MSX agree on disc format

THE 10 Japanese MSX computer manufacturers have reached agreement on a common disc format.

It is to be the Sony 3 1/2inch format. Said Toshiba’s Chris Greet — instigator of the UK’s MSX working party — “The 3 1/2inch format has been chosen as the disc standard for MSX — which will ensure compatability for MSX disc software.”

The 3 1/2inch drives will run Microsoft’s MSX disc operating system MSX-DOS. MSXDOS is data compatible with MS-DOS meaning that IBM files can be exported to an MSX machine. The system
calls running under MSX-DOS are also CP/M compatible.

The first MSX micros with disc units are expected to go on sale in Japan in two week’s time.
The decision of the MSX companies to adopt a 31/2inch disc standard is a blow to Hitachi, which had hoped that its own 3inch system might be chosen in preference to the Sony one.

Said Hitachi UK’s Alan Geckle: “A disc format standard is a fundamental part of the thinking behind MSX and it is inevitable that one of us has to lose out. Certainly it is not a problem though. We will conform to whatever is adopted as the disc standard.”

Hitachi’s 64K MSX micro — the MB-H801—will go on sale in the UK in September, priced under 1200.