Description

Computer

The HX-34 comes with a separate keyboard and 1 disk drive by default (there's a location foreseen for the addition of a second disk drive, the HX-F103). It's the last computer released by Toshiba for the MSX system and the only one with a built-in floppy drive.

It contains a Kanji-ROM level 1, that is the same as the one included in the HX-M200 cartridge.

As for many machines with the "Pasopia IQ" label, the PSG sound output is stereo, with a mono/stereo switch at the back.

The keyboard includes an extra key, marked COPY: when combined with CTRL or CTRL + SHIFT, it allows to make a screencopy and send it to a connected MSX printer. A 2kB SRAM is used as temporary buffer in the procedure.

This computer was aimed at the Japanese market, with as option an RS-232C interface with switch.

Firmware

The built-in firmware is a Word Processor in 2 versions: Japanese and English. From BASIC, the Japanese version can be launched with CALL JWP or _JWP and the English version with CALL EWP or _EWP. It includes the additional BASIC instructions for RS-232C and printer.

The Japanese Word Processor is actually version 3.0 of the same software available in versions 2.0 and 2.5 on the Toshiba HX-2x series. This version has disk support (and was also released separately on disk for ¥19,800).

The main menu includes 6 options (the 5th option is different from the other versions):

• Japanese Word Processor - if you press twice on ESC, you can access many WP features
• Conversion Tools
• Load and Save
• Printer Settings and Print 1
• Printer Settings and Print 2
• Tools for Idioms and Short Sentences

CTRL+STOP can be used to go back to the previous menu or the main menu, except if you are in the first option. You need to reboot to quit the Japanese Word Processor.

The English Word Processor is the same as on the International versions of the HX-20 and HX-22 machines, but the option to leave the program has been removed. As it was already the case with the Japanese Word Processor, you need to reboot the computer. Returning to the menu from the RS-232C sub-menu is also impossible in this version.

Pictures

Computer

Toshiba HX-34 manuals and MSX-DOS disk

Toshiba HX-34 box

Toshiba HX-34 content of box

Toshiba HX-34

Toshiba HX-34 front

Toshiba HX-34

Toshiba HX-34 with 2nd FDD

Toshiba HX-34 back with serial option

Toshiba HX-34 keyboard

Toshiba HX-34 label

Toshiba HX-34 main PCB

Toshiba HX-34 back

Firmware

Japanese Word Processor

Toshiba JWP 3.0 - Intro screen

Toshiba JWP 3.0 - Menu

Toshiba Japanese Word Processor

Toshiba JWP - Screen after ESC key

Toshiba JWP - Conversion Tools

Toshiba JWP - Load and Save

Toshiba JWP - Printer settings 1 (A)

Toshiba JWP - Printer settings 1 (B)

Toshiba JWP - Printer settings 2

Toshiba JWP - Idioms + Short Sentences

English Word Processor

Toshiba EWP - Menu on HX-33/34

Toshiba English Word Processor

Toshiba EWP - Variables Sub-Menu

Toshiba EWP - Screen Variables

Toshiba EWP - Printing Variables

Toshiba RS-232C Transfer Rate

Toshiba RS-232C Sub-Menu

Toshiba RS-232C Communication

Specifications

The HX-34 is a MSX2 with 2 cartridge slots (one at front, one at back), a Z80A from Sharp (LH-0080A) and 2 unusual MSX-Engines, the Toshiba TCX-2001 and TCX-2002. The 2 joystick ports are located on the front panel.

This memory can be upgraded to 128kB by adding two same RAM (41464) at IC5 & IC6 and two ceramic capacitors (100nF) at C5 & C6. 128kB memory is enabled by moving the resistor R12 to GND instead of +5V. R12 location is close to TCX-2020 chip. I think you have to move R12 to the empty location right next to it. (See more information here)

Slot Map

• The firmware ROM is actually a 80kB ROM:
  • first 16kB = RS-232C BASIC + Printer BASIC + the extra instructions to launch the WPs
  • next 32kB = Japanese Word Processor
  • last 32kB = English Word Processor
• 7FFFh in slot 3-3 is a control register:
  • bit 7: COPY button status (0 is pressed)
  • bits 5-6: switch ROM/SRAM in page 8000h-BFFFh
  • bits 0-1: ROM segment select in page 8000h-BFFFh (4 16kB pages - the remaining 16kB in page 4000h-7FFFh is the RS-232C ROM)

Connections

• RF output
• RGB output
• Analog sound (stereo) & Composite video
• Keyboard connector
• Slot for the HX-R703 optional RS-232C connector
• Data Recorder connector
• Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
• 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mouse, Paddle controlers, etc)
• 2 cartridge slots
• AC power socket
• Power plug male for main power supply (JIS C 8303 class, AC 100V +/-10% 50/60Hz)

External links

• Blog post about the HX-34 drives (Korean)
• Blog post about the HX-34 (Korean)