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PCW

1,228 bytes added, 13 May
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 PcW 9256 and PCW PcW 9512+ (introduced in 1991), PCW 10 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].
By 1989, 1.5 million units had been sold [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amstrad_PCW Source].
The Daily Telegraph estimated in 2000 that 100,000 were still in use in the UK.
 
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== Design ==
 
The PCW was designed as a (back then) professional computing system. This was underlined by the built-in green monitor (no support for colour monitors at all), the bundling with a printer and a word-processing software and bigger RAM (256k or 512k).
 
Although the name might suggest it, the PCW was more than just a word-processing system. Unlike some other similar word-processing systems of its time, it came with a normal operating system, CP/M + GSX, and could run any software for this system, like spreadsheets, databases and so on.
 
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== Market ==
 
The PCW had its biggest success in the UK, where it is even used up to today in some branches, e.g. small hotels.
 
In Germany, Schneider mainly marketed it as word-processing system, not outlining its usability for other purposes, so that professional users decided for IBM compatible PCs.
The PCW was in some ways similar to the CPC range, but also different in many ways.
*The two controllers provide different boot code, making the boot disks NOT interchangeable between the machines.
*9512(+) runs versions 2.x of CP/M, other machines run 1.x. Don't worry, the only differences are the boot sector and the printer driver code.
*The machines , including the PcW10, are otherwise entirely identical and use the same gate array.
*PcW16 is a totally different and incompatible machine.
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The PCW was designed as a (back then) professional computing system. This was underlined by the built-in green monitor (no support for colour monitors at all), the bundling with a printer and a word-processing software and bigger RAM (256k or 512k).== PcW16 ==
Although the name might suggest it, It uses a Zilog Z80 but running at 16MHz (rather than 4MHz for the other PCW was more than just a word-processing system. Unlike some other similar word-processing systems of its time, it came with a normal operating system, CP/M + GSX, and could run any software for this system, like spreadsheets, databases and so onmachines).
The PCW had its biggest success in the UK, where it It is even used up to today in some branches, eequipped with a 1.g44MB high-density PC type 3. small hotels5" floppy disk drive. It reads and writes PC discs without conversion programs.
In Germany, Schneider mainly marketed it as word-processing The operating system, not outlining its usability 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 purposesPCW machines. See: [http://toastytech.com/guis/pcw.html Amstrad PcW16 GUI screenshots] Memory is 1MB of RAM, so that professional users decided 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]. The PcW16 does not come bundled with a printer, but provides a standard Centronics printer port. It has drivers for IBM compatible PCslaser printers, inkjet printers and 24-pin matrix printers. It does not support daisy wheel or 9-pin matrix printers.
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* [http://www.fvempel.nl/ PCW Joyce Computer Club]
* [http://www.joyce.de Joyce User AG e.V. (German)]
* [http://toastytech.com/guis/pcw.html Amstrad PcW16 GUI screenshots]
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[[Category:Video contents]][[Category: Non CPC Computers| ]][[Category:Amstrad Products|*]][[Category:PCW]][[Category:CP/M]]
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