As the PC-1401 family was rather successful, Sharp released an
update three years later.
The two new models were named PC-1403 and PC-1403H.
The differences were not large, but very helpful. They had a better display,
with 24 instead of 16 characters on the same display area, and lowercase
letters could now be used. Thus, there was an additional SML key to switch
between uppercase and lowercase entry mode.
Moreover, matrix calculation functions had been added, such as addition, multiplication, inversion and determinant. They could be used in calculator mode only.
The hardware was based on a later incarnation of the SC61860 CPU, paced at 768
kHz. The RAM had also been expanded, with 8 KB in the PC-1403 (D4364G 8k x 8
static RAM), and generous 32 KB in the PC-1403H (D43256AG 32k x 8 static RAM).
The new functions also required a larger ROM (72 KB, LZ92K32 plus SC6976T).
Please consider donating your old computer / videogame system to Old-Computers.com or one of our partners from anywhere in the world (Europe, America, Asia, etc.).
The matrix functions *can* be used in BASIC mode, see: http://www.hpmuseum.org/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/hpmuseum/archv017.cgi?read$110792
Wednesday 1st November 2017
wintermute (USA)
I remember not only did I make a program that foul display Hundreds of Formulas based on a code of input, but I hit the programming from being listed. I wished I remember how I did this, but eventually I did not really use this to cheat as I had intended on my SAT
Thursday 2nd June 2016
Dan Walker (USA)
I wrote my first game using this computer.
Tuesday 21st May 2013
Jaroslav M. (Slovakia)
NAME
PC-1403 (H)
MANUFACTURER
Sharp
TYPE
Pocket
ORIGIN
Japan
YEAR
1986
BUILT IN LANGUAGE
Sharp BASIC interpreter
KEYBOARD
77 keys, QWERTY calculator type with numeric key-pad and math function keys
CPU
Sharp CMOS SC61860 (8 bits)
SPEED
768 kHz
RAM
PC-1403: 8 KB - PC-1403H: 32 KB
ROM
72 KB
TEXT MODES
1 line x 24 chars. (LCD screen), 5x7 dot matrix
GRAPHIC MODES
None
COLORS
Monochrome LCD
SOUND
CPU controlled piezo buzzer, fixed frequency and duration via BASIC statement
SIZE / WEIGHT
170 (W) x 72 (D) x 9.5 (H) mm / 150 g (with batteries and hard cover)
