 48 KB VRAM
Graphics	320 x 200 / 640 x 200
Sound	Texas Instruments SN76489, 6 voices, 5 octaves
Predecessor	Toshiba Pasopia
Related	Pasopia 700, Toshiba Pasopia 5

Toshiba Pasopia 7 (also known as PA7007) is a computer from manufacturer Toshiba, released in 1983 and only available in Japan, with a price of $1350.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

It was intended as the successor of the Toshiba Pasopia, offering improved sound and graphics. The machine is partially compatible with the original Pasopia, and supports connecting cartridge-type peripherals.

Graphic memory is increased to 48 KB and two SN76489 sound chips are available, producing six five-octave channels and two noise channels.^[6]

A new version of the operating system, T-BASIC7, is also available.^[7] This version is based on Microsoft BASIC and adds specific commands for this model, such as higher numerical precision or support for extra colors.

Available peripherals for the Pasopia 7 are a 5" disk drive, a Chinese characters ROM, a RS-232 interface and a printer. The keyboard is full-stroke JIS standard, with a separate numeric keypad and some function keys.^[8]^[6]

After 1988, some Pasopia 7 computers were donated to other countries (ex: Poland) under the "International Development of Computer Education Program".^[4]^[5]

Related models

Released in 1985, the Pasopia 700^[9] is based on the Pasopia 7, and was intended as a home learning system developed by Toshiba and Obunsha. Two disk-drives were added to the side of the main unit and the keyboard is separate. This machine has two cartridge slots (one at the front).

Color palette

The Pasopia 7 uses hardware dithering to simulate intermediate color intensities, based on a mix of two of eight base RGB colors displayed using the 640 x 200 resolution. This allows the machine to display a maximum of 27 colors (3-level RGB).^[7]

Pasopia 7 hardware palette - 27 colors, 3-level RGB
0x00	0x01	0x02	0x03	0x04	0x05	0x06	0x07	0x08
0x09	0x0A	0x0B	0x0C	0x0D	0x0E	0x0F	0x10	0x11
0x12	0x13	0x14	0x15	0x16	0x17	0x18	0x19	0x1A

The 8 base colors are displayed in bold.

Actual color limits depend on the graphic mode used:^[7]

Text mode: characters in 8 base colors, graphics in 4 colors (from 27);
Fine graphics mode: Kanji characters in 8 base colors, graphics in 8 colors (from 27);
Palette function: 8 or 4 colors (from 27) depending on the overlap of Kanji and graphics;
Hardware tiling function: 27 colors can be displayed by combining 2 pixels, with 8 base colors available per pixel.

References

^ Lemmons, Phil (September 1983). "Update on Personal Computing in Japan". Byte. p. 254.
^ "Toshiba Pasopia 7". System.cfg : Un site tout en images, entièrement dédié à la mémoire de nos anciens jouets. 2018.
^ "Toshiba Pasopia 7". Vintage CPU. 2012-08-20. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
^ ^a ^b "Toshiba Pasopia 7". silicium.org. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
^ ^a ^b "Personal Computers TOSHIBA". KCG Computer Museum (Satellite of the Historical Computers). Retrieved 2022-11-13.
^ ^a ^b "Pasopia 7 Toshiba (Japan)". 1000 BiT - Computer's description.
^ ^a ^b ^c "東芝パーソナルコンピュータ PASOPIA7 (Toshiba personal computer PASOPIA7)". 郷愁のパソコン (nostalgic personal computer).
^ "PASOPIA 7 Toshiba". OLD-COMPUTERS.COM.
^ "Toshiba Pasopia 700 (1985)". mousefan.telcontar.net. 2021. Retrieved 2022-11-13.