PCW - Revision history

Pollito: Corrected name of PCW to “Personal Computer Wordprocessor”

2026-04-12T06:23:03Z

Corrected name of PCW to “Personal Computer Wordprocessor”

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:23, 12 April 2026
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	[[Image:AmstradPCW16.jpg\|thumb\|Amstrad PcW16]]		[[Image:AmstradPCW16.jpg\|thumb\|Amstrad PcW16]]

	The <b>PCW</b> (<b>P</b>ersonal <b>C</b>omputer ~~for~~ <b>W</b>~~riting~~) was another Amstrad computer. In Germany it's better known by its codename <b>Joyce</b>, which Schneider chose to keep for the final product.		The <b>PCW</b> (<b>P</b>ersonal <b>C</b>omputer <b>W</b>ordprocessor) was another Amstrad computer. In Germany it's better known by its codename <b>Joyce</b>, which Schneider chose to keep for the final product.

	The codename was the name of Alan M. Sugar's secretary.		The codename was the name of Alan M. Sugar's secretary.

Phi2x at 11:32, 13 May 2025

2025-05-13T11:32:36Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:32, 13 May 2025
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	The PCW was the Amstrad computer in production for the longest time(1985 - 1996). And the Amstrad computer with the most model revisions (Starting with the PCW8256 and ending with the PcW16). All models was based on the Z80 CPU.		The PCW was the Amstrad computer in production for the longest time(1985 - 1996). And the Amstrad computer with the most model revisions (Starting with the PCW8256 and ending with the PcW16). All models was based on the Z80 CPU.

	The series consists of PCW 8256 and PCW 8512 (introduced in 1985), PCW 9512 (introduced in 1987), ~~PCW~~ 9256 and ~~PCW~~ 9512+ (introduced in 1991), PcW10 and PcW16 (introduced in 1995).		The series consists of PCW 8256 and PCW 8512 (introduced in 1985), PCW 9512 (introduced in 1987), PcW 9256 and PcW 9512+ (introduced in 1991), PcW10 and PcW16 (introduced in 1995).

	The PCW switched from 3inch floppy drives to 3.5inch floppy drives in 1991.		The PCW switched from 3inch floppy drives to 3.5inch floppy drives in 1991.

Phi2x at 10:56, 13 May 2025

2025-05-13T10:56:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:56, 13 May 2025
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	The series consists of PCW 8256 and PCW 8512 (introduced in 1985), PCW 9512 (introduced in 1987), PCW 9256 and PCW 9512+ (introduced in 1991), PcW10 and PcW16 (introduced in 1995).		The series consists of PCW 8256 and PCW 8512 (introduced in 1985), PCW 9512 (introduced in 1987), PCW 9256 and PCW 9512+ (introduced in 1991), PcW10 and PcW16 (introduced in 1995).

			The PCW switched from 3inch floppy drives to 3.5inch floppy drives in 1991.

	8 million units sold worldwide (over 200,000 in UK) [https://www.retroisle.com/amstrad/pcw/general.php Source].		8 million units sold worldwide (over 200,000 in UK) [https://www.retroisle.com/amstrad/pcw/general.php Source].

Phi2x: /* PcW16 */

2025-05-12T22:07:58Z

PcW16

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	It is not supplied with CP/M. However, CP/M 2 and 3 have been ported to the PcW16 by John Elliott [https://www.seasip.info/Cpm/software/index.html Source].		It is not supplied with CP/M. However, CP/M 2 and 3 have been ported to the PcW16 by John Elliott [https://www.seasip.info/Cpm/software/index.html Source].

	The PcW16 does not come bundled with a printer, but ~~uses~~ a standard Centronics printer port. It has drivers for laser printers, inkjet printers and 24-pin matrix printers. It does not support daisy wheel or 9-pin matrix printers.		The PcW16 does not come bundled with a printer, but provides a standard Centronics printer port. It has drivers for laser printers, inkjet printers and 24-pin matrix printers. It does not support daisy wheel or 9-pin matrix printers.

	<br>		<br>

Phi2x: /* PcW16 */

2025-05-12T19:37:35Z

PcW16

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:37, 12 May 2025
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	It is equipped with a 1.44MB high-density PC type 3.5" floppy disk drive. It reads and writes PC discs without conversion programs.		It is equipped with a 1.44MB high-density PC type 3.5" floppy disk drive. It reads and writes PC discs without conversion programs.

	The operating system, called Rosanne, no longer uses a command prompt but has a true graphical user interface written by Creative Technology. It makes use of the included 3-button mouse. ~~See: [http://toastytech.com/guis/pcw.html Amstrad PcW16 GUI screenshots]~~		The operating system, called Rosanne, no longer uses a command prompt but has a true graphical user interface written by Creative Technology. It makes use of the included 3-button mouse.

	The resolution is now 640x480 instead of 720x256 for the other PCW machines.		The resolution is now 640x480 instead of 720x256 for the other PCW machines. See: [http://toastytech.com/guis/pcw.html Amstrad PcW16 GUI screenshots]

	Memory is 1MB of RAM, and 1MB of Flash which contains the BIOS, Rosanne, and the built-in software: a word processor, spreadsheet, address book, diary/alarm, calculator and file manager.		Memory is 1MB of RAM, and 1MB of Flash which contains the BIOS, Rosanne, and the built-in software: a word processor, spreadsheet, address book, diary/alarm, calculator and file manager.

Phi2x: /* PcW16 */

2025-05-12T19:36:42Z

PcW16

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:36, 12 May 2025
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	Memory is 1MB of RAM, and 1MB of Flash which contains the BIOS, Rosanne, and the built-in software: a word processor, spreadsheet, address book, diary/alarm, calculator and file manager.		Memory is 1MB of RAM, and 1MB of Flash which contains the BIOS, Rosanne, and the built-in software: a word processor, spreadsheet, address book, diary/alarm, calculator and file manager.

	It is not supplied with CP/M. However, CP/M 2 and 3 have been ported to the PcW16 by John Elliott [https://www.seasip.info/Cpm/software/index.html Source]~~. And ZP/M, a CP/M replacement, also exists for PcW16~~.		It is not supplied with CP/M. However, CP/M 2 and 3 have been ported to the PcW16 by John Elliott [https://www.seasip.info/Cpm/software/index.html Source].

	The PcW16 does not come bundled with a printer, but uses a standard Centronics printer port. It has drivers for laser printers, inkjet printers and 24-pin matrix printers. It does not support daisy wheel or 9-pin matrix printers.		The PcW16 does not come bundled with a printer, but uses a standard Centronics printer port. It has drivers for laser printers, inkjet printers and 24-pin matrix printers. It does not support daisy wheel or 9-pin matrix printers.

Phi2x: /* PcW16 */

2025-05-12T19:35:15Z

PcW16

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:35, 12 May 2025
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	Memory is 1MB of RAM, and 1MB of Flash which contains the BIOS, Rosanne, and the built-in software: a word processor, spreadsheet, address book, diary/alarm, calculator and file manager.		Memory is 1MB of RAM, and 1MB of Flash which contains the BIOS, Rosanne, and the built-in software: a word processor, spreadsheet, address book, diary/alarm, calculator and file manager.

	It is not supplied with CP/M. However, CP/M ~~has~~ been ported to the PcW16 by John Elliott [https://www.seasip.info/Cpm/software/index.html Source]. And ZP/M, a CP/M replacement, also exists for PcW16.		It is not supplied with CP/M. However, CP/M 2 and 3 have been ported to the PcW16 by John Elliott [https://www.seasip.info/Cpm/software/index.html Source]. And ZP/M, a CP/M replacement, also exists for PcW16.

	The PcW16 does not come bundled with a printer, but uses a standard Centronics printer port. It has drivers for laser printers, inkjet printers and 24-pin matrix printers. It does not support daisy wheel or 9-pin matrix printers.		The PcW16 does not come bundled with a printer, but uses a standard Centronics printer port. It has drivers for laser printers, inkjet printers and 24-pin matrix printers. It does not support daisy wheel or 9-pin matrix printers.

Phi2x: /* PcW16 */

2025-05-12T19:34:31Z

PcW16

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:34, 12 May 2025
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	Memory is 1MB of RAM, and 1MB of Flash which contains the BIOS, Rosanne, and the built-in software: a word processor, spreadsheet, address book, diary/alarm, calculator and file manager.		Memory is 1MB of RAM, and 1MB of Flash which contains the BIOS, Rosanne, and the built-in software: a word processor, spreadsheet, address book, diary/alarm, calculator and file manager.

	It is not supplied with CP/M. However, CP/M ~~implementations are freely available~~.		It is not supplied with CP/M. However, CP/M has been ported to the PcW16 by John Elliott [https://www.seasip.info/Cpm/software/index.html Source]. And ZP/M, a CP/M replacement, also exists for PcW16.

	The PcW16 does not come bundled with a printer, but uses a standard Centronics printer port. It has drivers for laser printers, inkjet printers and 24-pin matrix printers. It does not support daisy wheel or 9-pin matrix printers.		The PcW16 does not come bundled with a printer, but uses a standard Centronics printer port. It has drivers for laser printers, inkjet printers and 24-pin matrix printers. It does not support daisy wheel or 9-pin matrix printers.

Phi2x: /* PcW16 */

2025-05-12T12:45:23Z

PcW16

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:45, 12 May 2025
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	It is not supplied with CP/M. However, CP/M implementations are freely available.		It is not supplied with CP/M. However, CP/M implementations are freely available.

	The PcW16 does not come bundled with a printer, but uses a standard Centronics printer. It has drivers for laser printers, inkjet printers and 24-pin matrix printers. It does not support daisy wheel or 9-pin matrix printers.		The PcW16 does not come bundled with a printer, but uses a standard Centronics printer port. It has drivers for laser printers, inkjet printers and 24-pin matrix printers. It does not support daisy wheel or 9-pin matrix printers.

	<br>		<br>

Phi2x: /* PcW16 */

2025-05-12T12:44:57Z

PcW16

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:44, 12 May 2025
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	It is not supplied with CP/M. However, CP/M implementations are freely available.		It is not supplied with CP/M. However, CP/M implementations are freely available.

	The PcW16 has drivers for laser printers, inkjet printers and 24-pin matrix printers. It does not support daisy wheel or 9-pin matrix printers.		The PcW16 does not come bundled with a printer, but uses a standard Centronics printer. It has drivers for laser printers, inkjet printers and 24-pin matrix printers. It does not support daisy wheel or 9-pin matrix printers.

	<br>		<br>