Support Resources for the NEC PC-8201/8300

There are some resources that cater specifically to the NEC PC-8201/8300 laptops, but there are many more that cover the Tandy Model 100. Thankfully, a *lot* of the information & programs for the Tandy Model 100 is applicable to the NEC's as well, either as-is or with some modification.

Club 100 Web Site:

Club 100 is THE PLACE for official support of the Model "T" laptops. There is a HUGE library of downloadable software for the Model 100's, and there also a good collection of NEC software in the uploads section. Club 100 also sells hardware and option ROMs for all of the laptops. These four option ROM chips are available for sale from from Club 100's catalog:

TS-DOS on ROM

The very best ROM-based disk operating system for the Model 100, 102, 200 and NEC PC-8201A ... connecting to a TPDD or TPDD2 (compatible with both drives) and for use with DeskLink. Save and Load .DO (ASCII), .BA (tokenized), and .CO (machine language) files by just pushing a button! Features include file tagging, disk-file viewing without loading, BASIC disk-file routines. Direct drive access from BASIC and TEXT. Package includes ROM, installation, and docs. Note1: Please state Model 100/102, Model 200, or NEC when ordering. Note2: Cold-start recover routine built-in to the TS-DOS ROM for the 100/102 and 200. $35.00

Ultimate ROM II

A complete full-featured ROM-based application package for Model 100, 102, and NEC8201 owners. ROM includes T-WORD (full featured word-processing and print formatting- includes chain-printing from disk), T-BASE (relational database with mail merge to T-WORD), IDEA! (a thought organizer and outliner), and VIEW80 (see up to 60 char/line in T-WORD, T-BASE, BASIC and TELCOM). Includes auto-loaders for disk-based TS-DOS and Sardine programming. Note: Please state Model 100/102, Model 200, or NEC when ordering. $35.00

Sardine ROM

When all you need is word processing and spell check. Includes T-WORD, SARDINE, and a small dictionary included on the ROM. Includes TPDD/TPDD2-formatted extended dictionary diskette. Includes auto-loader for disk based TS-DOS. Note: Please state Model 100/102, Model 200, or NEC when ordering. $35.00

ROM2/Cleuseau ROM

The finest set of programming tools on one ROM. ROM2 is a fully implemented 8085 assembler, debugger. Cleuseau greatly enhances TEXT and BASIC. This is an outstanding ROM. Package includes ROM, installation, quick reference card, and docs. Note: Please state Model 100/102, Model 200, or NEC when ordering. $35.00

Club 100 Listserv:

All Model "T" computer owners (a.k.a. Kyocera-based laptops) are considered members of Club 100 — there are no dues other than "good will." The good will, and indeed the "wealth and power" of Club 100, is vested in the unselfish sharing of knowledge and experiences between the members — and the Club 100 ListServ is the major tool we use to share Model "T" computing.

A "listserv" is a slang word for a message forwarding service designed to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experiences between Model "T" owners. Messages sent to the list-address are forwarded (a copy sent) to all the email addresses subscribed to the list at that time. Replies are also distributed to the group. Thus, a listserv facilitates on-going discussions between members subscribed to the list.

The Club 100 listserv is made available through the kindness of Roger Merchberger, a fellow Model "T" enthusiast, and a co-owner and sysadmin of www.30below.com.

To subscribe, send an email message to:

and just reply to the confirmation that's sent.

If you don't wish to subscribe, but you would still like to post a question to the list, send an email to:

Newsgroups on the Internet:

comp.sys.laptops and comp.sys.tandy. There are many users of Kyocera laptops that can be reached through both of these. You'll find a mixture of Model 100 and NEC users.

Daniel Cohen:

Daniel was the largest value-added-reseller for these little NEC computers. He has long been the official NEC PC-8201/8300 guru. He still has complete sets of manuals available for the PC-8300, and may have some other accessories still in stock. He put up a web site with some very cool information about the NEC machines, http://www.planetserver.net/nec-notebooks/

You can contact Daniel at his email address:

CompuServe:

CompuServe still has a Vintage Computing Forum, which the Tandy Model 100 Forum (M100SIG) was merged into. It seems that the Model 100 and NEC libraries were pulled into the message archives. Search messages for M100 and NEC, and you will find messages that contain the files available.