* No AMSDOS or other DOS in ROM, only a bootloader for CP/M
* No support for tape recorders
* It has a dedicated printer microcontroller: [[Media:UPD8041AH datasheet.pdf|NEC UPD8041AH datasheet]] [[Media:Intel 8041A Datasheet.pdf|Intel 8041A datasheet]]. It is disguised as Amstrad 40026 chip on the motherboard, but it is visible in the service manual for PCW 8256. Furthermore, the == Peculiarities ==*The boot code in the PCW is stored in the printer controller.*There are two versions of the printer controller: one for the 9512 and 9512+ (daisywheel printer), and the other for all other machines (dot matrix printer).*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 are otherwise entirely identical and use the same gate array.
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).