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| The Sharp PC-1430, in all its budget glory! |
Sharp PC-1430(aka EL-5400) Specs and Information |
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Released / Price |
1985 (219 DM |
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CPU |
SC61720D07 4 Bit
CMOS CPU @ 1 MHz |
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Power |
2 x CR2032 button cells |
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Memory |
17.4 KB ROM; 2 KB RAM (1254 Bytes usable) |
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Display |
16 character, 7x5
dot matrix, |
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Keyboard |
73 injection molded keys, |
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I/O |
Sharp 11-pin serial port |
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Language |
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The 14XX series of Sharp pocket computers was extremely popular during the early to late 80s. The hybrid of scientific calculator combined with the flexibility of a BASIC computer was attractive to many students, myself included. Starting with the PC-1401 released in 1983, Sharp would go on to release many variations with more RAM, larger screens, expansion bays and more functions.
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| From front to back : The Sharp PC-1401, 1403H, 1430 and 1470U |
Sharp also wanted to target the budget conscious consumer, hence the release of the PC-1430 in 1985. Needless to say, compromises were made.
Looking at the outside of the unit, we see that the number of keys is reduced in comparison to a 1401.
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| Top: PC-1430, Bottom: PC-1401 |
Gone is a dedicated calculator mode which is pretty much the standout feature of the 14xx series. Calculations are done either programmatically or in Run mode. Since a memory function doesn't make much sense without a calculator mode, those keys have been assigned other functions. You'll also notice that some functions are completely missing, like HEX mode. The LCD on the 1430 has been repurposed from a different model, as witnessed by the non-functional indicators for calc mode, HEX (not HYP) , parenthesis and M(emory). If anyone knows which model the LCD was taken from, let me know, because I haven't been able to figure it out yet. Amazingly, the keyboard is the one thing Sharp didn't compromise on. Unlike other budget models that got a monolithic rubber block keyboard, the 1430 has the same individual injected molded plastic keys in conjunction with a rubber domed keyboard mat that it's pricier models have.
Looking to the inner values, the 8-bit CPU in the 1401 has been swapped for a 4-bit 61270D07, in fact, the whole chipset has been reduced from 5 down to 2(or 3 in the case of the 1431).
That unpopulated space on the 1430 board would have held a 2 KB RAM chip on the 1431, giving you a whopping 4 KB of RAM. As per usual on Sharp budget models, the piezo buzzer is missing, although the BEEP command is implemented in BASIC and there is a space for a buzzer in the case. If you aren't afraid of using a soldering iron, you can add a piezo buzzer by soldering it to pins 3 and 7 of the I/O port.
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| Top: PC-1401 Bottom: PC-1430 |
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| A buzzer "modded" Sharp PC-1246 |
The ROM size in the 1430 has been reduced from 40 KB down to a bit over 17 KB. This translates to a reduction in functions, of course. BASIC has been trimmed of a few commands like LEFT$ and RIGHT$, leaving MID$ and LEN to fulfill that functionality. No ON-GOTO or ON-GOSUB, no PEEK or POKE. AND and OR are just as absent as MERGE and the very useful AREAD function are. This isn't everything that's missing, just the things that immediately caught my eye. Sadly, programming workarounds for those missing functions is going to result in using up more of that meager 2K workspace than you would otherwise. Thankfully, labels and definable keys are still supported. Peripherals in the form of a cassette drive or printer can be hooked up to the Sharp standard 11 pin I/O connector.
Considering all the sacrifices made to this model, you would think it would have been a failure.I'm not sure that was actually the case. Sharp released at least 5 of these budget 14xx models, although I think the 1430 was the only one released in the west. If something bombs, you usually stop after the first iteration. That said, I can barely find anything about the 1430 in contemporary computer magazines. What exactly did the 1430 and it's Japanese brethren have going for it? Exactly one factor; price.
It was a bit hard to find out just how much these cost back in the 80s, but I did find one source. Below is a price comparison of various Pocket Computers
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| Price comparison of various Pocket Computers, March 1986 |
As we can see, the price for a PC-1430 is 219 DM. That is a whopping 120 DM less than a 1401 was going for! If you were looking to get Pocket Computers for a school or to provide an entire company department with mobile IT, getting three PC-1430s for the price of two 1401s and having enough money left over to get dinner is a no brainer, and I'm guessing that's exactly where the PC-1430 found its market. Cynical me thinks that the 1430 having a higher model number than the 1401 might also have misled some folks into buying a 1430. Sharp and their model numbers, amiright?
You don't find these often on eBay, but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to acquire one. For the completionist, it might be worth grabbing if you can get it on the cheap, considering the relative rarity. Personally, I'd save for one of the 2-line 14xx models instead. The one I have was aquired as non-working. As is often the case, new batteries were the only thing amiss. It cost me €20, but the world was a different place back in 2020, and I expect you'll probably pay 3 times as much now.
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