computer science

Sanyo MBC-550 series

Sanyo MBC-550 series is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Sanyo MBC-550 series rather than just read about it. In short: The MBC-550 series, also known as the MBC-550/555, is a series of personal computers sold by Sanyo. It was unveiled at the COMDEX/Spring '83 in April 1983 and first released to market in March 1984.

Key takeaways

Sanyo MBC-550 series belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Sanyo MBC-550 series to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Sanyo MBC-550 series from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

The MBC-550 series, also known as the MBC-550/555, is a series of personal computers sold by Sanyo. It was unveiled at the COMDEX/Spring '83 in April 1983 and first released to market in March 1984. All models in the MBC-550 series featured pizza-box-style cases and Intel 8088 microprocessors and run versions of MS-DOS. On its release in 1984, the MBC-550 was the least expensive IBM PC compatible released to date, at a price of US$995 (equivalent to $3,080 in 2025). The MBC-550 series followed Sanyo's MBC-1000 line of CP/M computers.

Specifications The MBC-550 has much better video display possibilities than the CGA card (based on the HD46505 CRTC, providing a 3-bit RGB palette of 8 colors at 640 × 200 resolution, vs CGA's 4 colors at 320 × 200 or 2 colors at 640 × 200). Other resolutions, like 144 × 200 and 576 × 200 were possible. This display was not completely compatible with the IBM PC. The computer lacks a standard BIOS, having only a minimal bootloader in ROM that accesses hardware directly to load a RAM-based BIOS. The diskette format (FM rather than MFM) used is not completely compatible with the IBM PC, but special software on an original PC or PC/XT (but not PC/AT) can read and write the diskettes, and software expecting a standard 18.2 Hz clock interrupt has to be rewritten. The MBC-550 was also the computer for NRI training. Starting by building the computer, the NRI promised you would be "qualified to service and repair virtually every major brand of computer". NRI was advertised in Popular Mechanics and Popular Science throughout 1985. The MBC-550 is less PC compatible than the IBM PCjr. Its inability to use much PC software was a significant disadvantage; InfoWorld reported in August 1985 that Sanyo "has initiated a campaign to sell off" MBC-550 inventory. The company's newer computers were, an executive claimed, 99% PC compatible. Early MBC-500 machines used true Intel 8088 microprocessors. In late March 1984, Sanyo reached an agreement with Intel to manufacture the 8088 in Japan as a second source, prompted by a widespread chip shortage at the time. As part of the agreement with Intel, Sanyo was not to sell their 8088 chips except as part of their Sanyo MBC-550 series computers.

Software There are 6 known commercial games for Sanyo MBC-550

Dedicated magazine Soft Sector was a magazine for people who owned Sanyo MBC-550 and 555 DOS computers. (But much of the content equally applied to most IBM clones at the time.) A typical issue includes news, reviews, how-to's, technical advice and education, tips and tricks, as well as BASIC language programs that one could type in and adapt to suit one's needs.

Models MBC-550 – One 5.25-inch disk drive (160 KB) MBC-555 – Two 5.25-inch disk drives (160 KB) MBC-550-2 – One 5.25-inch disk drive (360 KB) MBC-555-2 – Two 5.25-inch disk drives (360 KB) MBC-555-3 – Two 5.25-inch disk drives (1.2 MB)

References

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Sanyo MBC-550 series

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Sanyo MBC-550 series claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Sanyo MBC-550 series before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Sanyo MBC-550 series ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Sanyo MBC-550 series

In research: Sanyo MBC-550 series appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Sanyo MBC-550 series in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Sanyo MBC-550 series is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Computer-related introductions in 1984, Computer engineering stubs, IBM PC compatibles, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Sanyo MBC-550 series outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

Ask Teacher Smith questions about this articleOpens your AI tutor with a question about “Sanyo MBC-550 series” →

Affiliate

Preply — study more efficiently by working with a personal tutor. 50% off.

How to study Sanyo MBC-550 series in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Sanyo MBC-550 series means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Sanyo MBC-550 series out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Sanyo MBC-550 series in simple terms?

The MBC-550 series, also known as the MBC-550/555, is a series of personal computers sold by Sanyo. It was unveiled at the COMDEX/Spring '83 in April 1983 and first released to market in March 1984.

Why does Sanyo MBC-550 series matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Sanyo MBC-550 series?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Sanyo MBC-550 series.