ScuzzBlog: Diaries September 2019
Entry 11th September 2019: Post 01: Amstrad NC100 and NC200.
Amstrad NC100 and NC200.
This was a tricky afternoon. It is so difficult to take pictures
of computers like the Amstrad NC100 Notepad and NC200 Notebook.
Both require some form of light to reflect on the screen to get
the best image and sadly this conflicts with the camera. The screen
image also gives a double image when viewed close up as the text
forms a shadow. I tried all ways to get a good image but failed.
I am sure there is a way to do this but for me I haven't found one.
These computers are the brainchild of Alan Sugar and his desire to
create portable lightweight machines that could carry out all the
functions of an office computer. The NC100 is a cut down version of
the NC200 as you would expect. Released in 1992 and 1993 respectively
they used BBC BASIC and ran on the z80 processor. The Notebook had
features that Sugar wanted to reflect a briefcase so it didn't look
out of place in meetings.
The system of accessing programs uses combinations of colour coded
keys. They are very easy to use though the screen, like all these
types of computer is very restrictive.
Personally I have no love for this type of computer. I can hardly
use a laptop so anything like this isn't going to be favourite. I
just hate the keyboard arrangement with the small screen. I hate
looking down all the time and I struggle getting comfortable unless
I have a generous screen at right angles to the desktop. Also glare
is a problem for me and all portables have issue with reflective
surfaces as you cannot control the environment, as you can with a
dedicated computer.
Both machines use a good number of batteries. You need two types to
drive the computer and it struggles even with power if the batteries
are not replaced pretty regularly.
I have no idea how I managed to acquire four of the Notepad and one
of the Notebook. Whilst they are interesting for their historical
significance in the timeline of Amstrad, I can never ever see me using
one of these.
The purpose today was to test the computers and I can report that all
of them worked without problem. When I first checked these portables
over a few years ago I thought they were faulty, until I cleaned the
lithium battery bay. Seems the batteries can create some form of
oxidisation of the metal causing a bad connection.
Sorry for the poor pictures of the screen shots. So difficult.
Amstrad NC100 and NC200.
NC100 Number 1
NC100 Number 2
NC100 Number 3
NC100 Number 4
NC200 Notebook
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