Ronex TPC 8300

The Sanco/Ronex TPC-8300 was a pocket sized microcomputer or programmable calculator. It was introduced in early 1983, and can be programmed in the BASIC language. The computer has a built-in LCD screen of 2x24 characters and the option to dock to a docking station connecting it to a printer and additional peripherals.

The CPU is the NEC uPD78C06 8-bit microprocessor running at 1MHz. The device has 16kB of ROM containing BASIC and 2kB of ROM to support the CPU. All components are low-power CMOS technology to prolong battery life. The docking station has a tape and parallel interface. The printer that was available was small, and used a revolving head with small ball-pens. Solenoids press the pen to the paper, producing the print-out. THe docking station has its own power supply and a built-in Ni-Cd battery.

The machine was also sold in France, Sweden, Norway, Zwitserland and Germany. It was branded Ronex or Sanco, depending where it was sold. In Zwitserland it was branded as the Migros M-Office HHC2000.

The computer starts directly into BASIC. Using the docking station programs can be saved to, and loaded from, cassette tape. The provided BASIC language is simple and has a limited number of commands available.