Differences between Sony HB-F1XDJ and HB-F1XV

Master (137)

19-02-2023, 17:10

All

Reading the wikis it looks like the main differences between these two computers are:
- software included (none of it seems very useful for non-japanese users anyway)
- It is easier to boot into MSX-DOS on a F1XV

Is that really it? It looks like F1XVs are always more expensive and sought after. Is it just about looks?

By sd_snatcher

Prophet (3675)

20-02-2023, 01:54

pmack wrote:

- It is easier to boot into MSX-DOS on a F1XV

This statement doesn't make any sense...

From the user point of view two machines are virtually identical.

For only real differences are pretty much irrelevant:

The HB-F1XDJ motherboard had a fix, made with wiring, for incorrect traces near the A/V out connector. The F1XV has correct traces there. But functionally it's exactly the same.
Different color of the drive cover and the fonts used on the case
Software that was included on the floppy disk (can de easily obtained anyway)

By pmack

Master (137)

20-02-2023, 02:50

The MSX-DOS statement came from info on both MSX wiki pages for these computers:

https://www.msx.org/wiki/Sony_HB-F1XDJ

MSX-DOS
MSX-DOS can't be launched from the first disk as pressing CTRL+STOP when booting will not prevent the loading of the main menu. Inserting the disk after booting and entering POKE &HF346,1: CALL SYSTEM leads to the game programming tools menu. The only remaining option is to copy MSXDOS.SYS and COMMAND.COM to a new formatted disk with the MSX-BASIC COPY command.

https://www.msx.org/wiki/Sony_HB-F1XV
MSX-DOS
To run MSX-DOS, you need to press CTRL+STOP when booting with the 3rd disk in drive A, this to avoid the launching of the Word Processor.

From the Word Processor, you can access MSX-DOS by pressing F5, then choosing the Quit option. If you want to go back to the Word Processor, just enter TITLE or MSXWP on the command line.

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6555)

20-02-2023, 03:09

I think sd_snatcher was referring to a normal MSX-DOS disk, but didn't know that many disks provided by Sony with most of its MSX computers with drive were not user-friendly concerning MSX-DOS, probably because Sony has always preferred to promote the software developed by its coders.

By gdx

Enlighted (6427)

21-02-2023, 10:48

The floppy disk for Sony HB-F1XDJ contents a good little graphics editor in SCREEN8, it starts via the boot sector and there is also a copy protection that overwrite the sector 0 if you run it from another disk.

You can remove the protection by replacing the bytes "0E 30 C3 7D F3" by "0E 30 C9 7D F3" in the HALOS.SYS file. Then to excute it from another drive you have to assemble the command below.

; GEDITOR.COM
; Graphics Editor Loader

	org	0100h

BDOS	equ	00005h

	ld	c,0Fh
	ld	de,FCB
	call	BDOS
	ld	hl,1
	ld	(FCB+14),hl	; Record size = 1 byte
	or	a
	ret	nz		; Back if File not found

	ld	c,1Ah
	ld	de,03EF0h	; Destination
	call	BDOS

	ld	c,27h
	ld	de,FCB
	ld	hl,04100h	; Number of records to read
	call	BDOS		; Read a block in file (48Ko max.)

	ld	c,10h
	ld	de,FCB
	call	BDOS

	ld	hl,04000h
	push	hl		; Store execution address to the stack

	ld	a,(0fcc1h)
	ld	h,0
	jp	0024h	

FCB:
	db	0,"HALOS   SYS"
	ds	24h,0

It seems work for any Graphic editor versions except the one included with the Handy Scanner because it is a very simplified version that is not protected. The only problem is that Graphics Editor doesn't work under Nextor.

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6555)

21-02-2023, 12:44

The Japanese versions of Halos are not limited to screen 8, contrary to Graphic Studio Pro or the version provided on HB-F700 demo disk. They can use screen 5 to 8.

https://www.msx.org/wiki/File:F1tool1t.png

By gdx

Enlighted (6427)

21-02-2023, 13:33

I know. I remembered it after posting. The screen mode can be changed by clicking on the pencil icon and then on the screen with the cross.

By sd_snatcher

Prophet (3675)

21-02-2023, 13:46

mars2000you wrote:

I think sd_snatcher was referring to a normal MSX-DOS disk.

Humm. It's because, the way it was written, I interpreted that the cause was a difference on the machine. But that's not the case, the HB-F1XDJ can boot MSX-DOS disks without any issues. The "difference" falls to the contents of the bundled floppy disk, that can be easily obtained these days.