This week, we check out an unfamiliar PC with a familiar name
Back in 1988, Amstrad had the idea that people may want to actually have a portable version of an IBM PC, and thus the Amstrad PPC512 and the Amstrad PPC640 came into being. Both had an 8MHz NEC V30 processor, 512KB of memory, a full-sized keyboard and a tiny LCD display. They both ran MS-DOS 3.3, and featured a number of business-based software packages.
While good, by the standard of the day, they didn’t sell too many. So the technical boffins at Amstrad instead dreamed up a desktop version of the PPC range, and replaced the LCD section of the computer with an RF modulator while encasing the keyboard and main system components in a black, Amiga and ST-like chassis. This was the Amstrad Sinclair PC200.
Although Sinclair in name (with black enclosure and Sinclair logo), it bore little family resemblance to the historic brand – except, that is, for its sales figures, which were probably uncannily like that of the QL.
Its History
The Amstrad PC200 was launched at the PC Show in October 1988, a show that also featured Ocean showcasing Rambo 3, Operation Wolf, and Robocop – and, if I remember rightly, a brief appearance from Maria Whitaker, reprising her role as the princess in Barbarian 2. So, the Amstrad PC200 had some stiff competition for attention.
The idea behind it was simple enough: Amstrad already had a gazillion other IBM PC models launched, or about to be launched, so the company decided on using the Sinclair name it had bought some time ago in a last bid effort to win over the former Spectrum fan base. It didn’t work. Although the PC200 had a reasonable specification, with an 8MHz 8086 CPU, and the option to fit the 8087 Maths Co-Pro, plenty of of memory, a Centronics port, RS232, DOS 3.3, and a built-in 3.5” 720KB floppy drive, it unfortunately bombed due to a number of factors.
Firstly, while there were ISA expansion ports, due to the low profile height of the case to actually have any hardware of the time fitted into them you needed to have the case lid permanently opened (there was a hinged lid). Secondly, it only had 16 colours and a beeper sound. Thirdly, it was going up against the Amiga and the Atari ST at the time. Finally, it cost £300.
It did though have the rather groovy ability to connect to a standard TV, inherited from the former Sinclair range of home computers – something that was lacking from other IBM compatible PCs at that time, at a time before TVs started to feature connection that married up with a PC. Your Sinclair found it a revelation, and considered the PC200 to be a machine with a very bright future. The rest of the universe, Crash included, said that if you’re serious about computing, then you would be much better off with either an ST, any other IBM PC, or an Amiga. Time has shown them to be right.
The end result was a machine that was removed from the shelves within a few months, and now only sees the light of day through the glass cases of a computer museum.
The Good
It had the Sinclair logo! Plenty of IBM/DOS software for it.
The Bad
You had to permanently have the chassis open, and the cards exposed to fit any ISA components. It lacked the power to actually have two ISA cards fitted (although I never tested that theory).
Conclusion
It was a fairly brave last ditch attempt at rekindling the Sinclair name. Sadly, though, the Sinclair generation had all grown up and moved onto ST’s and Amigas.
Did You Know?
• There was a modem/FAX version released just before the PC200 was eventually pulled from the shelves
• It came with a half-decent Sinclair-branded SPJ-1 joystick
• It had a good full-sized keyboard, with F-keys too
• There were rumours that Amstrad were working on a Transputer Card for the PC200
• With a colour monitor, and FAX capabilities, the PC200 cost up to £499