NEC PC-9800 Quick Guide

Introduction

The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of the NEC PC-9800 Series Personal Computer for software and hardware developers. Since its introduction in 1982, the PC-9800 family has become the best selling 16 and 32 bit personal computer with the widest range of application solutions in Japan.

As a result of the PC-9800 Series Personal Computer's success in Japan, many vendors around the world desire to target software and hardware products to this platform. The PC-9800 uses Intel 80x86 family and compatible V-Series processors. While compatibility of the CPU with the IBM-PC design gives broad compatibility with hardware design and software instructions, the architecture of the PC-9800 is different from that of the IBM-PC. Some differences are due to additional requirements for Japanese language processing.

As an overview, this document refers to other technical data books and manuals which provide more extensive, detailed information concerning programming and design for the PC-9800 platform. These references are given in the Additional Information Sources section at the end of this document.

This document covers a broad range of software and hardware issues. These include Intel 80x86 family CPU architecture, IBM-PC architecture, IBM-PC BIOS, and Microsoft MS-DOS programming. Both UNIX and OS/2 have been targeted for the PC-9800 platform. PC-UX is a localization of SCO UNIX SVR3.2. For additional information regarding these operating systems on the PC-9800, please contact the Developer Relations Program USA.

Quick Overview

The NEC PC-9800 Series Personal Computer

• Not compatible with IBM-PC.
• Expansion bus hardware design is different.
• Runs Kanji version of MS-DOS.
• Most DOS programs will not run because BIOS is different.
• Programs written for Microsoft ®Windows are usually compatible.

Programs using only DOS calls are usually compatible.

Hardware describes the differences between PC-9800 and PC-AT machines.

DOS describes the issues involved in porting DOS programs between the two environments.

Nihongo Microsoft Windows describes points to consider when moving to Japanese versions of Windows.

Additional Information Sources

1. NEC Corporation, "PC-9800 Series Technical Data Book". NEC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, 1989. Translation by XLsoft International. 650 pages. English.
2. NEC Corporation. "PC-9800 Series Technical Data Book III". NEC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, 1990. Translation by XLsoft International. 314 pages covering the new NESA bus standard and H-98 architecture. English.
3. NEC Corporation. "PC-9800 Series MS-DOS 3.3". NEC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, 1989. Translation by XLsoft International. Three volumes in one binding covering 1) MS-DOS 3.3 differences from US MS-DOS, 2) Programmer's Reference Manual, and 3) Guide to Japanese Input. English.
4. NEC Corporation. "PC-9800 Series Technical Data Book - Hardware". NEC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, 1992. Translation by XLsoft International. English.
5. NEC Corporation. "PC-9800 Series Technical Data Book - BIOS". NEC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, 1992. Translation by XLsoft International. English.
6. XLsoft International. "PC-9800 Sample Source Code". XLsoft International, Irvine, CA, 1993. Example source code on diskette for many common issues faced by the PC-9800 developer with comments in English.
7. NEC Corporation. "PC-9821 Technical Manual". NEC Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, 1994. Technical data for PC-9821 An, Ap2/As2, Bp/Bs/Be, Cs2/Ce2, Np. Basic feature information and differences between these machines and existing PC-9801 systems. Translation by XLsoft International. 238 pages.©

Copyright, NEC Corporation, 1994. All rights reserved.

Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Microsoft, MS and MS-DOS are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Open Desktop is a trademark of Masachusetts Institute of Technology. Ichitaro and ATOK are registered trademarks of Kabushiki Gaisha Just Systems. Lotus is a registered trademark and 1-2-3 is a trademark of Lotus Development Corporation. OS/2 is a registered trademark of IBM Corporation.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of NEC Corporation, XLsoft International, or Developer Relations Program USA. This document may not be reproduced by any means including physical, electronic, and photocopying without prior written consent from XLsoft International.

Developer Relations Program USA Telephone +1 714 453 2782
12K Mauchly Fax +1 714 453 8811
Irvine, CA 92718-2306 Email: 98drp@pc98.com

NEC Corporation
Personal Software Division, 1st Personal C&C Operations Unit
33-1, Shiba 5 Chome, Minatoku, Tokyo 108 Japan
+81 3 3798 6956 Telephone
+81 3 3798 6126 Fax

Rev. 7/94 (10/95)