MSX2 in the UK?

Supporter (12)

28-03-2018, 18:40

hi all. new to the site. just got myself a brand new never been used Canon V-20 MSX computer.

i am chuffed to bits that i have got my hands on a brand new machine that has never ever been used. even had to put a plug on it. the manuals had never been opened and still felt stiff and crisp.

i love retro machines and have commodore amiga's ect and was looking for a MSX machine for a while. but i never seem to be able to find a MSX2 machine for sale in the UK.

was the MSX2 machine sold in the UK as i don't think the MSX1 machines did well because the only ones you see for sale in the UK are Canon V-20, Toshiba HX-10 and various Sony ones.

see loads on ebay from other countries such as Japan and Spain.

By hamlet

Scribe (4106)

28-03-2018, 20:25

Hi MSX_Dan, welcome to our forum.
Nice find, the Canon is one of the few machines with a second cartridgeslot sideways. IMHO MSX2 had never official reached shops in the Empire.

By jltursan

Prophet (2619)

28-03-2018, 20:40

Indeed not a MSX2 machine; but I really love the Canon V-20 design. Back in the eighties I remember me reading "You Computer" and drooling with the Canon ads (the JVC machine was also fab to my eyes); now, thirty years later and a dozen of MSX machines and I still don't have a V-20

Btw, welcome aboard!

By rderooy

Paladin (686)

28-03-2018, 21:00

MSX tanked in the UK before MSX2 was introduced. In the British MSX magazines they mentioned MSX2 before they closed shop.
https://www.msx.org/wiki/Magazines#English

If you want a European MSX2, your best bet is the Netherlands followed by Spain.

By valkyre

Paladin (700)

28-03-2018, 21:05

There were some msx2 machines around in the UK back in the day, I can remember a few specialist dealers that imported them.

By rderooy

Paladin (686)

28-03-2018, 21:09

valkyre wrote:

There were some msx2 machines around in the UK back in the day, I can remember a few specialist dealers that imported them.

Probably grey imports, we got plenty of grey import MSX1 systems in the Netherlands from the UK :-) My first MSX was a grey import Sanyo MPC-100 from the UK.

By valkyre

Paladin (700)

28-03-2018, 22:04

Msx dan- I also recently bought a canon v-20 that has never been powered up! And there is one on eBay right now!

By rderooy

Paladin (686)

28-03-2018, 22:11

Perhaps they found a pallet of systems in the back of a warehouse... Just like with flood of Pioneer PX-V60 systems last year.

By MSX_Dan

Supporter (12)

29-03-2018, 18:23

this is my machine.

the canon msx machine that is on ebay, that is the same seller who i got mine off.

By MSX_Dan

Supporter (12)

29-03-2018, 18:28

i have to agree that compared to many other MSX machines, for one that came out in the early 80's. the V-20 is a very stylish machine and looks well ahead for it's time.

there's not many good looking MSX machines. Sony's aren't too bad but they seem massive like an old commodore amiga.

i would love to get a MSX2 machine but i like to be original and would love one that runs on 240 volts and not have to have a step down.

By valkyre

Paladin (700)

29-03-2018, 18:43

I have successfully bought 4 msx 2 and and above machines from Spain and Holland. All of them work a treat and are in excellent condition.