Philips VG-8235

Philips VG-8235

Also known as	Phonola VG-8235
Developer	NEC
Type	home computer
Release date	1986
Operating system	MSX-DOS 1.0, MSX BASIC 2.0
CPU	Zilog Z80A @ 3.58 MHz
Memory	128 KB
Removable storage	floppy disc
Graphics	Yamaha V9938
Backward compatibility	MSX2

A Philips VG-8235 in operation

Backside interfaces of Philips VG-8235

The Philips VG-8235 is a Philips MSX2 compatible home computer, released in 1986 in Europe.[1][2][3][4][5] It was developed and manufactured by the NEC.[2][4]

The machine was the successor to the VG-8230,[3] and features a dark case with 128KB of RAM and a built-in 360KB floppy disk drive and keyboard. The VG-8235 was eventually succeeded by the Philips NMS 8245 that offered a larger capacity 720KB floppy disc drive.[2][5]

Description

The VG-8235 was a versatile machine, supporting not just gaming but also productivity tasks like word processing and programming. It was compatible with the popular BASIC programming language, making it a practical machine for hobbyists and students learning to code.

Various models were produced:[1][4]

• VG-8235/00 with MSX-BASIC 2.0 and QWERTY keyboard;
• VG-8235/02 for the German market with MSX-BASIC 2.0 and QWERTZ keyboard;
• VG-8235/16 for the Spanish market with MSX-BASIC 2.0 and QWERTY keyboard with ñ key;
• VG-8235/19 for the French market with MSX-BASIC 2.0 and AZERTY keyboard;
• VG-8235/20 revised model with MSX-BASIC 2.1 and QWERTY keyboard;
• VG-8235/22/29 for the German market with MSX-BASIC 2.1 and QWERTZ keyboard;
• VG-8235/36 for the Spanish market with MSX-BASIC 2.1 and QWERTY keyboard with ñ key;
• VG-8235/39 for the French market with MSX-BASIC 2.1 and AZERTY keyboard.

The computer was sold in Italy as the Phonola VG-8235.[4]

The VG-8235 comes with two disks containing applications: MSX-DOS 1, MSX Home Office and MSX Designer.[4]

Specifications

The Philips VG-8235 had the following technical specifications:[1][2][3][5]

• CPU: Zilog Z80A at 3.58 MHz
• RAM: 128 KB
• VRAM: 128 KB
• Graphics: Yamaha V9938 (screen modes: 256×192, 512×212 with 16 colors out of a palette of 512)
• Sound: proprietary sound chip[2]
• Storage: Built-in 360 KB 3.5-inch floppy disk drive
• Operating System: MSX-DOS 1.0, MSX BASIC 2.0
• Ports: two joystick ports, printer port, two cartridge slots, video output (RF, RGB, composite), cassette tape interface

References

1. "Philips - VG 8235". Generation MSX.
2. "Philips VG-8235". Home Computer Museum. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
3. "VG 8235". OLD-COMPUTERS.COM : The Museum. 2023-10-01. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
4. "Philips VG-8235". MSX Resource Center.
5. "Philips VG8235 MSX 2". Virtuellen Dortmunder Computer Museum (in German). Retrieved 2024-10-10.