Sony HB-101

[Muirium]

From Sony's new historic design gallery:

HB-101
Personal Computer (1984)

The personal computer called "HITBIT MEZZO" was designed for home use, and was a departure from business-like styles. Available in red, black, and ivory white.

Anyone ever seen one of these? Apparently it was a real product, and there was even a European version: the HB-101P.



That joystick is compelling.

Here's a flyer, via Archive.org:

Sony HB-101_0001.jpg (96.33 KiB) Viewed 2324 times

Don't miss the front page. She looks happy!

[Findecanor]

I've seen it many times on the web because the design is iconic, but never seen it in real life.
It was an MSX computer: a "standard" for 8-bit computers with Z80 processors with models from multiple manufacturers.

[Muirium]

Yes, in red especially it's the Olivetti Valentine of home micros. A real stunner of a computer. Unbespoiled by IBM!

[dcopellino]

I remember very well the MSX era as owner of one of its first experimental specimen, so much experimental to be out of the incoming standard, the svi -328.
Its keyboard was not bad at all aesthetically speaking, but very mushy and gummy at touch.

sv328mkii_800.jpg (58.01 KiB) Viewed 2301 times

[Muirium]

Damn, they knew what they were doing in the hardware design department back then! When computers *were* keyboards and looked every bit the part!

[Findecanor]

I had almost forgotten about the modern lookalike, that was posted here some years ago.

[Muirium]

And I had entirely forgotten it. Bravo on the recall!

How did that product do, btw? I recognise Kbdfr’s rightful annoyance at its listing as a group buy.



It really should have kept the joystick. That was so far ahead of its time that the Mac had only just come out. Must have been sweet for navigating a text UI.